Dependency Status for the FAFSA
The FAFSA asks a series of questions that determine if you are considered dependent or independent of your parents for the purpose of applying for federal financial aid. If you are considered a dependent student, you must report your parents' information on the FAFSA, as well as your own. If you are independent, only your information is required to consider you for federal aid. Even if you do not live with your parents, you claim yourself on your taxes, or your parents do not provide financial support for you to attend school, you may be considered a dependent student.
FAFSA Dependency Questions
The FAFSA dependency questions are listed below. They change a little from one year's application to the next. For example, the the 2024-2025 FAFSA will require parent data if you were born before January 1, 2001. But, the 2025-2026 FAFSA will require parent data if you were born before January 1, 2002. If you answer "No" to ALL of the questions, you are considered a dependent student. If you answer "Yes" correctly to ANY of the questions, you are considered an independent student. For the 2024-2025 academic year, the FAFSA asks:
- Were you born before January 1, 2001?
- As of today, are you married? (Answer "No" if you are separated but not divorced.)
- At the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, will you be working on a master's or doctorate program (such as an M.A., MBA, M.D., J.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., graduate certificate, etc.)?
- 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?)
- Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
- 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?
- At any time since you turned age 13, were you an orphan (no living biological or adoptive parent)?
- At any time since you turned age 13, were you a ward of the court?
- At any time since you turned age 13, were you in foster care?
- Are you or were you a legally emancipated minor, as determined by a court in your state of residence?
- 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?
- At any time or or after July 1, 2023, were you unaccompanied and either (1) homeless or (2) self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?
For more information about your dependency status, visit studentaid.gov.
Parents Refuse to Provide Information
If your parents refuse to provide their information, visit our Parent Refusal webpage for more information.
Unusual Circumstances
If you have unusual circumstances that prevent you from providing parent information on the FAFSA, contact Enrollment Services to discuss your situation with an Enrollment Services Counselor.