• The following , an office of the U.S. Department of Education, regarding if an applicant for federal student aid is considered "independent" or "dependent."

    INDEPENDENT STUDENT

    If you answer YES to ANY of these questions, then you may be an independent student. You may not be required to provide parental information on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form.

    DEPENDENT STUDENT

    If you answer NO to ALL of these questions, then you may be considered a dependent student and may be required to provide your parents’ financial information when completing the FAFSA form.

    1. Were you born before Jan. 1, 2001?
    2. As of today, are you married?
    3. At the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, 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.)?
    4. Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training? (If you are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee, are you on active duty for other than state or training purposes?)
    5. Are you a veteran of the U.S. armed forces?*
    6. Do you have children or other people (excluding your spouse) who live with you, and who receive more than half of their support from you now and between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025?
    7. At any time since you turned 13, were you an orphan (no living biological or adoptive parent)? Were a ward of the court? Or, were in foster care?
    8. Are you or were you a legally emancipated minor, as determined by a court in your state of residence?
    9. Are you an emancipated minor or are you in legal guardianship as determined by a court?
    10. Are you or were you in a legal guardianship with someone other than your parent or stepparent, as determined by a court in your state of residence? 
    11. At any time on or after July 1, 2023, were you unaccompanied and either (1) homeless or (2) self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?**

    *Answer “Yes” (you are a veteran) if you (1) have engaged in active duty (including basic training) in the U.S. armed forces (military, naval, air, or space service) and were released under a condition other than dishonorable; (2) served full-time as a Reservist or member of the National Guard; or (3) were called to federal active duty. Also answer “Yes” if you are not a veteran now but will be one by June 30, 2025.

    *Answer “No” (you are not a veteran) if you (1) have never engaged in active duty in the U.S. armed forces, (2) are currently a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) student or a cadet or midshipman at a service academy, (3) are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee activated only for state or training purposes, or (4) were engaged in active duty in the U.S. armed forces but released under dishonorable conditions. Also answer “No” if you are currently serving in the U.S. armed forces and will continue to serve through June 30, 2025.

    **You’ll be considered provisionally independent and will be allowed to fill out the FAFSA form as an independent student if you indicate that you are unaccompanied and homeless or at risk of being homeless on the FAFSA form for the first time, and you don’t have a determination from an individual at an eligible agency. An individual at an eligible agency includes one of the following:

    • your high school or district homeless liaison or designee
    • the director or designee of an emergency or transitional shelter, street outreach program, homeless youth drop-in center, or other program serving those experiencing homelessness
    • the director or designee of a project supported by a federal TRIO program or a Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant
    • a financial aid administrator

    Answered “Yes” to One or More of the Questions Above

    If so, then for federal student aid purposes, you’re considered to be an independent student and will not be required to provide information about your parents on the FAFSA form.

    Answered “No” to Every Question

    If so, then for federal student aid purposes, you’re considered a dependent student, and you must provide information about your parents when you fill out the FAFSA form.

    For more information, visit .