Who is considered a parent?

A legal parent includes a biological or adoptive parent, or a person that the state has determined to be your parent.  Grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, older brothers or sisters, widowed stepparents, and aunts and uncles are not considered parents unless they have legally adopted you

  1. Enter your Parent(s) marital status

    If your parent(s) were Never Married, Divorced/Separated:

    Choose the parent that you lived with most during the last 12 months. If you did not live with one parent more than the other, provide information about the parent who provided more financial support during the last 12 months, or during the most recent year that you actually received support from a parent.

    Explanation of Parent Marital Status Options

    1. Never Married 
      • Select which parent information will be provided
    2. Unmarried and legal parents living together
    3. Married or Remarried
      • Enter the date your parents got married or remarried
    4. Divorced or Separate
      • Enter the date your parent became divorced or separated
        • Select which parent information will be provided
    5. Widowed
      • Enter the date your parent became widowed
      • Select which parent information will be provided


  2. Click the Next button
  3. Enter 1st parent information
  4. Click the Next button
  5. Enter 2nd parent information, if applicable
  6.  Click the Next button
  7. Click YES OR NO if your parent(s) have lived in PA for at least 5 years
    • If the answer NO to this question, it may prompt PHEAA to require more information from the student to determine if the student meets their PA domicile regulations.  This is between the student and PHEAA to rectify, it doesn’t have any bearing on how CCAC is charging the student.

    • If your parents haven't been Pennsylvania residents for at least 5 years

      1. Use the drop-down box to list your parent(s) legal state of residence
      2.  Mark Yes or No if they became of legal resident by the date provided
      3.  If No, mark the month and year (MM/YYYY) for your parent who has lived in the state the longest
      4. Click the Next button
  8. Fill in the number of dependents, if you indicated your parent(s) are supporting someone other than a spouse and you during the dates listed on the FAFSA

    • The number of children (even if they don’t live with you) who will receive more than half of their support from your parent(s) (and if married, your spouse).   You can include any unborn children if they will be born during the award year.  DO NOT COUNT CHILDREN THAT ARE CONSIDERED TO BE INDEPENDENT BASED ON FAFSA DEPENDENCY STANDARDS
    • Grayed out areas are pre-populated or calculated based on your previous answers.
  9. Enter the number of people in college. You should include yourself for at least 1 in college.  
    • DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR PARENTS
  10. Click the Next button
  11.  You will move on to complete the Parent Financial Section