Is there a list of Colleges that Consider Older Siblings in Graduate Schools to Calculate Need?

S 23 will be in college alone (without his older siblings), we are considering a few colleges, some meeting need and some with small merit that will be more expensive now but will be cheaper for the two years that S23 will be in college without siblings. However, it is very likely that one or both older siblings will be in graduate school in those years and we will be paying or helping. I had heard some colleges consider older siblings in graduate school in their aid formula and others do not. Is there a list somewhere of which do and which do not?

There is no list, but federal regs allow the older sibling to be included as long as the parent is supporting that student at least 51%. Therefore, MOST schools will allow it … but because some either do not (per their own policy) or make you prove it, it’s wise to ask at the schools where your child is considering applying.

Thank you. It seems like on the FAFSA they only want to know how many in college and seem to ask specifically whether it is for an undergraduate degree. It is a good idea to ask

What do you mean by “consider”? Do you mean allow them to be included as members of the household or will count them as other students in college (and reducing EFC by 50% or 67%)?

Your college graduate will be considered a member of your household if you are supporting them 51% including grad school funding. Grad school students are independent for federal aid and may borrow up to the cost of attendance minus financial aid as a Gradplus loan

That they will count them as other students in school (and reducing EFC by 50% or 67%)? Maybe not by 50% but some significant percentage at least for the college student. I cannot imagine the terms of the grad loans are very favorable?

Target merit scholarships rather than need based financial aid.

Your grad school student will not be able to list his or her sibling on their FAFSA. At all. Your grad school sibling will be independent for FAFSA purposes and can only list members of his household…that would be dependents, not his siblings or parents.

BUT your younger sibling’s college might count the grad school student as another student in college in their family.

We found this varied by college. It was a question we asked everywhere younger sibling applied. Some schools said absolutely not…others said yes (as long as we parents continued to provide greater than 50 support to the grad student and they were still considered a member of our household).

So…really you need to ask at the college…they will tell you their policy.

If an independent sibling is able to be included in the household size, they are also able to be included in the number in college for the dependent student. I recall vividly the day I heard this from a federal trainer, because the school where I worked at the time did not allow that (we changed our policy after the session). “Can be” and “will be” can vary based on school policy.