05.18.07 | Dependent VS. Independent Status
Ok, let’s go over a common scenario…
You’re 21 years old, have been living on your own for a couple of years, are legal drinking age and yet you still need your parents information when filling out the FAFSA. It seems unbelievable, but it is true. The US Department of Education considers a student a dependent up until the age of 24 except in certain instances. Below I have broken down the difference between an Independent VS. Dependent student.
Independent Status
- You are at least 24 years old on the day you file your FAFSA
- You are or will be enrolled in a masters or Doctoral degree program at the beginning of the school year
- You are married on the day you file your FAFSA
- You are a parent
- You have dependents other than your spouse who live with you and who receive more than half their support from you at the time you apply
- Both your parents are deceased (or were until age 18) a ward of dependent of the court
- You are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training
- You’re a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
If none of the above criteria apply to you, you’re a dependent student - even if your IRS tax status is different, even if you’re legally emancipated from your parents, even if you have no idea where your parents are.
That said, in rare cases, your school’s financial aid officer can override the FAFSA results to help you get more aid if you can demonstrate a compelling case that your parents and family provide absolutely no support, and therefore you’re not really a dependent. This is called a professional judgement override and while they are granted extremely rarely, they do exist. If you need a professional judgement override for dependency status, gather up as much documentation as you can, from rent bills to utility bills to the legal judgement from a court emancipating you from your parents and bring it to your financial aid advisor. While you’re not guaranteed anything, it’s at least worth a try.
If you are still unsure of your status please feel free to contact the Student Loan Network.

