Do FAFSA and Common App parent info need to match if using only one parent's income?

You're asking about two different systems that serve different purposes. For FAFSA, you're absolutely correct to only include the custodial parent's information (yours) if you're divorced. That's following proper FAFSA guidelines. For the Common App, it's actually best practice to complete all the parent information sections as accurately as possible, even if that includes the non-custodial parent. Colleges understand these are different systems with different requirements, and they won't consider it suspicious or inconsistent. Common App is primarily for admissions, while FAFSA is specifically for financial aid calculations based on custodial household income.

we had the same thing last yr when my son applied. put both parents on common app but only me (mom) on fafsa since im custodial parent. worked fine no problems at all with his financial aid packages!!

This is a common source of confusion! To clarify: Common App and FAFSA serve different purposes and have different requirements. FAFSA: Only include the custodial parent's information (the parent with whom the student lived more during the past 12 months). If time was split equally, use the parent who provided more financial support. Common App: Complete all parent sections as requested. Many colleges use this information for a complete picture of the family, not just for financial calculations. Some colleges may also require the CSS Profile, which DOES ask for non-custodial parent information for certain schools. That's separate from both Common App and FAFSA. To ensure everything goes smoothly, I recommend keeping documentation of your custody arrangement handy in case it's requested during verification.

When I was filling out college apps like 2 years ago I remember this exact situation being so confusing lol. My parents are divorced and I ended up putting both on Common App but only my mom on FAFSA since she's who I live with most of the time. Then later some schools asked for additional divorce documentation and some didn't care at all. Totally depended on the school!

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO BE CONFUSING! They WANT you to make mistakes so they can deny aid or flag your application for "verification" which is just code for "we're going to make you jump through a million hoops." My daughter's FAFSA got flagged for verification last year because of a similar parent info situation and we ended up missing deadlines because they kept asking for more and more documents. The schools don't talk to each other, the systems don't talk to each other, and families get caught in the middle. It's RIDICULOUS!

When I was dealing with this exact issue (divorced parents, only reporting custodial parent on FAFSA), I spent HOURS trying to get through to someone at Federal Student Aid for clarification. Called dozens of times and got disconnected or waited forever. Finally found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an FSA agent in about 10 minutes. They confirmed it's completely fine to have different parent information on Common App vs. FAFSA since they're separate systems with different requirements. You can see how it works in their demo video: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. Saved me so much stress knowing I was doing it right.

One additional point to consider: Some more selective private colleges require the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA, and the CSS Profile does often require non-custodial parent information even if FAFSA doesn't. Check if any schools on your daughter's list require the CSS Profile so you can plan accordingly. Each college sets its own policy on whether they require non-custodial parent information on the CSS Profile.

wait im confused about something else - i thought fafsa changed this year and now asks about "contributors" not parents? does the contributor have to be the custodial parent or can it be anyone? my situation is complicated bc im mostly with my stepdad but my bio mom is technically custodial parent...

When my son was applying for colleges last year, we were in the same situation and I remember being so stressed about it all! What we ended up doing was putting both parents on Common App but just me as the custodial parent on FAFSA. Then for the 3 schools that required CSS Profile, we had to provide info for both parents which was a whole other headache because my ex wouldn't cooperate at first. My advice is to start early and get all your documentation organized NOW. We kept a folder with the divorce decree, custody agreement, tax returns, etc. Half the schools never asked for anything but a couple did want verification.

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My ex and I divorced 3 years ago and I've been dreading this whole process. It's reassuring to hear from so many people who've successfully navigated this. A few questions for those who've been through it: 1) Should I give my daughter's dad a heads up that some schools might request his info for CSS Profile, or just deal with it if/when it comes up? 2) For the schools that asked for additional documentation, was it usually right after you submitted applications or closer to when aid packages were finalized? I'm trying to set realistic expectations for the timeline. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this confusing process!