Independent Students

You will be classified as independent for financial aid purposes if at least one of the following applies:

• you are 24 years of age or older by December 31 of the award year;
• you are married at the time the original FAFSA was filed for the year;
• you are or will be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program (beyond a bachelor’s degree) during the school year;
• you have children who receive more than half their support from you;
• you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half their support from you and will continue to receive more than half their support from you through June 30th of the school year;
• you are an orphan or ward of the court (or were a ward of the court until age 18);
• you are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training; or
• you are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. (Veteran includes students who attended a U.S. service academy and who were released under a condition other than dishonorable.)