ISAC Student PortalDependency Status
Applicants are automatically considered to be dependent students for financial aid purposes (meaning financial aid eligibility will be determined including parent information) unless they meet the federal definition of an independent student.
Students who are not dependent on their parents for financial support are considered independent. Under the federal definition for the 2025-26 academic year, an independent student is an individual who meets one of the following criteria:
- is 24 years old (born before 1/1/2002)
- is married (i.e., not single, divorced, separated, or widowed) as of the date of completion of the FAFSA®
- is working on a master's or doctorate program at the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year
- is currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for other than training purposes
- is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces
- has children or other people (excluding a spouse) who live with the student and receive more than half of their support from student now and between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026
- had no living parent (biological or adoptive) when age 13 or older (even if now adopted); was in foster care when age 13 or older (even if not in foster care now); or, was a dependent/ward of the court when age 13 or older (even if not a dependent/ward of the court now)
- is currently or was an emancipated minor as determined by a court in the student's state of legal residence
- is currently or was in legal guardianship with someone other than their parent or stepparent, as determined by a court in the student's state of legal residence
- at any time on or after July 1, 2024, was determined to be either an unaccompanied homeless youth or a self-supporting individual at risk of being homeless by a high school or school district homeless liaison
- at any time on or after July 1, 2024, was determined to be either an unaccompanied homeless youth or a self-supporting individual at risk of being homeless by the director or designee of a project supported by a federal TRIO or GEAR UP program grant
- at any time on or after July 1, 2024, was determined to be either an unaccompanied homeless youth or a self-supporting individual at risk of being homeless by the director or designee of an emergency or transitional shelter, street outreach program, homeless youth drop-in center, or other program serving those experiencing homelessness
- at any time on or after July 1, 2024, was determined to be an unaccompanied homeless youth or a self-supporting individual at risk of being homeless by the college financial aid administrator
A student who does not meet at least one of the above independent student criteria for the 2025-26 academic year is considered dependent.
