<p>I was playing around on some npc and realized that if I got married to another student in college I could make my EFC to about 0 from around 40k. Then we could get divorced after we graduate. Has anyone ever done this? Would this be considered fraud? </p>
<p>There would be little to no assets and finances to get mixed up with for the divorce and that could be covered in a prenup anyways.</p>
<p>The only downside I could see is if you found someone you actually wanted to marry but couldn't.</p>
<p>Schools requiring the CSS Profile will often ask married students for documentation on how they are supporting themselves. If FA is not satisfied that have some means of support (jobs that pay enough to live to on, trust fund, inheritance…something) they will require the financial info from both sets of the couple’s parents on the assumption that the parents are actively providing support for the children. </p>
<p>Since it’s not federal aid, the college can require anything they want in the way of financial info.</p>
<p>The schools that use FAFSA won’t ask for parental info, but FAFSA does ask if there are any monies paid on the child’s behalf. This would include things like health insurance, car insurance, rent, living expenses, utilities. Any monies paid by the parents to help support the couple are included in EFC calculations.</p>
<p>Remember that FAFSA only schools often have very little in the way of financial aid to offer–aside from larger loans for independent students.</p>
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<p>There are many, many more possible downsides than that. You are considering a binding contract with another person that is far easier to enter than it is to exit. </p>
<p>What if this friend decides he/she doesn’t want a divorce? What if friend decides he/she doesn’t want to work, but you get a great job out of college? Feel like paying spousal support for years to come after your divorce? What if one member of the team becomes pregnant, by the spouse or someone else? You are married, better come up with a plan - fast. I can’t even begin to list the ways this is a terrible idea, aside from the financial aid fraud issues.</p>
<p>The problem with this as Wayoutwestmom states, is that schools that give institutional aid, will still require the income assets of you, your spouse and your parents (putting need based aid further out of reach) especially if you get married while in college (all have policies that if you start as a dependent, you remain dependent even if you have a life event that makes you dependent).</p>
<p>Even on the federal aid side, there is no automatic 0 for independent students. You will have to show how you eat and who puts a roof over your head. Monies paid for your food, rent would have to be declared on the FAFSA. Should you get divorced, you go back to being dependent.</p>
<p>While it takes 15 minutes to get married, it is much harder to get out of it.</p>