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Got a question about financial aid? You may just find the answer to what you're looking for in our helpful list of frequently asked questions below. Or visit our video library y en espanol!
To be eligible to receive federal and state student aid, you must meet the requirements noted here.
The parent whom you have lived with the longest period of time during the past 12 months is the parent whose information you will need to include on your FAFSA®.
If you did not live with either parent, or lived with each parent for an equal number of days, you should include information on your FAFSA® for the parent who provided the most financial support (i.e., housing, food, clothing, transportation, medical care, school) for you during the last 12 months.
To determine if you meet independent status please review the information below.
Will you be 24 or older by Jan. 1 of the school year for which you are applying for financial aid? For example, if you plan to start school in August 2021 for the 2021–22 school year, will you be 24 by Jan. 1, 2021 (i.e., were you born before Jan. 1, 1998)?
Are you married or separated but not divorced?
Will you be working toward a master’s or doctorate degree (such as M.A., MBA, M.D., J.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., etc.)?
Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?
Do you have dependents (other than children or a spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you?
Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training?
Are you a veteran of the U.S. armed forces?
At any time since you turned age 13, were both of your parents deceased, were you in foster care, or were you a ward or dependent of the court?
Are you an emancipated minor or are you in a legal guardianship as determined by a court?
Are you an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?
If you don’t answer “yes” to any of the questions above, you’re still considered a dependent student for purposes of applying for federal student aid even if you don’t live with your parents, are not claimed by your parents on their tax forms, or are paying for your own bills and educational expenses.
If you do not meet any of the criteria above, but still feel that you should be considered as an independent student, you may submit a Petition for Independent Status to the Office of Student Financial Assistance.