Family and Household Status

In determining your financial aid eligibility, we start with your family and household unit

1. It is Princeton’s policy to require information from both parents in order to determine eligibility for financial aid

   • Both parents' information must be reported on the PFAA and FAFSA
   • If you live in your home with two parents, this will be your family and household unit for financial aid
   • This is the case whether your parents are married or unmarried as long as they live together
   • This is also the case if you live with a parent and a stepparent
   • One or both of your parents may work in a geographically distant location and may live in a separate home in that location for work purposes—you will still report both parents' information on the PFAA and FAFSA
2. What if my parents are divorced/separated/never married and live in separate households?

   • The parent with whom you live most of the time is your custodial parent for financial aid
   • Your custodial parent's information will be used on the PFAA and the FAFSA
   • Your other parent is your noncustodial parent for financial aid
   • Your noncustodial parent must submit the Noncustodial Parent's Form—there are three versions:
     • U.S. form
     • Canadian form
     • International form
   • Non-custodial forms and tax documents may be uploaded to your financial aid portal, faxed or mailed to our office
3. Under exceptional circumstances, the noncustodial parent's information may be waived at our office's discretion

   • Only in the case of certain extenuating circumstances may the noncustodial parent requirement be waived
   • Applicants may receive consideration for a waiver by submitting the Noncustodial Parent Waiver Request Form
   • This form, along with the required substantiating statements, may be uploaded after you submit the PFAA.