According to the federal definition, a student who is dependent upon his or her parents for financial support and is declared as a dependent on the family's federal income tax form. (Refer to Federal definition of "independent")

A student who has not yet received their first undergraduate degree and has NOT reached the age of 24. A dependant student must report parental income and assets when applying for financial aid by filing a FAFSA.

A student whose financial aid eligibility is based on his or her parents' income and assets.

For purposes of determining eligibility and need, students are judged to be either dependent on their parents for financial support or independent of parental financial support. For federal student aid programs, dependency status is determined according to federally established guidelines. A dependent student is one who is not yet 24 years of age, unmarried, with no dependents, not a Veteran of the Armed Forces, has not received a bachelors degree or higher, is not an orphan, nor a ward of the court

A student, under the age of 24, who is at least partially dependent on his parents to provide support.  The parents' income and assets are assessed in determining the expected family contribution.

a resident of Illinois if the parent of the dependent applicant, whose information is listed on the FAFSA, physically resides in Illinois

a student who receives substantial financial support from his or her parents or legal guardian

Students under age 35 who have lived in their parents' home for at least 6 weeks during the previous, present, and /or next year (even though they may pay rent) and/or were claimed as a dependent on their parents' tax forms, and/or received $750 or more in support in the previous, present, and/or next year from their parents.

A student who is under 24 years of age, is not a veteran, is not married, is not an orphan or ward of the court, does not have dependents, and is not a graduate student.

A student claimed as a dependent member of household for federal income tax purposes.

A student who, for federal financial aid purposes, is dependent on his or her parents for support and must provide parental information on the FAFSA.

A student under 24 years old as of January 1, who doesn't qualify as an independent student by federal guidelines is a dependent student. If you are considered dependent, you must report on the FAFSA your parents' income and assets as well as your own. Not living with your parents or not being claimed by them on their tax form does NOT determine your dependency status.

Your dependency status is determined based on questions asked on the FAFSA. If you believe your dependency status should be changed, you may appeal to the OSFA. Your appeal may be approved if extenuating circumstances exist. As long as you are determined to be dependent, your parent(s) and step-parent(s) must also report their income(s) and sign the FAFSA. See also Independent Student.

A student that is not classified as an Independent Student

A student who relies on parents for financial support.

Student who does not meet the criteria to be independent. (See Independent Student)

A student who is financially dependent upon his/her parents. Dependent students are required to submit parental income information on the FAFSA.

A student who meets the guidelines outlined by the federal government in the FAFSA as a student dependent on his/her parents or guardians for financial support.

For purposes of determining eligibility for financial aid, the federal government considers a dependent student as someone who relies primarily on the income and assets of their parents to pay for college. A dependent student must report the assets and income of their parents on the FAFSA application.

A student under twenty-four years old who does not qualify as an independent student according to federal guidelines. See definition of independent student.

A classification for aid purposes for a student who is considered to be dependent upon his or her parent(s) for financial support.

A student whose financial aid eligibility is judged on his/her parents’ income and assets. Unmarried students under the age of 24 are typically considered dependent students. See Independent Student for a list of the conditions under which an individual is considered independent.

An undergraduate student who is single, under 24 years of age, has no legal dependents, is not an orphan or ward of the court, and is not a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. The student's parents provide over half of their financial support and certain parental financial information must be submitted on the FAFSA for the student to be considered for financial aid.

A student that does not meet the following criteria: is 24 years old is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces is an orphan or is a ward/dependent of the court or was a ward/dependent of the court until age 18, or both of his or her parents are deceased has children who receive more than half of their support from student has legal dependents (other than a spouse or children) who live with the student and receive more than half of their support from student is married as of the date of completion of the FAFSA is working on a master's or doctorate program in the current academic year

A student who does not meet any of the criteria for an independent student. An independent student is at least 24 years old, married, a graduate or professional student, a veteran, a member of the armed forces, an orphan, a ward of the court, or someone with legal dependents other than a spouse.

A student who must use parental information on the financial aid application based on dependency criteria, established by the funding source. A student who does not qualify as an independent student. (See Independent Student.)

