I can’t remember a single NPC that didn’t ask marital status, and all seemed to have the options of single (never married), divorced, widowed, married. Some things don’t matter, like if you are looking for the simplified assets test, the under $50k is for the return, and it doesn’t matter if it is for one parent, for two parents with both working, for one parent working but filing the return as married - it’s under $50k. Having two parents gets an extra ‘family member’ for the count.
I think there are NCP who do not pay their required child support but a waiver would not be granted because the NCP does have contact or there is a way to contact that parent. My brother had a lot of contact but paid no child support.
Every school is going to have its own standards for granting the NCP waiver. Some might want proof that the CP/student made an attempt to contact the missing parent while others may have a period of time required for not seeing the NCP before granting a waiver (5 years? 10 years?). Discuss it with the schools.
I don’t see how a school like Alabama or UK would be a better choice for a florida resident than a Florida school on Bright Futures. If you want no loans, no gaps, the way to go is Bright Future/ Benacquisto full ride.
Only you can decide if it is worth it to take loans or work in order to go out of state and avoid a Florida school.