Financial aid in U.S.

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I've been told as of age 24 you are taken as independent and NOT ran under parents income. I was curious for anyone who has tried getting financial aid if they can confirm this? Thanks

I was told its 27, but it also depends on the year you were born . . . they changed the rules and the cutoff and I think that year was in the very early 80s.

Last I checked, it goes by two factors. Either can apply.

1. Age.

2. If you have been self-sufficient for at least 2 years before applying for aid. So, if you moved out of your parent's house and supported yourself at the age of 18, by 20 you must be considered on your own finances.

I don't know if they've changed the rules lately. I had a roommate who's parents (adopted father and step-mother) had a prenup that said she had no obligation for his education and his dad had no obligation for the mother's daughters. Every year the financial aid office had to fight to get through someone's head that they couldn't factor his stepmom's income because of a legal bar keeping her from paying for anything.

And what if your parents make enough money that you won't qualify, but they are of the mindset that once you're 18 you should fend for yourself?

Sorry, that's not helpful. But that was my dad's mindset. He had plenty of money, but he certainly wouldn't have paid for me to go to college. I had to join the military in order to have a place to live after my 18th birthday. Oh well, that's ancient history.


The only thing I know about financial aid is that debt is bad.

The BEST THING parents with financial means could do for their kids is make them leave the house at 18 and live on their own...working...for a couple of years or so.

First, it makes a kid grow up. When you work and earn your paycheck for a couple of years, you learn enough and don't have as malleable a brain for the academicians to mess with when you do go to school. Never mind that you appreciate going to school more when you see what you can get when you're out trying to support yourself.

Second, a kid seen as an individual for student loans who lived and got by on low to minimum-wage jobs for two years will qualify for all the aid available to him/her. Then, that parent with the money can funnel funds to help them pay for college rather than having their income used as a penalty against their kids.

Legally, at 18, you are responsible for yourself and the parent has no more legal responsibility for you. Student aid does not see it that way, which is stupid. Nobody can force your parents to pay for your education after 18 years of age.

I just got my financial aid 1,783 for the quarter that will just barely cover classes and books for the semester. and the age on the FAFSA application was 25 yrs old I believe there is a way around this if you have tax returns with you as head of houshold.