Determining Your Dependency Status

When you apply for federal financial aid your answers to certain questions determine whether you are considered dependent or independent.  If you are considered a dependent student, you must report your parents income and assets as well as your own. Your parent must sign the FAFSA.  If you are considered an independent student, you report only your income and assets (and those of your spouse, if you are married).

Federal regulations state that you must meet at least one of the following requirements to be considered independent; 

• You were born before January 1, 1987.
• You are married.
• You will be working on a master's or doctorate program.
• You are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training.
• You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
• You have children who will receive more that half of their support from you between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011.
• You have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now through June 30, 2011.
• At any time since you turned 13, you had no living parent (biological or adoptive), you were in foster care or you were a dependent or ward of the court.
• You are an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence.
• You are in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence.
• At any time on or after July 1, 2009, your high school district homeless liaison determined that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless.
• At any time on or after July 1, 2009, the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determined that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless.
• At any time on or after July 1, 2009, the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determined that you were  an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless.

Under very limited special circumstances (i.e.; your parents are incarcerated; you have left home due to an abusive family environment; or you do not know where your parents are and are unable to contact them), you may submit your FAFSA without parental information.  However, you must follow up with the Financial Aid Office in order to complete the FAFSA.

Not all situations are considered a special circumstance. The following are situations that are not considered a special circumstance;

• Your parents do not want to provide their information on your FAFSA or;
• Your parents refuse to contribute to your college expenses or;
• Your parent do not claim you as a dependent on their income taxes or;
• You do not live with your parents.

 Last Updated On: 3/11/10