<p>I am currently a junior in high school and I'm starting to worry about FAFSA. I live with my biological mother and my step father (my father doesn't live in the country). I'm trying to go to an out of state school that costs the same amount as a school where I live now. My mother has not had a stable job in a long time and is struggling to find one, my step father on the other hand has a good job with decent money. He's said that he does not want to contribute to my future college education unless I stay in state (the schools here aren't what I'm looking for). I have a step-sister in college that's receiving help from him. If my mother is going to be the only one putting in any sort of money towards my college education do I have to list my step father when I file for FAFSA? (I've heard from some people that if he doesn't list me on his tax report I don't count his income for FAFSA), and if I do have to, does the fact that he has to pay for my step sisters tuition help me qualify for more financial aid?</p>
<p>If your mother is married, then your stepfather’s income and assets need to be reported. IRS dependents and financial aid dependents are two different classifications. They are family assets, in that your mother’s income alone is not all that she/you have for paying the rent, utilities, and other living expenses. That lets the school see your full financial situation.</p>
<p>If he is willing to help you pay for state schools, that is great. Why aren’t the state schools "what you are looking for’? Many students have ideal schools that would be nice to attend, but ultimately you are in school to get an education, and many, many need to settle for less than their ideal as long as it offers the degree you are seeking.</p>
<p>Is he willing to offer the amount that he would pay for a state school to apply to a school of your choosing, if you can figure out a way to make up the difference? Look at the postings on these threads for schools that offer generous merit scholarships (if you have the grades and test scores to qualify).</p>
<p>A few things.</p>
<p>First…you want to become a teacher according to other threads you have started. But you also mention the “prestige” of an OOS public university. </p>
<p>If you wish to become a public school teacher, and you aren’t heading to Teachers College Columbia, you need to let go of the “prestige” college idea, and go where your debt can be a minimum. I worked in public education my whole work career, and I can tell you first hand…your starting salary will be the same in a school district regardless of where you get your degree. And your salary won’t be high. So…keep your debt low.</p>
<p>You are fortunate that Kentucky (your home state according to other threads) has comments where you can attend instate AND become certified as a teacher. And you are even more fortunate that you have a step parent who is willing to pay your costs if you stay instate.</p>
<p>The reality is you wil be required to list your mom and stepdad on your FAFSA form in order to compute your exoected FAMILY contribution. Your step dad is a member of your family as he is married to your mom.</p>
<p>You claim that your sister’s costs to attend college instate are $45,000 a year? Clearly this is not a public university in Kentucky as the cost to attend a public university as an instate student is not that high per year.</p>
<p>You also claim that the cost to attend the OOS school is less. Are you sure you are looking at the yearly cost, and not the semester cost? And did you include room/board for the full year? Check your numbers…they sound “off” to me.</p>
<p>ETA…the cost to attend University of Kentucky this year for an instate student is approximately $25,000 a year.</p>
<p>It looks like you want to attend University of Kansas…at a cost of about $40,000 plus per year. Do you plan to stay in Kansas and teach? I would strongly urge you to look at the starting salaries for teachers in Kansas. You are an OOS student for U of Kansas…so expecting a large amount of aid is probably not a smart thing to do…unless there are guaranteed merit awards for which you are eligible.</p>
<p>And by the way…the way your step dad files his taxes has NOTHING to do with the requirement that his incime and assets be listed on YOUR FAFSA. </p>
<p>It is required that your stepdad’s income and assets be included on your FAFSA. Period.</p>
<p>Did you get your application into Kansas by November 1? Have you heard back form them yet?</p>
<p>Thumper: OP is a junior. We still have time to talk sense into her.</p>
<p>You have to declare your SF’s income on FAFSA, there is no way around that. </p>
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<p>don’t listen to random people telling you what you want to hear. That is total BS.</p>
<p>Besides…your mom and SF likely file jointly anyway, so you would be listed on his/their taxes. But even if your mom filed separately, she’d still be filing as married, and BOTH mom’s and SF’s income would be included on FAFSA.</p>
<p>You are not going to “get more aid” from an OOS public just because you get to include a step-sister in the household count. Does the step-sister live in your household? If not, I don’t think you can count her on FAFSA. </p>
<p>But either way, an OOS public like Kansas isn’t going to give you more money.</p>
<p>Run the NPCs and you’ll see.</p>
<p>BTW…that OOS school is NOT the least bit more prestigious. Where did you ever get that idea???</p>