At what age are you no longer a dependent for FAFSA?
24 or older
A student age 24 or older by Dec. 31 of the award year is considered independent for federal financial aid purposes.
Can I do FAFSA without my parents?
You may not be required to provide parental information on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. If you answer NO to ALL of these questions, then you may be considered a dependent student and may be required to provide your parents’ financial information when completing the FAFSA form.
What happens if my parents don’t pay for my college?
If not, you are considered to be dependent on your parents and their income and resources will determine your eligibility for assistance. If your parents refuse to pay, you will have to make up the difference. The school and the government will not help. Learn more: Federal Financial Aid and the FAFSA Independent Student
What if my parents won’t help me fill out the FAFSA®?
If you don’t qualify for special circumstances but your parents still won’t assist with the FAFSA®, you can consider other options. When filling out the FAFSA®, indicate that you can’t submit your parents’ information and complete the form. Contact your school’s financial aid office immediately to explain your situation.
How can I convince my parents to help me get financial aid?
Your first goal should be to encourage your parents to complete the financial aid forms. Even if they don’t want to help you pay for college costs, by refusing to complete the forms they prevent you from getting aid on your own account (e.g., government grants and student loans).
Can a college offer a Stafford loan without a FAFSA?
College financial aid administrators are permitted to offer dependent students an unsubsidized Stafford loan without requiring the parents to file a FAFSA, provided that the financial aid administrator verifies that the parents have ended financial support and will not file the FAFSA.