<p>Is it true that having divorced parents helps on the FAFSA? Because you only name one custodial parent.. </p>
<p>But there is no difference on the CSS profile, right, because both parents have to contribute?</p>
<p>And is true that most top 50ish schools require the CSS profile? Can I expect more at schools that don't, like NYU, if my parents are divorced? Even though NYU is really bad with aid... </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>If your custodial parent does not have much in the way of income/assets, it does help to have divorced parents since you may qualify for federal/state aid based on the one parent's income. However, the EFC is low for the PELL grant. Where it usually helps is with the subsidized Stafford loans. And yes, both parents need to complete PROFILE. </p>
<p>PROFILE schools, as a rule tend to give more money than FAFSA only schools. Look at what percent of need a school on average gives and if it requires PROFILE. It's pretty clear that schools that have their own money to give dig deeper than FAFSA to distribute the own funds.</p>
<p>The only thing the FAFSA does is qualify you for Federal Aid (Pell grants, stafford loans, ACG, Seog, etc) and possibly state aid (some states have their own form in addition to the FAFSA.</p>
<p>That said, the majority of the FAFSA schools do not meet 100% of your demonstrated need, they gap. If there is a gap, you must find the best way you can to fill the gap.</p>
<p>there is currently a thread running now about a student is will be graduating from NYU in 2009 with $90k of debt.</p>
<p>as Capt stated, profile schools and schools that have their own FA forms use these forms to distribute their own institutional aid. The schools will oftern ask for the income and assets of both your parents (regardless of their marital status) and if applicable, stepparents.</p>