Select the applicable academic year to find the specific information needed for determining your dependency status.

Dependency Status 2026-27 Dependency Status 2025-26

Determining Dependency Status for 2026-2027

Your dependency status will determine whether or not parent information will be required on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you can answer yes to one of the following questions, you will be considered independent for the 2026-2027 academic year and will not need to provide parental information on the FAFSA.

If you answer yes to one of the following questions, you may be asked to verify your independent status by the Office of Student Financial Aid. If you answered no to any of the following questions but feel you should be considered independent, contact our office so we can collect more information. The table below indicates acceptable documentation.

  • Were you born before Jan. 1, 2003? 

  • As of today, are you married? (Also answer "Yes" if you are separated but not divorced.) 

  • At the beginning of the 2026-27 school year, will you be working on a master's, doctorate, or graduate certificate program (MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, 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 spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you now and between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027? 

  • At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased?  

  • At any time since you turned age 13, were you in foster care?  

  • At any time since you turned age 13, were you a ward of the court? 

  • 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 on or after July 1, 2025, were you determined to be an unaccompanied and either homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless as determined by a:  

    • Director or designee of an emergency or transitional shelter, street outreach program, homeless youth drop-in center, or other program serving those experiencing homelessness 

    • High school district homeless liaison or designee 

    • Director or designee or a project supported by a federal TRIO or GEAR Up program grant 

    • Financial Aid Administrator (FAA)   

Dependency Status Confirmation for 2026-2027

Active Duty

The student is currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training.  

  • Documentation: DD214 (Member-4 or Service-2) or Mobilization Orders (MOB) 

  • Notes: Students who are members of the National Guard or Reserves must be called to active duty by Presidential Order (Title 10 USC) 

Veteran

The student is a veteran of the U.S. armed forces. 

  • Documentation: DD214 (Member-4 or Service-2)  

  • Notes: Students who are members of the National Guard or Reserves must be called to active duty by Presidential Order (Title 10 USC) 

Child/Other Dependent

The student has children or other people (excluding their spouse) who live with the student and receive more than half of their support from the student now and between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027. 

  • Notes: Students will need to provide proof that they are the majority financial supporter of the individual 

Orphan

At any time since the student turned 13, they were an orphan (no living biological or adoptive parent). 

  • Documentation: Obituary or Certificate of Death for both parents 

  • Notes: Students will need to provide proof that both biological/adoptive parents are deceased. If only one parent is deceased, and the other is estranged, students can contact us to review possible next steps.

Ward of Court

At any time since the student turned 13, they were a ward of the court. 

  • Documentation: Court documentation showing student was ward of the court 

  • Notes: Students who were ward of the court due as an adjudicated minor, are not considered independent

Foster Care

At any time since the student turned 13, they were in foster care.  

  • Documentation: Court documentation showing student was entered into the foster care system, or an “Aged Out” determination from the state’s Department of Health and Human Services or equivalent.

Emancipated Minor

The student is or was a legally emancipated minor, as determined by a court in their state of residence. 

  • Documentation: Court documentation showing an emancipation order was approved. 

  • Notes: Students who are from Puerto Rico are considered “emancipated” at age 18, this is not considered independent due to emancipation for FAFSA purposes. Court approved emancipation is rare. 

Legal Guardianship

The student is or was in a legal guardianship with someone other than their parent or stepparent, as determined by a court in their state of residence. 

  • Documentation: Court documentation showing student was in legal guardianship upon reaching age 18 (ie Annual/Final Report). 

  • Notes: Temporary guardianships and conservatorships are not considered acceptable for independent status. Student cannot be in a legal guardianship with a biological and/or adoptive parent. Custody is not legal guardianship. Legal Guardianship is indicative of a complete termination of parental rights. 

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth – FAA Determination

Student was determined to be an Unaccompanied Homeless Youth by a Financial Aid Administrator. 

