How to Become an Independent Student if Under 24

By Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman

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and Varonika Ware

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Annie has spent the past 18+ years educating students about college admissions opportunities and coaching them through building a financial aid package. She has worked in college access and college admissions for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission/Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation, Middle Tennessee State University, and Austin Peay State University. Full Bio

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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania. Full Bio

Maria Geiger

Updated: May 12th, 2023

Filing the FAFSA as an independent student can greatly change your financial aid package. If you support yourself financially, you probably feel that your financial aid should not be based on your parents’ income. The process for filing as an independent can be tricky for students under 24. Read on to find out what qualifies you as an independent student in the eyes of the FAFSA.

Why file the FAFSA as an independent?

The FAFSA collects information about your household’s finances in order to calculate your Expected Family Contribution, or EFC. This number determines your eligibility for need-based financial aid. But if you support yourself, you may not want your parents’ income to affect your aid package. 

Its inclusion could create unreasonable expectations for what you can contribute. So, filing independently will help you get a financial aid package that’s more suited to your financial situation. However, some students who support themselves may not qualify since the FAFSA has a strict set of qualifications.

What makes me an independent student on the FAFSA?

Students who are 24 at the time of filing or who turn 24 by December 31 of the award year are automatically considered independent. If you are under 24, you might be considered independent for federal aid purposes if:

• Married or separated but not divorced
• Pursuing a master’s or doctorate degree
• You have children who receive at least half of their financial support from you
• You have dependents who are not your child or spouse but receive at least half of their financial support from you
• Currently serving in the armed forces on active duty, and are not in training
• You are a veteran
• Both of your parents have passed away
• You have been in foster care, been a ward, or a dependent of the court at any point since turning 13
• Emancipated or in a legal guardianship
• You are an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or self-supporting and at risk of becoming homeless

Related: Do you have to pay back FAFSA money?

What if I don’t meet these requirements?

Unfortunately, students who don’t meet these requirements typically cannot obtain independent FAFSA status. Even if your parents refuse to fill out the FAFSA or are unable or unwilling to contribute financially, the government will still view you as a dependent. 

This can be a very frustrating situation for students. It makes the already-difficult process of funding your education even more difficult. Here are your options if you don’t meet the requirements:

Talk to a financial aid officer about dependency overrides

Students who don’t meet the federal requirements can still file as independents if they get a dependency override from a college or university. These overrides are granted for extenuating circumstances, which means they are extremely rare. So, students may receive a dependency override at one school, but denied at another.

Dependency overrides are typically given for abusive or unstable household situations or hospitalized or incarcerated parents. They can also be awarded if you are unaware of your parents’ location and are unable to get in touch with them. 

If you think you may qualify for a dependency override, make sure to start the process early by talking to your college’s financial aid office. Students in this situation will most likely need to provide additional information, including court documents and letters from counselors or teachers that are familiar with your situation.

Students shouldn’t count on receiving a dependency override until they can confirm that a college has accepted them. Additionally, students who are applying to multiple colleges will need to repeat this process at every college they are applying to. 

Related: How to write a financial aid appeal letter

Looking for other scholarships and financial aid

If you can’t obtain independent status, you should start applying for external scholarships. Try setting aside an hour or two per day to write applications and find opportunities. If you apply to a wide variety of awards, they’ll add up and could make college a feasible option for you.

You can start your search by looking through Scholarships360’s scholarship lists. We organize our lists by state,  major, and many other categories. You can also consult college counselors and advisors at your school to learn about scholarship opportunities that cater to students from your area.

Changing your plans

If you are supporting yourself but your parents’ income disqualifies you from federal aid, it may not be practical to attend your first choice college right now. You could try looking into less expensive options such as two year colleges, more affordable four year colleges, trade schools or certificate programs. 

Some of these programs like trade schools, bootcamps, and certificate programs are shorter and less expensive than four-year college. On top of that, they qualify you for jobs that pay a living wage, and allow you to save up to eventually attend a four-year college. 

Additional resources

If you are having trouble financing your education because your parents are unable or unwilling to pay, the situation can be very disheartening. But remember that there are resources and alternatives out there for you. If that means going to community college or a trade school for the time being, you can lay out a plan to help ensure that you make it to college. Good luck in your college planning, and make sure to try our scholarship search tool to help finance your education!

Key Takeaways

• Filing as an independent allows you to get a financial aid package that isn’t impacted by your parent’s income. 
• Be sure to check the requirements for filing as an independent to make sure you qualify.
• Even if you don’t meet those requirements, you can apply for a dependency override or scholarships at your school of choice.
• Dependency overrides are rare and given for certain circumstances, so be sure to have a backup plan. 
• If you’re unable to qualify as an independent, and you support yourself, it may be time to consider other options while you wait such as trade school, community college, or bootcamps. 

Frequently asked questions about how to become an independent student if under the age of 24