Today my mom and I started working on the CSS Profile for 2017-18 (what will be my first year in college) and in the noncustodial section, it asked how much money your noncustodial parent will pay towards your education in 17-18.
My dad (noncustodial parent) wants to pay as little as possible and so told me to say 0. But realistically, he will pay for most of my college (not sure the amount reasonable). FYI, my mom makes 20k a year while he makes 90k. Only two of the schools I’m applying to require his noncustodial profile.
What is your advice on what to put for the question? Should I put 0 or is that unethical and will raise alarms when colleges look at his income and assets on the noncustodial profile? What would be a good amount to put?
All of the schools I am applying to are need-blind.
When we were asked, we put what our EFC was…that was for a married couple.
To be honest, I’m not sure it matters at all. The school will calculate what it expects your parents to pay…period. This number they are asking for really won’t be used for anything.
Simply put…if you put $0…it’s not like your dad will have to contribute nothing.
Some have reported that this question is a trap in that if the answer is greater than the school’s calculation of expected parent contribution, it will use the higher number instead and give a worse financial aid offer.
So the answer should be something lower than what the school will calculate. If you do not want to put $0, try the net price calculator and then make sure that the “willing to pay” numbers add up to less than the expected parent contribution.
This sentence is confusing. Does he want to pay as little as possible…or will he pau for most of your college? Those are two,very different things.
Are you applying as an instate student to UMich, UVA or UNC-CH?
If not, most profile schools cost upward of $50,000 a year…or more. This would be a good chunk of your dad’s take home pay on a $90,000 a year income. Or does he have a college savings for you?
OP is in NC. She is going to apply to NC state universities. Other schools (that are probably the ones that want the noncustodial profile) are NYU and Emerson.
Yes, the schools I’m applying to which require the CSS Profile are UNC (I am in state), NYU and Emerson. NYU requires the noncustodial profile while Emerson wants a separate noncustodial parent statement. All of my other schools only require the FAFSA.
What I meant in that sentence is that obviously my dad wants to pay as little as possible (he wants scholarships and aid to cover most of it ideally) but there is supposed to be an agreement between him and my mom that he will pay for my college since he claims me on taxes. So he suggested I say 0, thinking it would give me more aid… However, he is (supposed to be) paying.
I know this isn’t part of your question…but NYU does not guarantee to meet full need…and the school doesn’t meet full need. The cost of attendance is about $72,000 a year. are you prepared to drop this school if you don’t receive sufficient financial aid? That will likely be the case. Sure apply, and see…it will be a happy surprise if NYU ends up with a net cost that is affordable for your family.
Emerson also doesn’t guarantee to meet full need…and they don’t.
You won’t get a penny more aid if your dad puts $0 down for the amount he intends to give.
@thumper1 I am aware. UNC is my top choice. NYU and Emerson are “We’ll see” schools.
Do you guys know if the noncustodial profile asks him to put his 529 accounts? Because if so, wouldn’t it look weird if he listed his expected contribution as 0 (sure, they could just be for my sister but that would be strange)? I know they don’t really care if I say 0… I’m just worried they will find it unethical/dishonest if he has money saved in college accounts but still lists 0 (except for UNC, which doesn’t require the noncustodial profile).
If he has 529 accounts for you, maybe put a quarter (1 of 4 years) of the amount in those (if you are the only one going to college in your family, meaning the 529s are for you).
It won’t matter if you put that down as part of what he can pay. NYU will expect him to pay based on his income (at least). That’s how they operate. Be prepared for bad news.