<p>So my parents have joint 50/50 custody, which is apparently very uncommon as no one seems to account for this in their need-based aid applications/supplements. For example, the Wash U requires a regular supplement and a "non-custodial parent" supplement. So my dad, who makes ~$70,000, claims me as a dependent while my mom makes ~$240,000. Do I gain any advantage having my mom as the "non custodial" parent?</p>
<p>No, with their combined incomes it's unlikely aid for you will be anything but an unsubsidized loan. If a school was FAFSA only, you'd benefit by living with your dad 51% of the time as long as he's not remarried to someone with a good income.</p>
<p>You don't really get to pick your "custodial parent" for finaid purposes. It's the parent you lived with most during the last 12 months. If you lived with them equally, it's the parent who provided the most support.</p>
<p>If you spend equal time with both parents, and they provided about the same support, you can choose. There is a possibility that there is state money or other monies that your chosen school has that uses FAFSA EFC only in determining its distribution. In a case like that it would make a difference to have the lower income parent as the custodial on the FAFSA. The school you picked, WashU includes both parents' incomes so whatever they give you from their own funds is not going to be affected. but there may be other scholarships or grants out there.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>my dad, who makes ~$70,000, claims me as a dependent while my mom makes ~$240,000>></p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>That means that your parents' total incomes equals about $300,000. I hate to say it, but for a Profile school (many require non-custodial parent info), I would venture it is unlikely you would qualify for need based aid...at all.</p>
<p>If you applied to a FAFSA only school, it would be to your advantage to use your Dad as your custodial parent. BUT if you really lived with them 50% of the time, you are required to use the parent who provided the majority of your support. I'm not sure they would believe that the parent earning $70K provided more of your support than the parent earning $240K....but I suppose that has happened.</p>
<p>If you lived with your dad 51% of the time, you would use him as your parent on the FAFSA and your mom wouldn't be listed at all. BUT that's not going to help you with schools that require the Profile.</p>