If your parents or guardians, wealthy or poor, do not contribute toward your college education, you nonetheless need their information to complete the FAFSA.
*There are exceptions to this rule. You qualify as an independent student if you meet any of the following criteria (which you can find in Section 2 of the FAFSA):
- You are 24 or older.
- You are in a master's or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, or graduate certificate).
- You are married.
- You have children who receive more than half of their support from you.
- You have dependents (other than children or a spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you.
- Your parents are dead, or you are (or were until age 18) a dependent of the court.
- You are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training (membership in the ROTC doesn't count).
- You are a veteran.
If you do not meet any of these criteria, you are a dependent student; your parents' financial information is necessary to complete the form and be considered for aid.
If you are a dependent student yet have no contact with your parents, or if you have another unusual circumstance that is not reflected in your FAFSA application, you should contact your school's financial aid office.
FAOs are seasoned professionals, but they're also regular people like you and they want to help. Because FAOs distribute federal funds to students from a pool of money, they have a degree of latitude and discretion. You may be asked to provide evidence of your situation, so be prepared with the relevant documents.
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