Credible takeaways
- Your dependency status affects what financial aid you qualify for, including subsidized and unsubsidized loans.
- Dependent students are required to report their parents’ financial information when filling out the FAFSA.
- Independent students are required to report their own information, and their spouses if they’re married.
Your first step to getting financial aid is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) — but you’ll fill it out a little differently depending on whether you’re an independent vs. dependent student. This is because your dependency status determines if you’ll include information from both you and your parents, or yours alone.
Here’s what you need to know about independent vs. dependent students:
Independent vs. dependent students
Dependent students are assumed to receive support from their parents while independent students are assumed to support themselves. Your dependency status is important because it affects what information you’ll include on the FAFSA.
- If you're a dependent student, you must report information from both you and your parents.
- If you're an independent student, you have to report only your own information (and your spouse’s, if you’re married).
Independent students make up 53% of all FAFSA completions for both undergraduate and graduate-level students, according to 2021-22 FAFSA data. For undergraduate college applicants alone, most students tend to be dependent.
Learn More: How does FAFSA work?
You’re considered an independent student if …
When filling out the FAFSA for the 2024-25 school year, you’re considered an independent student if any of the following applies:
- You were born before Jan. 1, 2001.
- You’re married.
- You’re working on either a master’s or doctorate degree.
- You have children or other dependents who receive at least half their financial support from you.
- You’re currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces.
- You’re a veteran.
- Your parents are deceased.
- You’ve spent time in foster care or as a ward of the court.
- You’re an emancipated minor.
- You’re an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or at risk of being homeless.
If none of the above applies, the Department of Education considers you to be a dependent student. This is true even if you don’t live with your parents or receive any financial support from them, though in some circumstances you can submit additional documentation to prove your independence.
If you’re an undergraduate dependent student (as most undergraduates are), you might qualify for either Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loans. You might also be able to get private student loans to help fill any gaps.
Learn more: Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized Loans: What’s the Difference?
Tip:
The 2024-25 FAFSA opened on December 31, 2023 and the deadline to complete it is June 30, 2025. Apply early to get the most financial aid possible.
What to do if you have a special circumstance
There are circumstances that could prevent you from including your parents’ information on the FAFSA. Here are some common scenarios and what to do for each of them:
1. If you’re a U.S. citizen, but your parents are undocumented
If you’re a U.S. citizen, you qualify for all possible federal financial aid — your parents’ status doesn’t affect your eligibility. If your parents are concerned about filling out the FAFSA, you should know that the form doesn’t ask about their citizenship status at all.
If they don’t have Social Security numbers, enter all zeros in those fields. Your parents won’t be able to sign the FAFSA electronically, since a valid Social Security number is needed to create an FSA ID. Instead, you can print out the completed FAFSA, sign it by hand, and mail it in.
2. If you have no contact with your parents
Even if you live with other family members or on your own because your parents kicked you out or were abusive, you still need to include your parents’ information on the FAFSA. If that’s not an option, you can indicate on the FAFSA that an unusual circumstance makes getting your parents’ information impossible.
To complete your application, submit the FAFSA and contact your school’s financial aid office to see what other supporting documentation you’ll need to provide. An advisor will review your situation and determine if you're eligible to file the FAFSA as an independent student.
You may qualify for other special circumstances if:
- Your parents are incarcerated.
- You don’t know where your parents are and haven’t been adopted.
- You've been granted refugee or asylum status.
- You’re over 21, but not over 24 and are unaccompanied while homeless or at risk of being homeless.
3. If your parents are unwilling to help you
If your parents simply won’t provide you with the necessary information, you may not be eligible for an independent status — but there are other ways your school's financial aid office can help you.
On the FAFSA, indicate that you're unable to provide information from your parents. After submitting the form, contact the financial aid office right away to see what your option are. If you don't qualify for independent status, the financial aid advisor could still help you access additional loan funding without your parents' help.
If your dependency status changes
If circumstances that would affect your dependency status change after you’ve completed the FAFSA, reach out to your school’s financial aid office as soon as possible. Your school will let you know if it’s possible to update your dependency status and what your options are.
In some cases, you could be eligible for additional unsubsidized student loans. Or they might be able to direct you to other resources, such as scholarships, grants, or private student loans.
Advertiser DisclosureLoan Amounts
$1,000 up to 100% of the school-certified cost of attendance
Overview
College Ave offers a wide range of in-school loans for nearly every type of degree. There are a number of repayment options, and borrowers can choose a unique eight-year repayment term. Plus, graduate, dental, and medical students receive extended grace periods.
