The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form utilized by students to determine how much financial aid they would qualify for. So, one would assume that only student information is required to complete it, right?
A reader wrote to Fastweb and asked:
"My daughter has not lived with me or my husband for a year and a half while she’s been attending college. We do not support her financially. We do not pay for her education, nor do we even send her money. She is completely self-sufficient, a fact of which we are very proud to claim!
We will not be claiming her as dependent on our taxes this year because that is a true reflection of what occurred. Would we still need to file the FAFSA for her and if so, why? -- Jennifer M."
FAFSA and the Dependent vs. Independent Student
Why do we have to file the FAFSA when my daughter supports herself?
Federal law assumes that the
parents have the primary responsibility for paying for their children's college education. In fact,
parent contribution is the primary method most students use to pay for college. The federal government provides grants and other forms of college support only when the parents are incapable of paying for college, not when the parents are unwilling to pay for college.
If parents of a dependent student refuse to complete the FAFSA, the student will not qualify for
any federal student aid. This includes federal education loans from the
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, federal work-study, or federal grants like the
Pell Grant or
TEACH Grant.
Dependent Student vs. Independent Student
The FAFSA distinguishes between students who are dependent and students who are independent. Parents of a dependent student are required to submit their financial and demographic information on the FAFSA.
Parents of an independent student are not required to complete the FAFSA. The definition of a dependent student for federal student aid purposes is different from the definition used on federal income tax returns.
Whether the parents claim the student as a dependent on their income tax returns is irrelevant to the student's status as a dependent for federal student aid purposes. Studentaid.gov offers a questionnaire to help families and students
determine their FAFSA dependency status.
Can I apply for the FAFSA without my Parents?
A student can apply for the FAFSA, or without an accompanying FAFSA parent account, only if they are considered an independent student. The 2025 – 26 FAFSA will treat independent students differently than it has in the past.
It used to be that a FAFSA was rejected if a student filed as independent, requiring follow-up by financial aid administrators to verify the student’s status. Now, a FAFSA for an independent student will be accepted under a provisional period, where the student will receive their
Student Aid Index (SAI, formerly known as EFC) while they await their approved independent status.
Independent Student
The current criteria for
independent student status include whether the student is age 24 or older as of December 31 of the academic year. A student can also be independent on the FAFSA if they are:
Married
Have a dependent other than a spouse
Are a veteran of the US Armed Forces, or have served on active duty in the Armed Forces for other training purposes
An orphan, in foster care or are considered a ward-of-the-court
An emancipated minor or in a court-ordered legal guardianship
Are considered homeless unaccompanied youth
Graduate and professional students are also considered independent. All other students are dependent.
Dependent Student
Most unmarried freshmen who are under the age of 24 and who are not veterans are considered dependent students on the FAFSA. There are some cases where a student can be granted a dependency override.
How to Get a Dependency Override
A student supporting themselves is not considered an unusual circumstance. College financial aid administrators may perform a
dependency override to grant independent student status to an otherwise dependent student, but only in unusual circumstances. Unusual circumstances can include an abusive family environment or when both parents are incarcerated, institutionalized, or otherwise incapacitated.
Studentaid.gov has published guidance in the
Application and Verification Guide that indicates that college financial aid administrators may not grant students a dependency override because:
The student is self-sufficient.
Parents do not claim the student as a dependent on their income tax returns.
Parents refuse to contribute to the student's education.
Parents refuse to complete the FAFSA or verification.
None of the above scenarios, alone or in combination, is sufficient justification for a dependency override.
What parent information is required for the FAFSA?
If your student is considered a dependent student, your information is required to complete the FAFSA. This does not make you financially responsible for any federal student loans they decide to accept.
On the FASFA, parents are referred to as “Contributors” throughout the process. This does not imply that parents will be contributing financially to their child’s education, but rather simply contributing their information to the FAFSA.
Below is a list of parent information needed to complete the FAFSA:
Parent’s FSA ID
The parent(s) filling out the FAFSA must have their own FSA ID.
Marital status
There are FAFSA rules on
separated, divorced and remarried parents. Students should adhere to the
rules of reporting based on the primary parent.
Household size
The FAFSA does ask for household size. However, the SAI does not consider multiple members in the same household enrolled in college at the same time, as the form did in the past.
Parent tax information
Now, the
IRS direct data exchange will automatically transfer your federal tax return information to the FAFSA.
Parent bank statements and investments
It is important to
report all required assets on the FAFSA.
