<p>Okay, so here's the question about financial aid that's been bothering me...I'm a junior now, so focusing on costs and all this is an important part of looking at colleges.</p>
<p>Anyway, my parents have been divorced for about 10 years. I live primarily with my mom, but I stay at my dad's house about 8-10 nights a month. We have a great relationship, so he will obviously be helping out with my college costs--but not to a huge extent.</p>
<p>Now, here's my problem. My dad is a lawyer, which obviously means that his income is by no means small. However, I live primarily with my mom and she will be the one to bear most of the initial cost (discounting loans and everything). My mom certainly does not have an income problem, but let's just say 45k a year would NOT be easy.</p>
<p>So basically, my question is...will my dad's income be included in the expected family contribution even though I do not primarily live with him or anything? What factors decide this? Since my guidance counselor was NO help, I'm looking to the always knowledgeable people on CC. Any info on this subject would be so appreciated!</p>
<p>For FAFSA, you include only your Mom's income and assets (if she's remarried, include your step-dad's income and assets as well). Her income will include whatever she received in '06 from your Dad. She's your "custodial parent" for finaid purposes. Dad's income and assets don't get listed anywhere.</p>
<p>Profile is a bit different- and while Mom remains the custodial parent and her income and assets are used to calculate the EFC, there are some questions about the non-custodial parent, and some schools will require a non-custodial parent profile form.</p>
<p>I'm divorced and my daughter was accepted early decision to an elite LAC that does only needs based aid. Although my FASTA (which only include MY salary) showed that I can contribute $20,000 per year for my daughter. When the college insisted that my ex-husband also submit his financial information, they said our need was zero. My husband has made no commitment to our daughter for college support (except that he says he will "help" out). This institution cost nearly $50,000 per year and I agreed to have my daughter apply early decision with the understanding that her aid would be based on my salary alone. What is the point in doing FASTA with one salary when these colleges require that you submit financial information from both parents. I'm very worried about how I'm going to pay this kid's tuition at this point. We're searching for outside scholarships.</p>
<p>The colleges can do as they please with their own institutional aid. Most 50K LAC's require the Profile in addition to the FAFSA, and many do consider the income of the non-custodial parent.</p>
<p>It's only the schools that take FAFSA (only) that you're reasonably assured that they won't normally consider the income and assets of the non-custodial parent.</p>