Hi, is there a way to calculate what the non-custodial parent’s financial obligation will be with the CSS? I know my EFC from the FASFA but I would like to try to figure out how much they are going to say my ex has to contribute since we are both not rich people. Do they combine our incomes even though we are divorced? Thank you
Hi, kid of divorced parent here. Most colleges will add together your separate EFC’s. If there is a special situation you can talk to them. But rather than just add your incomes together, they’ll separately calculate an efc for both of you using your separate houses and stuff.
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The college will give you your family contribution as they calculate it to be. They do not say who pays what. That is a decision you and your former spouse will need to make.
For CSS Profile Schools, I would say…ignore the FAFSA SAI (which is the new term for EFC). Really, all that number does is give the colleges your eligibility for federally funded grant aid like the Pell (if you are eligible), and allows your student to take the federally funded Direct Loan.
The Profile schools will use the information on your profile and the non-custodial parent profile to determine the family contribution for your student. And they will award need based aid based on the formulas used by each college (and they do vary…and it can be by a lot).
So…you have to wait to see what the college net cost for your student is at each college and then you and your former spouse need to determine how that will be paid. The college does not do that for you.
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You can run the NPC for each college, entering data for yourself first, then again with your spouse’s. It should fmgive you an idea.
Many colleges do not meet need, meaning that if the university costs 35k and your child gets a 3k scholarship, they then get 5.5k in loans, if you’re eligible for Pell 6k and the rest if for the parents to pay *even if they can’t *.
Each college decides that they want to do.
Compare these 4:
https://npc.collegeboard.org/app/etown
https://www.duq.edu/admission-and-aid/financial-aid-and-scholarships/resources/net-price-calculator.php
The results are likely VERY different wrt your NET COST (<- Net cost is what you need to look at).
(I picked 4 colleges with 4 different financial aid policies and tuitions).
Have you communicated a budget to your child? Was there a minimum guarantee in the custodial agreement (ie., “full tuition will be paid by father, R& board& fees by mother, up to the amount of instate flagship”). Some parents eschew their duty and decide not to pay, making their kids’lives miserable.