A student who is 23 years old or younger and dependent on his or her parents for financial support.

A student who depends on his/her parents for support. An important consideration in determining aid eligibility.

Must provide parent financial information on the FAFSA. A student is dependent if under the age of 24; not working on a master's or doctorate degree; not married; not providing 51% support for their child; not providing 51%support for a dependent (a person other than their child or spouse); not an orphan or ward of the court until the age of 18; and not a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.

A student who does NOT meet any of the following criteria: · Is at least 24 years old by December 31 of the school year · Is a graduate or professional student Is a married person · Has legal dependents other than a spouse · Is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces · Is an orphan or ward of the court

For financial aid purposes, an undergraduate student is usually classified as a dependent and is expected to have access to parental financial resources if he/she is not married, does not have legal dependents, is not a veteran, and is not an orphan or ward of the court.

A student who relies on their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) for support and who does not meet the federal criteria of a self-supporting student.

Your dependency status is determined based on questions asked on the FAFSA. Status change is only possible if your dependency appeal has been approved by UAF due to extenuating circumstances.

A college student who does not meet the criteria, as defined by federal law, to be considered an independent student for the purpose of receiving financial aid. A dependent student must report parental income and asset information on the FAFSA to be used in the calculation of the family contribution. The philosophy of the federal government is that the student and parents have the primary responsibility for funding the student's postsecondary education, with financial aid being a supplement to the family contribution.

A student who does not meet any of the criteria for an independent student (see below).

A student who does not meet the eligibility requirements for an independent student under the Higher Education Act of 1965. Dependent students are determined to be dependent on their parents for financial support. A dependent student must provide parent information when completing the FASFA. Back to glossary main page

Any undergraduate student under the age of twenty-four who is not a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, not married, not a ward of the court, and who does not have legal dependents other than a spouse.

Generally refers to a student who receives more than half of his/her support from the taxpayer. For a specific definition, refer to the Internal Revenue Code.

A student under 24 years old who doesn't qualify as an independent student by federal guidelines and whose parental income and asset information is used in calculating his or her expected family contribution. Dependent students must include parental information on the FAFSA to be considered for financial aid.

A student under the age of 24, who does not qualify as an independent student by federal guidelines (see FAFSA questions 48-54) and whose parental income is used in calculating a student's expected family contribution. Dependent students must include parental information on the FAFSA to be considered for financial aid.

A dependent student is one who must report her or his own income information and also the income information of her or his parents. A dependent student is one who does not fall into one of the categories given under the definition of an independent student (see below).

a student who is dependent for financial aid purposes and is required to file the FAFSA using both student and parent information and who does not meet any of the criteria required for independent student status. Early Action - An admission application option in which a student files for early admission to his/her top choice college (or colleges) early in the senior year (sometimes as early as October but usually no later than the beginning of December). In contrast to Early Decision, the student is not committed to attending a particular college at the point of acceptance under this option. ( Note: Some colleges do not allow students applying to their institutions to submit multiple Early Action applications, so check with the colleges you are considering to see if this applies.)

A student who does not qualify as a self-supporting/independent student by federal definition and whose parental income and asset information is used in calculating the Expected Family Contribution/EFC (see independent student).

A student whose financial need is determined in reference to both the student's and the parents' financial resources. A student is deemed dependent if he or she is unmarried, has no children, is not a veteran of the armed services, is under age 24, and is an undergraduate.

A student is classified a "dependent" if they do not meet one of the criteria of an independent student. Parent's income and assets will be used in determining the amount of financial aid the student will be awarded.

An undergraduate student whose parents provide more than half of their financial support. A dependent student is not married, is under 24 years of age, has no legal dependents, is not an orphan or ward of the court, nor a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. Parents of a dependent student must submit parental information on the FAFSA for their son or daughter to be considered for financial aid. Parents of dependent students are eligible for the PLUS Loan program. (See also Independent.)

A student that must include parental information (including signature) on their FAFSA application.

An unmarried student under age 24 with no dependents, who still has access to parental support.