My child is 27 years old, has been out of school for 5 years with various jobs, and has been an independent living in a different state. He is considering going to graduate school. He’s in the process of filling out the FAFSA and CSS Profile. It’s been a while since I filled out those forms. For the CSS Profile he is being asked to provide all my information (tax info, asset info, social security number, etc). A part of me questions whether this is necessary. My son says it is but I thought I’d tap this community to understand further. I know I could refuse, but if it helps in some way I of course want to do it.
Anyone have any thoughts?
Policies will vary by school, but yes, some CSS profile schools can and do require parental financials for non-traditional students. Their money, their rules. Your S can reach out to the financial aid office of each CSS Profile school on his list and ask if they will require parent financials.
For FAFSA, your S will be considered independent because they are older than 24 (and looks like a grad student).
@kelsmom?
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What type of graduate program?
Some medical schools require this info well into 30’s
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Yes! Same for some other grad programs too…these schools want to see the family’s full financial situation.
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He would be eligible for federal aid with just the FAFSA. However, if the school requires Profile in order to be considered for institutional aid, he would not be considered for aid from the school without filing that form. Federal aid at the grad level is very limited (loans that are capped based on program), so if there’s any possibility of augmenting that with institutional aid, filing the Profile is wise.
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This might depend upon the type of graduate program. It also might depend where you apply.
When one daughter was applying to DVM programs, we just figured that no financial aid was available. However, she had established residency and worked in a different state, and was considered in-state for the state that she had moved to (most DVM programs in the USA are at public universities).
When our other daughter was applying to PhD programs, as far as I know they never asked and we never told them anything about the parent’s finances. She is in a fully funded PhD program, so the school covers tuition and fees and health insurance, and pays her a stipend which is just enough to live on as long as you live frugally.