Non-Custodial Parent Contribution Penalization

notaprincess
Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:52:54 +0000

Hello!

I’m a senior trying to choose between two schools- OSU and Case Western. My EFC is $13,000. Case is my first choice and I would absolutely love to go there. However, I have nearly $15k not covered by financial aid at Case. If I had the same PLUS at Case as the one offered at OSU, that gap would be 11k. At OSU, I have full funding my freshman year (10k in scholarships, 5.5k studen loan, 10k PLUS). My next year I only have $3,000 in scholarships at OSU because my 7k scholarship is only a one time deal. My dad and stepmom are also on track to make even more this fiscal year so I’m guessing my FA offer at OSU will have a 8k gap in aid sophomore year. My mother (NCP) lives in Florida and can contribute up to 10k a year as needed. However, if I accept that contribution at Case my grant (8k) is taken down to 3k and my 6k PLUS loan reduced to 1000. However, I thought my parents could take up to the remaining cost for a PLUS, so could I still have my dad take out the amount he wants or is it different at each school?

Is there anyway I can get around being penalized for my moms contribution? I will also be working two jobs this summer and save up a large portion (around 5k), but yet again it will count into my assets weakening my FA. I would really like to go to Case but I can’t appeal my FA as I never applied to a similar school, on top of that my dad and stepmom have no savings and limited disposable income despite making nearly $120k a year together.

Thank you! I greatly appreciate the help :)