Dependency Status

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

Dependency Status 2025-26 Dependency Status 2024-25

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.

Documentation: Dependent Child Information Form; Dependent Other Than Spouse or Child Information Form

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 2024-2025

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 2024-2025 academic year and will not need to provide parental information on the FAFSA.

Were you born before Jan. 1, 2001?
As of today, are you married? (Also answer "Yes" if you are separated but not divorced.)
At the beginning of the 2024-25 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, 2024, and June 30, 2025?
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, 2023, 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)

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?)	If you are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training, submit a copy of your active duty orders. If you are not currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, you will need to correct your FAFSA. Review question 46 on the FAFSA and correct the applicable answer from Yes to No. In doing so, the FAFSA is going to ask if you are a Veteran of the Armed Forces. Answer No to this question if you: have never engaged in active duty (including basic training) in the U.S. Armed Forces, are currently an ROTC student or a cadet or midshipman at a service academy, are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee activated only for state or training purposes, or were engaged in active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces but released under dishonorable conditions. Also, you must update the FAFSA by providing parental information, including the signature of at least one of your parents. You will also need to complete a dependent verification form once we receive the new FAFSA.
Do you now have—or will you have—children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025?	Complete the Dependent Child Information Form.
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, 2025?	Complete the Legal Dependent Information Form.
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?	If your parents are deceased, send a letter confirming your orphan status. If you are a ward of the court or have been in foster care, provide a letter explaining your circumstances and a copy of the court documents for verification.
Has it been determined by a court in your state of legal residence that you are an emancipated minor or that someone other than your parent or stepparent has legal guardianship of you? (You also should answer "Yes" if you are now an adult but were in legal guardianship or were an emancipated minor immediately before you reached the age of being an adult in your state. Answer "No" if the court papers say "custody" rather than "guardianship.")	Provide a copy of the emancipated minor or legal guardianship court documentation issued by the state. The definition of legal guardianship does not include your parents, even if they were appointed by a court to be your guardians. You are not considered a legal guardian of yourself.
At any time on or after July 1, 2023, were you determined to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless, as determined by (a) your high school or district homeless liaison, (b) the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or (c) the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program?	Have one of the following individuals submit a letter on official letterhead confirming your unaccompanied youth/homeless status: Your school district homeless liaison The director (or designee) of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department and Urban Development The director (or designee) of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program If unable to obtain a letter from one of the above individuals/organizations, please submit any other documentation that verifies your status (i.e. a statement from yourself explaining that you are homeless and where you have been staying and/or a statement from another individual with knowledge of your status). You do not need to explain why you are or were homeless.

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*Answer "No" (you are not a veteran) if you (1) have never engaged in active duty (including basic training) 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. Answer "Yes" (you are a veteran) if you (1) have engaged in active duty (including basic training) in the U.S. armed forces or are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee who was called to active duty for other than state or training purposes, or were a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies and (2) were released under a condition other than dishonorable. Also answer "Yes" if you are not a veteran now but will be one by June 30, 2025.

**If you do not have a determination that you are homeless, but you believe you are an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless, answer “No” to the FAFSA questions concerning being homeless. Then contact your financial aid office to explain your situation. “Homeless” means lacking fixed or regular housing. You may be homeless if you are living in shelters, parks, motels, hotels, cars, or temporarily living with someone else because you have nowhere else to go.