Divorce and separation create some of the most complicated financial aid situations. Here is how the two major aid systems handle it.
FAFSA: The New Rule (Effective 2024–25)
Before 2024, the FAFSA used the custodial parent's financial information — meaning the parent the student lived with for more than half the year. This changed significantly in the 2024–25 FAFSA redesign. Now, the FAFSA uses the financial information of the parent who provided more financial support (in the form of money, housing, food, clothing, and other living expenses) during the prior calendar year — regardless of custody arrangements or who the student lives with. This can meaningfully change aid calculations for some divorced families.
Stepparent Income
If the parent completing the FAFSA is currently married or remarried, the stepparent's income and assets must also be reported on the FAFSA — even if the stepparent has no legal obligation to support the student and even if the student has never lived with the stepparent. This requirement applies regardless of how recently the marriage occurred.
CSS Profile: Usually Both Parents
The CSS Profile — used by many private colleges for their institutional aid — typically requires financial information from both biological parents, regardless of custody arrangement or divorce. This means a student whose parents are divorced may need to collect financial documents from a non-custodial parent who may be estranged or unwilling to cooperate. Some schools have processes for exceptional circumstances — contact the financial aid office directly if you face this situation.
If a Parent Refuses to Provide Information
If a parent is truly unable to be contacted or refuses to provide information, contact the financial aid office at each college directly. Schools have professional judgment processes for unusual circumstances, though they vary. Federal regulations for the FAFSA do have some provisions for students who cannot contact a parent due to abandonment or abuse.