Noncustodial profile's effect on financial aid?

Paying for College
1

<p>My parents are separated and I live with my mom, whose income is very low and depends a lot on child support. Our EFC is 0. I've filed the FAFSA and CSS Profile but I've hesitated on the Noncustodial profile. My Dad makes almost $150,000 a year, but he refuses to pay anything for my college education, and it's not like he could even if he wanted to, because he's in a lot of debt.</p>

<p>I am wondering if the Noncustodial parent's information will severely effect my financial aid package. Using the FAFSA alone, I should get a good amount of aid, but for the colleges that require the NCP, will my package be a lot less because of my Dad's income, even though he will not pay for me?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>You've got it pretty much correct. FAFSA only considers the custodial parent's income and assets-- no questions about Dad at all. The Profile itself asks a few questions about the NCP, but the Profile EFC doesn't include the NCP's income (remember, though, that any alimony or child support should be counted as part of the custodial parent's income). However many of the colleges that use the Profile, and all the Ivy's require the NCP statement or other supplemental forms, and they do their own calculations, including consideration of the NCP's income. </p>

<p>Some aid, though, like the Pell Grant and Stafford Loans, are awarded regardless of the NCP's income.</p>

3

<p>Assuming I get decent grades in my core classes, will a study seem like I'm slacking?Lum,</p>

<p>You alos need to read the finanical aid policy of the schools which you are applying to to see how they treat non-custodial parents. Many schools that require both the FAFSA and the CSS profile take into consideration the income and assets of both your parents as FA is predicated on your parents being the primary source of financing your education. At some schools if your non-custodial parents has the assets to pay and refuses to pay the school will not be a reason to adjust your FA package. </p>

<p>BC states the following:</p>

<p>*In cases where parents are divorced, separated, or were never married, the noncustodial parent's taxes, including all schedules and W-2 forms, must also be submitted using the same schedule of deadlines in order to be considered for Boston College grants and scholarships.</p>

<p>Noncustodial Parent's Statement</p>

<p>In cases where the parents are divorced, separated, or were never married, the Noncustodial Parent's Statement is required for any student who would like to be considered for Boston College grants and scholarships. Beginning in the fall of 2004, CSS is introducing a web-based application process for the Noncustodial Parent's Statement. Instructions regarding this process will be provided when you complete the PROFILE.*</p>

<p><a href="http://www.bc.edu/admission/undergrad/costs/#profile%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.bc.edu/admission/undergrad/costs/#profile&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>BU</p>

<p>How is Eligibility Determined when the Parents are Not Married to Each Other?
It is Boston University policy to expect information and financial support from both biological/adoptive parents of students applying to the University for financial aid. The custodial parent is the parent with whom the student primarily lives. He/she is required to provide income, asset, and other information on both the CSS PROFILE and FAFSA. The noncustodial parent is expected to provide information on the Noncustodial PROFILE. If either parent has re-married, the stepparent's information must be included.</p>

<p>What is the Noncustodial PROFILE?
The Noncustodial PROFILE is an online application similar to the PROFILE on which noncustodial parents of first time aid applicants report their income, asset, and other information. If the student's biological/adoptive parents are divorced, separated or were never married to each other, the student will be sent an e-mail upon completion of the registration portion of the PROFILE. The e-mail will include a link to the Noncustodial PROFILE application. The student will be instructed to forward that e-mail to their noncustodial parent. The noncustodial parent will, upon accessing the application, be instructed to immediately change the password, thus securing the privacy of his/her information. Boston University will not release, electronically or otherwise, the income and asset information of divorced/separated parents to the other parent.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.bu.edu/finaid/special/ncp.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.bu.edu/finaid/special/ncp.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Gives the probability of giving aid</p>

<p><a href="http://www.bu.edu/finaid/apply/prospective/possibility2.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.bu.edu/finaid/apply/prospective/possibility2.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Conn College</p>

<p>*I am divorced and the non-custodial parent feels that he/she does not have to support the student after age 18.</p>

<p>Answer: In the case of a divorce or separation, our policy is that both parents, regardless of any special arrangements that are made, are responsible for funding the cost of education. The non-custodial parent is required to complete the Non-Custodial Parent Statement on the College Board website.</p>

<p>Question: The non-custodial parent has not given us support (money or otherwise) since we were divorced ten years ago, we have had no contact with him/her nor do we know where he/she currently lives. What are my options since you require the Non-Custodial Parent Statement and your philosophy is that both parents are responsible for the student's education </p>

<p>Answer: We will need third party documentation. We need a letter from someone who has intimate knowledge of the family situation and someone who has known the family for many years - preferably since the divorce. It could be your divorce lawyer, a counselor, social worker, or a pastor. The person needs to be able to address the issue that the other parent has not been in the picture. </p>

<ul>
<li>A guidance counselor who only knows that the non-custodial parent has not attended any activities at school is not acceptable.
*</li>
</ul>

<p><a href="http://www.conncoll.edu/offices/financial-aid/09qa.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.conncoll.edu/offices/financial-aid/09qa.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>You potentially could end up between a rock and hard place because if your father makes $150,000 there is going to be an expectation that he help fund your education because he is able to do so. It really would be unrealistic to apply to a school that cost $40,000 per year because there is a possiblity that you may end up being a full pay student.</p>

<p>I would suggest having a hard talk with both your parents to find out what they are realistically are going to pay for your education.</p>

4

<p>Talk to your financial office- they are here to help you. If nothing can be done and they want NCP statement and therefore change your EFC- you still have time to apply to other schools which do not require NCP. Look for those that do not ask CSS profile.</p>

5

<p>Thanks everyone. I applied to 13 schools total, to have as many financial options possible, and of those 13 schools only 6 require the NCP. The 7 remaining schools are less expensive and would very likely give me a substantial scholarship. Combining the scholarship with aid from the FAFSA, I think I should find a school that will be affordable. </p>

<p>The only problem is, 2 of the 6 schools that require the NCP are my top choices. Fordham and Connecticut College both need the NCP and those are my two favorite colleges. Also the schools that don't require the NCP typically don't meet 100% of the student's need. I'm sure I'll get a decent amount of aid but not an abnormally generous amount.</p>

<p>Anyway the problem is that my Dad refuses to have anything to do with my college education. He won't pay, he won't fill out any forms. I do not have regular contact with him. I sent him the noncustodial form but he hasn't filled it out yet because he never changed the password and I still have access to it. I am going to e-mail the individual schools about my situation and hopefully they will say that the NCP is not required, though most of them say they require a letter from a third party. I don't know what will happen. What happens if you just never submit the NCP at all? Will they withold all financial aid?</p>

<p>What I was really concerned about is, assuming my Dad does fill out the NCP with his information, will my financial aid be dramatically reduced? Does the NCP take higher precedent over the FAFSA? Because my custodial parent's contribution is 0, assuming my Dad's contribution would be around $20,000, would they just use half of my Dad's contribution or something? I am wondering how heavily the NCP information factors into financial aid.</p>

6

<p>Many schools I know have balked before- they withold aid so you stand to loose a lot if your father does not fill out forms.
How much his income will influence your EFC will depend on school and their policies. Some will take into acount how long it has been since divorce and if your father has another family by now. I do not think they will use regular EFC formula on your father's income.</p>