You may get easy funding for multiple years — 90% of undergraduates are approved for additional student loans when they apply with a cosigner. However, it can be difficult to remove a cosigner for your loan later on, as you must complete at least half of your repayment term before becoming eligible. That’s significantly longer than some lenders, which may only require one to two years of payments before releasing a cosigner.
Loan terms
5, 8, 10, or 15 years for most borrowers (law, dental, medical, and other health profession students have up to 20 years)
Loan amounts
$1,000 minimum up to your school’s annual cost of attendance; lifetime limits depend on your degree and credit profile
Cosigner release
After half of the scheduled repayment period has elapsed
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident at an eligible institution. International students with a Social Security number and a qualified cosigner may also qualify. Applicants who can’t meet financial, credit, or other requirements may qualify with a cosigner.
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Ascent offers several unique borrowing options that you don’t typically see with private lenders. In addition to traditional student loans for undergraduate, graduate, and medical programs, college juniors and seniors may qualify for its Outcomes-Based Loan — which doesn’t require established credit or a cosigner. Instead, Ascent reviews alternate factors such as your school, major, and GPA to determine your eligibility.
Ascent also offers a wide range of loan terms and repayment plans to choose from. You may even qualify for its Progressive Repayment plan, which allows you to start with small payments that gradually increase over time. Borrowers who use a cosigner can release them after as few as 12 payments, though international students don’t qualify for this option.
Loan terms
5, 7, 10, 12, 15, or 20 years
Loan amounts
$2,001 minimum up to your school’s annual cost of attendance; lifetime limits of $200,000 for undergrads and $400,000 for graduates
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or DACA student enrolled at least half time at an eligible institution. International students with a qualified cosigner may also qualify. Applicants who can’t meet financial, credit, or other requirements may qualify with a cosigner.
Read full reviewLoan Amounts
$1,000 to $99,999 annually ($180,000 aggregate limit)
Overview
Powered by Cognition Financial, Custom Choice offers student loans for undergraduate and graduate students starting at $1,000. You can borrow up to $99,999 per year with a total aggregate limit of $180,000.
If you apply with a cosigner, you may be able to release them from your loan after 36 on-time payments. You can also receive a 0.25 percentage point discount on your interest rate by setting up autopay, as well as a 2% reduction of your principal balance after graduating.
Custom Choice doesn’t charge application, origination, prepayment, or late fees. It also lets you pause payments through forbearance if you qualify for its natural disaster or unemployment protection programs.
Loan amounts
$1,000 to $99,999 per year (lifetime limit of $180,000)
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident at an eligible institution. You must also meet Custom Choice’s underwriting criteria for income and credit, or apply with a cosigner who does. Eligible noncitizens such as DACA residents can also qualify by applying with a cosigner who’s a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Read full reviewLoan Amounts
$1,000 to $350,000 (depending on degree)
Overview
Citizens offers a variety of student loan types, including loans for undergraduates, graduate students, and parents. Perhaps the most unique feature of Citizens student loans is the option for multiyear approval. If you qualify, you can apply once and borrow for future years with a more streamlined process that only involves a soft credit inquiry.
Student borrowers can defer payments while in school and for six months after graduating. You can also score a 0.25 percentage point reduction on your interest rate for setting up autopay, as well as an additional 0.25 percentage point loyalty discount if you or your cosigner already have a qualifying account with Citizens.
Loan terms
5, 10, or 15 years for student loans; 5 or 10 years for parent loans
Loan amounts
$1,000 minimum, up to a maximum of $150,000 for undergraduate and graduate degrees; $250,000 for MBA and law; and $180,000 or $350,000 for health care student loans, depending on the degree type
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting program at an eligible institution. International students can apply with a cosigner who’s a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Read full reviewLoan Amounts
$1,000 up to 100% of school-certified cost of attendance
Overview
Sallie Mae offers the Smart Option Student Loan to undergraduate and graduate students. You can borrow up to your school-certified cost of attendance and apply just once annually to get the funds you need for the entire academic year. Plus, it may be easy to get reapproved for your future years of study — undergraduates have a 97% approval rate when they return to Sallie Mae with a cosigner.
Through Sallie Mae, you can find a variety of loans designed for specific needs, including loans for MBA programs, law school, bar study, medical school, medical residency, dental programs, dental residency, and other health profession programs. However, this lender no longer offers a career training loan.
