General Information  

• General Information
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Maintaining Financial Aid  

• Terms & Conditions
• Academic Progress Standards
• Reporting Other Assistance

A student who lives outside of the parent’s home is not automatically independent for financial aid purposes. Where a student lives does not have an impact on how a student applies for financial aid. A student may be independent for financial aid purposes and still be living in the parent’s home.

Students are automatically determined independent if he/she meet any one of the following criteria. The following criteria are current as of the 2010-2011 FAFSA Application:

1. The student was born before January 1, 1986.
2. The student is working on a master’s or doctorate program.
3. The student is married.
4. The student has children who receive more than half of their support from the student.
5. The student has dependents (other than children or spouse) who live with the student and who receive more than half of their support from the student now through June 30, 2011.
6. The student is an orphan or ward of the court until the age of 18.
7. The student is currently serving on active duty for purposes other than training.
8. The student is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
9. The student at any time since turning 13 had both parents deceased, was in foster care or was a dependent or ward of the court.
10. The student is or was an emancipated minor prior to the age of 18.
11. The student is or was in legal guardianship.
12. The student at any time after July 1, 2009 was determined by their high school or school district homeless liasion, the director of an emergency shelter or transition & housing program, director of runaway or homeless youth center or transitional living program, to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless.

In the case of students selecting foster care, orphan, ward of court, emancipated minor, legal guardianship, and homeless status, the student will be required to submit appropriate documentation supporting this status.

Students who answer “no” to all of the above questions are considered dependent for financial aid purposes. Sometimes a student who is dependent has unusual circumstances regarding their family situation. The Financial Aid office may review these circumstances and override a dependent student’s status to independent. A review of the dependency status will be considered if an irrevocable severance of family ties due to an extremely difficult/life-threatening situation exists.

The following reasons do not constitute a change in dependency status:

1. The student chooses not to live with the parents.
2. The student chooses to live with other relatives.
3. The student has no communication with the parents.
4. The parents refuse to contribute to the student’s education.
5. The student will not qualify for aid if the parent’s income is used.
6. The parents refuse to provide required information.
7. The parents live out of state.