When applying for college does your annual income need to be included in the total family income?

It depends on the college and the specific financial aid application. Some colleges require students to report their annual income, while others do not. Students should check with the college's financial aid office to determine if they need to report their annual income.

In general, students who are applying for federal financial aid are required to report their annual income. This information is used to determine a student's eligibility for federal financial aid programs, such as the Pell Grant and the Stafford Loan. Students who do not report their annual income may be denied financial aid.

Some colleges may also require students to report their annual income if they are applying for institutional financial aid. Institutional financial aid is financial aid that is awarded by a college or university from its own funds. The criteria for awarding institutional financial aid vary from college to college. Some colleges may consider a student's annual income when awarding institutional financial aid, while others may not.

Students should check with the financial aid office at each college they are applying to to determine if they need to report their annual income.