^^^
Cross posted.
This is a single parent. The net price calculator will not be accurate for this situation. but it could,give a ballpark…sort of.
RE: Being a single parent…
If you’re a widow or a single parent who adopted, then the NPC’s can be accurate.
If there is a non-custodial parent and your child applies to schools that don’t use NCP info, then the NPCs might be accurate.
If there is a NCP and he won’t contribute or provide info, then that will be a problem at schools that require his info.
The NPC was exactly on for me, with a public school and a private school. Both FAFSA only. There is a place to include child support/support from others, but really the FAFSA is based mostly on the single parent’s assets and income.
@parent1990 it seems that I have read so many posts from NJ students who are refusing to attend NJ colleges. Not sure why that is, but it is a good idea for you to figure out your finances and let your daughter know how much $$ you can afford to pay each year for her college education. You may have to tell your daughter her best bet for a low cost college education is to choose an instate school.
You are almost behind in this game of college admission, so please make time to read other threads on this forum and ask lots of questions. Don’t assume anything. Each college application process is slightly different, and there are costs involved to apply, send test scores, and usually a couple of essays to write. So you have to decide how many colleges you can afford to apply to, and how much energy and effort your child is willing to dedicate to this process.
You will see the terms safety, match, and reach on this site. You will learn that you want to have at least one or two financial safety schools that your child is willing and happy to attend, that she is pretty sure she will be able to get into, AND that you can afford. Do not let your child get fixated on any one school, since your situation will require you to consider finances as a large part of your decision.
Lots of deadlines, so get organized and keep a calendar marked with when apps, essays, and test scores need to be submitted. Some schools require a separate scholarship application. You don’t want to miss out just by missing a deadline.
So glad you found this forum. Keep reading and asking questions. Good luck.
I really appreciate everyone’s responses! I was married in another country but brought my daughter over to the US. We have been living in the US for almost 10 years now(we are both permanent residents) I have low income (about $2500 gross/month) but I do have an asset (house). Do you guys feel that my low income will help a lot in getting money from the school?
thank you!
Your income appears to be under $30,000 a year. Is that your take home play…or your gross pay?
Really…a lot depends on the colleges. Some schools are very generous and meet full need. The vast majority do not.
The schools that are the most generous are also amongst the most competitive for admissions.
A lot will depend on your daughter’s SAT score as well as her GPA in terms of where she can realistically expect to be admitted to college.
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Do you guys feel that my low income will help a lot in getting money from the school?
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At most schools? no.
At PSU? no
At most OOS publics? no
At many privates? no.
Being low income means little at many schools. Simply because most schools don’t have much money to give.
The schools that give the most need-based aid will expect to see your exHusband’s income and asset info…even if he lives in another country. That won’t matter to schools. he’s still her father.
please…run the net price calculators on Fordham’s and PSU’s websites.
You need to get your daughter hooked up with her guidance counselors and see if she qualifies for any of the big scholarships/programs like Questbridge or Posse. She may get help getting into some of the best colleges with money.
She really needs to get over the “I’m not going to Rutgers” mentality. That may be her best deal.
Also…since it sounds like you’re from another country. Admissions and aid are handled very differently here in the US. In some countries, just being a very good student means paying little or nothing for college. That’s not how it works here.
If the schools in question require the CSS profile and non-custodial profile or institutional aid forms from both parents, then you will have to get the financial information from your ex, no matter where he lives in the world (you will not get a waiver on the basis that he does not live in the US).
This is 2016. A current high school sophomore will apply to college in the fall of 2017 which actually *does *happen to be next year.
@Madison85 - OP already corrected herself that she meant to say junior not sophomore. (Though I appreciate the technicality).
@parent1990 While you will find College Confidential to be a wealth of information, and people here will gladly help you and your daughter – it might also be a really good idea to see if there is a college access organization in your area. These nonprofits work with students like your daughter, who come from low-income, often first-generation college student. They provide college application advice – help students select colleges, write essays, fill out financial aid forms – at no cost to the student. You can send me a private message if you want more information.
Also, I originally replied to a duplicate thread that was merged with this one. Her d is a junior so indeed she’ll apply next school year, which is what I meant, and sat and/or act should be taken as soon as possible. She may be eligible for free waivers for these tests too, check with her guidance counselor @parent1990
The FAFSA calculates an number called EFC (Expected Family Contribution). This number is used to calculate your eligibility for the Pell grant (maximum of 5775). If the EFC is greater than the maximum Pell grant you will not get a grant. If less then you get the difference. The EFC is also use to determine if you are eligible for subsidized loans. Other than that the EFC is pretty much meaningless. It will be the minimum that you will be expected to pay. Most schools will gap (meaning that there will be a large amount uncovered after subtracting AID and EFC that has to be paid). Some schools fill this gap with Parent loans so it appears your full need is met.
FAFSA does not count the equity in your primary residence as an asset. Since you appear to be low income, yo might qualify for the simplified needs test (google it) in which case none of your assets will be counted and the EFC will be based on income only. However, federal aid is mainly limited to Pell grants (max of 5775 based of FAFSA), work study, student loans and Parent Plus loans (see studentaid.ed.gov). This might be able to cover a community college or state school assuming you commute. Any other aid comes mainly from the school in the form of grants and more loans.
Some schools require another application call the CSS Profile. This application will ask for in depth financial information. The schools will then use this information to determine what they feel you can afford. How they treat the equity in your home and your retirement accounts will vary from school to school. The resulting EFC will almost always be higher than the FAFSA EFC.
You also need to consider your state schools and community colleges (CC). Some CCs have agreements that guarantee acceptance to your state four year college after two years. Also some states have aid for students attending their state schools.
There is always the possibility that a private school will be cheaper than the state school. It all depends on how generous the school is and the stats of the student.
This is just the basics. Spend some time here and you can learn the finer points of this whole process.
Under NJ law, my sister’s husband, a non-custodial parent to a child he conceived out of wedlock, was required to pay a significant amount of college tuition and to continue paying child support as long as his son was in college, up to age 25. There is no law requiring parents to pay for college tuition for children within an intact family. This seemed incredible to me, but it was true.
I don’t know if this has any bearing on your case as your ex-husband is not a NJ resident. But I thought I’d mention it.
Once you have a short list of colleges and universities, I would call the admissions office of each one and ask very specific questions about how they calculate need when the parents are divorced to avoid surprises later on.
I believe that the value of your home is not counted under FAFSA but it is under CSS profile.
If Rutgers is not appealing due to its size, your daughter might want to look into College of NJ or Rowan. I would definitely apply, however, as it may be the best value when all of your offers of admission and funding are on the table.
Good luck!
Sorry all, It is the CSS not the FASFA that requires both parents to complete. But I think financial resources even if not in the US have to be considered.
The exH isn’t in the US, so he can’t be ordered to do anything.
If this family only consists of one parent and one child, then the calculation may not be too favorable at some “needs met” schools. Calculations can be rough on single parent homes with only one child.
not true.
If Op is divorced and does not live with her ex, she only reports her income on the FAFSA and the CSS profile.
Her ex is not the custodial parent, only child support or alimony that he pays will be requested from OP on the FAFSA. The FAFSA will never ask for income/assets of the non-custodial parent.
For schools that require the non-custodial profile or their own institutional non-custodial forms, then her Ex would fill out the non-custodial profile or the institution’s non custodial forms, no matter where he resides in the world
(the Op and her ex will never file paperwork together).