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Independent Students
Students are classified as independent (for the 2009-2010 school year) if they can answer yes to any of the following questions:
- Were you born before January 1, 1986?
- Are you married?
- At the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year, will you be working on a master's or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, graduate certificate, etc.)?
- 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?
- Do you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010?
- Do 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 and through June 30, 2010?
- At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents* deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?
- Are you or were you an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?
- Are you or were you in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?
- At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
- At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
- At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?
* Parents:
For Federal Student Aid (FSA), a biological or adoptive parent, or someone married to a biological or adoptive parent.
The following may not be considered as parents:
- Legal Guardians
- Foster Parents
- Grandparents
- Other Relatives
Applying for Financial Aid
To apply for financial aid, independent students must complete the FAFSA. Independent students complete this document in the same way that younger students do; however, the following points should be kept in mind:
- Student must be enrolled at least half-time to receive most forms of student financial aid
- If the student feels that the FAFSA does not accurately portray their financial situation, they should complete and submit the Special Conditions Appeal Request Form of the applicable year after March 1. This form allows the Office of Student Financial Aid to appropriately re-assess the student's need for assistance during the coming year
Frequently Asked Questions
See a list of frequently asked questions about independent students.
