For financial assistance, there are two classifications of students:
Dependent and Independent. Your classification depends on how you answer the
following questions:
- Are you or will you be 24 years old by December 31st of the current award
year?
- At the beginning of the current school year, will you be working on a
master's or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, or
graduate certificate, etc.)?
- As of today, are you married? (Answer "yes" if you are separated,
but not divorced.)
- Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from
you?
- Do you have dependents (other than our children or spouse) who live with
you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through
June 30 of the FAFSA award year?
- Are both of your parents deceased, or are you or were you (until age 18)
a ward/dependent of the court?
- Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
If you answer YES to any one of these questions, you are considered
Independent and would answer only the student sections on the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid.
If you answer NO to all of the above questions, you are considered
DEPENDENT and must complete all student questions in addition to the parent
sections on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
If, due to special circumstances, you feel that you should be
classified as Independent rather than Dependent, you should contact the Division
of Student Financial Assistance for guidance.
NOTE: All Professional Judgment (PJ) is based on a case by
case review of individual circumstances. All students have the right to appear
before the PJ committee. The date for each meeting is posted at the Division
of Student Financial Assistance Office in the Student Services Building.
