The step parent incomes are included on the Profile. I believe Columbia DOES consider FAMILY income.
Your income as a bio parent…if married…includes your spouses income on those financial aid forms. That’s required.
So…the total incomes are used to compute institutional need based aid. The school doesn’t care who,actually pays…you or the stepparent. The calcutions are based on your total incomes…which includes stepparents.
Call them and ask if you are not sure.