  • Notes: Only applies to students who are entering their first year in college and could not have been granted independent status by a Financial Aid Administrator.  

Determining Dependency Status for 2025-2026

Your dependency status will determine whether or not parent information will be required on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you can answer yes to one of the following questions, you will be considered independent for the 2025-2026 academic year and will not need to provide parental information on the FAFSA.

If you answer yes to one of the following questions, you may be asked to verify your independent status by the Office of Student Financial Aid. If you answered no to any of the following questions but feel you should be considered independent, contact our office so we can collect more information. The table below indicates acceptable documentation.

  • Were you born before Jan. 1, 2002? 

  • As of today, are you married? (Also answer "Yes" if you are separated but not divorced.) 

  • At the beginning of the 2025-26 school year, will you be working on a master's, doctorate, or graduate certificate program (MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, 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 spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you now and between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026? 

  • At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased?  

  • At any time since you turned age 13, were you in foster care?  

  • At any time since you turned age 13, were you a ward of the court? 

  • 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 on or after July 1, 2024, were you determined to be an unaccompanied and either homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless as determined by a:  

    • Director or designee of an emergency or transitional shelter, street outreach program, homeless youth drop-in center, or other program serving those experiencing homelessness 

    • High school district homeless liaison or designee 

    • Director or designee or a project supported by a federal TRIO or GEAR Up program grant 

    • Financial Aid Administrator (FAA)   

Dependency Status Confirmation for 2025-2026

Active Duty

The student is currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training.  

  • Documentation: DD214 (Member-4 or Service-2) or Mobilization Orders (MOB) 

  • Notes: Students who are members of the National Guard or Reserves must be called to active duty by Presidential Order (Title 10 USC) 

Veteran

The student is a veteran of the U.S. armed forces. 

  • Documentation: DD214 (Member-4 or Service-2)  

  • Notes: Students who are members of the National Guard or Reserves must be called to active duty by Presidential Order (Title 10 USC) 

Child/Other Dependent

The student has children or other people (excluding their spouse) who live with the student and receive more than half of their support from the student now and between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. 

  • Notes: Students will need to provide proof that they are the majority financial supporter of the individual 

Orphan

At any time since the student turned 13, they were an orphan (no living biological or adoptive parent). 

  • Documentation: Obituary or Certificate of Death for both parents 

  • Notes: Students will need to provide proof that both biological/adoptive parents are deceased. If only one parent is deceased, and the other is estranged, students can contact us to review possible next steps.

Ward of Court

At any time since the student turned 13, they were a ward of the court. 

  • Documentation: Court documentation showing student was ward of the court 

  • Notes: Students who were ward of the court due as an adjudicated minor, are not considered independent. 

Foster Care

At any time since the student turned 13, they were in foster care.  

  • Documentation: Court documentation showing student was entered into the foster care system, or an “Aged Out” determination from the state’s Department of Health and Human Services or equivalent. 

Emancipated Minor

The student is or was a legally emancipated minor, as determined by a court in their state of residence. 

  • Documentation: Court documentation showing an emancipation order was approved. 

  • Notes: Students who are from Puerto Rico are considered “emancipated” at age 18, this is not considered independent due to emancipation for FAFSA purposes. Court approved emancipation is rare. 

Legal Guardianship

The student is or was in a legal guardianship with someone other than their parent or stepparent, as determined by a court in their state of residence. 

  • Documentation: Court documentation showing student was in legal guardianship upon reaching age 18 (ie Annual/Final Report). 

  • Notes: Temporary guardianships and conservatorships are not considered acceptable for independent status. Student cannot be in a legal guardianship with a biological and/or adoptive parent. Custody is not legal guardianship. Legal Guardianship is indicative of a complete termination of parental rights. 

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth – FAA Determination

Student was determined to be an Unaccompanied Homeless Youth by a Financial Aid Administrator. 

  • Notes: Only applies to students who are entering their first year in college and could not have been granted independent status by a Financial Aid Administrator.