Most undergraduate students are considered financially dependent upon their parent(s).  Both students and parents must provide financial information when applying for aid. Cornell recognizes that some family situations are unusual or unique and may warrant additional consideration:

Parents never married, separated, or divorced.

If you are considered financially dependent, Cornell requires both biological parents to complete a CSS Profile application, regardless of their current marital status.  When completing the CSS Profile, your “custodial” parent is the parent you live with the most. Your other parent is considered your “noncustodial parent”.

The federal FAFSA form also requires information from both parents in most situations.  When completing the FAFSA form, the parent who provides the most financial support is the parent required to provide financial information, even if you do not live with that parent.  In some situations, the biological parent contributing their financial information to your FAFSA form may not be the parent you live with.

If you have no contact with your noncustodial parent, the whereabouts of your noncustodial parent are unknown, or if there are extenuating circumstances that prevent your noncustodial parent from completing a CSS Profile, please complete a Noncustodial Parent CSS Profile Waiver Request form. Third-party supporting documentation is typically required.  Parent(s) refusal to provide financial information is not sufficient to approve a waiver request.

All waiver information and supporting documentation is kept strictly confidential and will not be shared without written authorization.

Dependent vs. Independent

In some situations, unusual or unique family situations impact whether or how much parent financial information is required on your financial aid application(s).  If it is not possible to provide your parent financial information, you may complete a Dependency Override Request form.  If approved, you will be considered “independent” and not required to provide parent financial information when applying for aid.

If you are admitted to Cornell as a dependent student, you will remain as such for your time at Cornell. Even if you are considered independent for federal student aid, Cornell may consider you to be a dependent of your parents when determining institutional aid eligibility.

If you have questions about a dependency override request, please contact a Cornell financial aid counselor to discuss your individual circumstances confidentially.