FAFSA help with divorced parents - can my daughter qualify for anything with my high income?

Don't worry too much yet - you should still complete the FAFSA regardless of income. Your daughter will qualify for unsubsidized federal student loans (currently $5,500 for freshmen) in her name alone that don't require your credit score or income qualification. The SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation also accounts for household size and other factors beyond just income. Also, many state schools have institutional aid that isn't solely based on the FAFSA calculation. Is your daughter considering any specific state schools? Some have automatic merit scholarships based on GPA/test scores that could significantly reduce costs.

just went thru this w/ my son. defintely fill out fafsa but ur daughter prolly won't get pell grants w/ ur income. but she CAN still qualify for fed loans in HER name (not yours) up to like 5500 first yr. also tell her to apply for EVERY scholarship she can find - even the small ones add up!!

While your income might disqualify her from need-based grants, there are several paths forward: 1. Federal Direct Loans in her name only (no cosigner needed) - $5,500 freshman year, increasing slightly each subsequent year 2. Merit scholarships at state schools - with a 3.7 GPA and 27 ACT, she should qualify for some automatic merit aid at many state schools 3. Parent PLUS loans - if your credit score improves, this could be an option later 4. Work-study programs - even if she doesn't qualify through FAFSA, many schools offer regular student employment 5. Appeal for special circumstances - your divorce, medical expenses, and current financial situation can be grounds for a professional judgment review I'd recommend contacting the financial aid offices directly at her top choices. They can often suggest school-specific options that aren't apparent from just the FAFSA results.

MY daughter had similar situation (I make too much for grants but not enough 4 college lol). Western State gave her $7k/yr in merit scholarships with 3.6 GPA! She also works on campus 12hrs/week which helps. Don't stress too much yet - there are always options!!!

Your ex should be helping pay for college regardless of what FAFSA says!!! My ex tried to get out of helping with college costs too but the court ordered him to pay half after I took him back to court. Just because she lives with you doesn't mean he's off the hook for education expenses. Something to consider if he has the means to help at all.

Have you tried calling the Federal Student Aid office to discuss your specific situation? I spent WEEKS trying to get through to someone who could help with my complicated FAFSA situation (divorced parents, one self-employed). I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual FSA agent in under 10 minutes instead of waiting on hold forever. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent I spoke with explained some special circumstance options I had no idea existed. They can sometimes make adjustments for situations exactly like yours with medical expenses and divorce complications.

Don't count out community college for the first two years!!!! My daughter transferred to state university after CC and saved us over $30,000. Same degree in the end but WAY cheaper start. She got her gen-ed classes done for like 1/4 the price and lived at home. Something to consider if the financial aid package isn't enough.

MAKE SURE SHE FILLS OUT CSS PROFILE TOO!!!! Some schools require both FAFSA and CSS Profile for institutional aid. The CSS asks different questions and some schools use it to award their own scholarships even when FAFSA doesn't qualify you for federal grants. It costs money to submit ($25ish) but WORTH IT.

Based on your follow-up comments, I think you have more options than you initially realized. With a 3.7 GPA and 27 ACT, your daughter has a good chance at merit scholarships at Western State. Their automatic merit scholarships typically range from $4,000-$8,000 per year for those stats. Regarding your medical expenses: ABSOLUTELY mention those in a special circumstances appeal. Medical expenses over 11% of your income can significantly adjust your SAI calculation. Make sure to document everything thoroughly. At minimum, your daughter should qualify for: - $5,500 in federal loans her first year - Likely around $5,000-$7,000 in merit scholarships - Potentially work-study or campus employment ($3,000-$4,000/year) That could bring the actual out-of-pocket cost down to around $8,000-$10,000 per year, which is much more manageable than the full $24,000.

I'm in a very similar situation as a newcomer to all this! My son is a junior and I'm already starting to panic about college costs. Reading through all these responses gives me so much hope - I had no idea about federal loans not requiring parent credit scores or that merit aid could bring costs down so significantly. @Mateo Rodriguez - your daughter's stats sound great for merit scholarships! I've been lurking in college financial aid groups and keep seeing that combination of filling out FAFSA + applying for merit aid + documenting special circumstances can really open doors. The medical expense documentation sounds like it could make a real difference in your case. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is incredibly informative for those of us just starting this journey!