Dependent vs. Independent Students

The FAFSA form includes a section with eight questions that determine whether you are a dependent or independent student. It's important to keep in mind that the financial aid process of determining dependence is NOT related to the IRS process. The most common reasons that you will be classified as independent for financial aid purposes are:

  • You will be age 24 before January 1 of the coming year.
  • You are married.
  • You have a child for whom you provide more than half of the support.

There are a few other reasons that you would be classified as independent, but note that the following two situations are NOT in themselves reasons to define a student as independent:

  • The fact that you are not claimed as an exemption on your parents' federal tax form does NOT make you "independent."
  • The fact that you do not live with your parents, or do not receive support from them, does not in itself make you "independent."