Application Process

Noncustodial Parent Information

Our policy is to require financial information from both biological/adoptive parents of students when applying for financial aid. The custodial parent is expected to provide income, asset and other information on both the CSS Profile and FAFSA. The noncustodial parent is also expected to provide information on a separate CSS Profile application. If either parent is remarried, the stepparent's information must be included.

Important note for current students: The noncustodial parent CSS Profile is only required once and is waived for current students who have completed it in a prior academic year.

• Determining the Custodial Parent

  If your parents are divorced or separated, you will be asked on the application who provides the majority of your financial support. Typically, the parent that selects that they provide more than half of the student’s financial support is the primary custodial parent. 

  If support is split evenly between households, select the parent with the higher income and assets. If a student has two parents/households completing the CSS Profile, keep in mind that only one parent or household will select that they provide more than half of the student’s financial support. It will delay processing if more than one parent selects that they provide more than half of the student’s support. 

  Note that the parent who completed or will complete the FAFSA should be the same parent as the one selected on the CSS Profile as providing more than half of the student’s financial support.

• Noncustodial Parent CSS Profile

  If your parents are divorced, separated or were never married to each other, you'll be prompted to share your noncustodial parent's email address while competing the CSS Profile. The College Board will use this email address to contact your parent with information about filling out a separate CSS Profile using his or her own login credentials. We recommended you and your custodial parent complete the CSS Profile application before your noncustodial parent does so. For more information on creating an account for the Noncustodial Parent CSS Profile, view the College Board's how-to guide.

  The noncustodial parent's information is kept secure and is shared only with the colleges authorized by the student. Neither the student nor the custodial parent has access to the noncustodial parent's information unless the noncustodial parent chooses to share his or her password. DU will not release, electronically or otherwise, the income and asset information of a divorced/separated parent to the other parent.

• Special Circumstances and Appeals

  We recognize extenuating circumstances may make it impossible to obtain noncustodial information. If your noncustodial parent's whereabouts are unknown or if there are other extenuating circumstances, we may exempt you from the Noncustodial Profile requirement. However, a parent's refusal to provide information or financial support will not, on its own, constitute sufficient justification for a waiver of this requirement.

  To request a waiver of this requirement, you must complete and submit, with the necessary third-party documentation, a Noncustodial Profile Waiver Request. We understand the sensitive nature of many of these circumstances—all information will be used solely for the purpose of considering a waiver and will be kept confidential. The Financial Aid Appeals Committee reviews waiver requests on an individual basis, but submission for review does not guarantee a waiver request will be granted.

  Any incomplete request forms will not be accepted or reviewed until all necessary documentation is provided. Once the request is submitted, you'll be notified via email of the outcome within three weeks. We cannot offer any institutional need-based aid until your noncustodial parent's CSS Profile is received or a waiver is approved.

• Resources
  • Reporting Parents on the CSS Profile
  • Creating a CSS Profile Account for Parent Use
  • Completing the CSS Profile for the Noncustodial Parent
  • Noncustodial Parent Profile Waiver Request

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need to apply for financial aid in order to receive an admission decision?

  No. Completing the financial aid application process is not required in order to be considered for admission to DU.

  Important note for music majors: The Lamont School of Music grants comprehensive scholarships based on musical talent and academic merit. Financial need is also considered if the student applies for DU need-based financial aid.

• Do I need to apply for financial aid if I'm only interested in receiving a merit scholarship?

  No. Completing the financial aid application process is not required in order to be considered for a merit scholarship.

• I already submitted the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile. How do I know if DU has received them?

  If you're a prospective student, log into your application status page and click on the "Financial Aid" box near the middle of the page. Anything that still says "Awaiting" is needed in order to complete your financial aid application.

  If you're a current student, review your Financial Aid Checklist on your My4D dashboard. If there is a green check mark next to your application, we've received it.

• What's the best way to submit additional documents to your office?

  If you're a prospective student, the easiest, most secure way to submit documents is to upload them through your application status page. Get step-by-step instructions by viewing our how-to video. You can also email them to finaid@du.edu or fax them to 303-871-2341.

  If you're a current student, we recommend uploading them through My4D as it's the most secure option. We'll accept documents via email or fax as well.

• I was notified that my financial aid offer was based only on the FAFSA. Do I need to submit the CSS Profile?

  Remember that while the FAFSA determines your eligibility for need-based federal and state financial aid, the CSS Profile determines your eligibility for institutional need-based aid. If your financial aid offer is based solely on your FAFSA and you'd like to be considered for additional aid, we recommend submitting the CSS Profile. Once we receive that application, we'll reevaluate your eligibility, and if we're able to offer you additional DU grant aid, we'll send you a revised financial aid offer.