What is FAFSA?
FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid
FAFSA is a federal student loan application to apply for college student grants and loans. It will determine your Expected Family Contribution, the amount your family should contribute to college.
Tips:
-Submit early bird! Because if you submit early you will get the best college financial aid package, which means more free money and better student loans. If you file your FAFSA late, the grants will be gone so you may need to take more expensive student loan for your college education.
Dependent or Independent Student?
FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid
To know if you are an independent or dependent student, FAFSA has some questions to determine if you are an independent or dependent student. If you answer yes to any of these questions, then you are an independent student for college financial aid. If you answer no, then you will need to provide parental financial information on your FAFSA on the application to qualify for financial aid.
FAFSA Questions:
*These questions are about the student, not the parent.
1) Were you born before Jan. 1, 2001?
2) As of today, are you married? (Answer “No” if you are separated but not divorced.)
3) At the beginning of the 2024–25 school year, will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program (such as an M.A., MBA, M.D., J.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., graduate certificate, etc.)?
4) Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training? (If you are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee, are you on active duty for other than state or training purposes?)
5) Are you a veteran of the U.S. armed forces?*
6) Do you have children or other people (excluding your spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you now and between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025?
7) At any time since you turned age 13, were you an orphan (no living biological or adoptive parent)?
8) At any time since you turned age 13, were you a ward of the court?
9) At any time since you turned age 13, were you in foster care?
10) Are you or were you a legally emancipated minor, as determined by a court in your state of residence?
11) Are you or were you in a legal guardianship with someone other than your parent or stepparent, as determined by a court in your state of residence?
12) At any time on or after July 1, 2023, were you unaccompanied and either (1) homeless or (2) self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?**