Loan terms
10 to 15 years for Smart Option Student Loan; up to 15 years for law school and bar study loans; up to 20 years for medical school, medical residency, dental school, dental residency, and health professions loans
Loan amounts
$1,000 up to school-certified cost of attendance
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident enrolled in an eligible program. Noncitizens may qualify by applying with a cosigner who’s a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Read full reviewLoan Amounts
$1,001 up to 100% of school certified cost of attendance
Overview
INvested is an Indiana company that offers affordable student loans exclusively to state residents. Loans are available to Indiana students and parents who can meet income and credit requirements, or who have an eligible cosigner. Borrowers can borrow as little as $1,001 or as much as the school-certified cost of attendance minus other aid.
INvested provides detailed information on eligibility so borrowers can quickly determine whether to apply for a loan — however, there’s no option to prequalify with a soft credit check. Cosigner release is also available after just 12 on-time payments, considerably shorter than many other lenders.
Loan amounts
$1,001 minimum, up to the school certified cost of attendance
Eligibility
Loans are available to Indiana residents only. Borrowers must have a FICO score of 670 or higher, a 30% maximum debt-to-income ratio or minimum monthly income of $3,333, continuous employment over two years, and no major collections or defaults in recent years. Borrowers who do not meet income or credit requirements can apply with a cosigner.
Read full reviewLoan Amounts
$1,500 up to school’s certified cost of attendance less aid
Overview
Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) is a not-for-profit lender that offers low-cost undergraduate and graduate school loans to students nationwide. While only fixed-rate loans are available, interest costs may be lower than what you see with other private loans.
While you can apply with a cosigner to lock in the best rate possible, removing that cosigner later may be tough. Only one repayment plan allows cosigner release, and you must make four years of consecutive on-time payments and meet other credit and income requirements to qualify.
Loan amounts
$1,500 minimum up to school-certified cost of attendance
Eligibility
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, enrolled at least half time at a degree-granting, nonprofit institution, and must maintain satisfactory academic progress. Must have no history of default on an education loan and no history of bankruptcy or foreclosure in the past 60 months. Applicants who can’t meet the minimum credit and income requirements may apply with a cosigner.
Read full reviewOverview
Education Loan Finance (ELFI) is a division of Tennessee-based SouthEast Bank owned by Education Loan Finance, Inc., a non-profit whose mandate is to provide access to higher education. ELFI launched in 2015 and offers undergraduate, graduate, and parent private student loans as well as student loan refinancing.
ELFI student loans and refinance loans are available to residents in all U.S. states including Puerto Rico. Borrowers can benefit from no application, origination, or prepayment fees. ELFI also offers flexible repayment terms and competitive rates, however there’s no cosigner release option and the lender doesn’t offer any discounts.
Loan amounts
$1,000 - Cost of attendance
Cosigner release
A cosigner may not be taken off a loan, but the borrower can apply for a new loan without their cosigner.
Eligibility
All 50 states as well as Washington DC and Puerto Rico.
Read full reviewIndependent vs. dependent student FAQ
Find questions to your most frequently asked questions about independent vs. dependent students.
Is it better to be independent or dependent on FAFSA?
Independent students are typically eligible for more federal financial aid than dependent students, depending on the situation. If you can qualify as independent, it likely makes sense to file the FAFSA under that status.
Will I get more money as a dependent or independent student?
The amount of aid you receive is determined by your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), the school’s cost of attendance, status as a full-time or part-time student, and your year in school.
Note that an independent student’s EFC is calculated using the student and spouse’s financial information. In many cases, independent students have a lower EFC than dependent students and may receive more financial aid.
How much do independent students get from FAFSA?
Independent undergraduate students can borrow up to $57,500 in subsidized and unsubsidized loans, but no more than $23,000 can be in subsidized loans. Graduate independent students can borrow up to $138,500 in subsidized and unsubsidized loans, but no more than $65,000 can be in subsidized loans.
Note that the total graduate loan limit for independent students includes all undergraduate federal loans received.
Should I put my parents' info on my FAFSA if I'm independent?
If you're an independent student as per FAFSA guidelines, you don't need to include your parents' information on your FAFSA form. However, you'll need to provide your own financial information and your spouse’s if you’re married.
Meet the expert:
Kat Tretina
Kat Tretina is a freelance writer who covers everything from student loans to personal loans to mortgages. Her work has appeared in publications like the Huffington Post, Money Magazine, MarketWatch, Business Insider, and more.