Dependency Status

The definition of Dependency is set by the federal government.

Certain questions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will determine whether you are considered dependent on your parents, and you must report their income and assets as well as your own on the FAFSA. Independent students report only their own income and assets (and their spouse´s, if they are married). Congress has determined the "dependency" criteria below.

You are considered to be an independent student if you:

1. You are 24 years old by January 1 within the school year of application (i.e. you were born before January 1, 1985 for the 2008-2009 school year);
2. You reported on the FAFSA you were married or separated, but not divorced;
3. You will start or continue working on a master´s or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, or Ph.D.) in the starting Fall Semester;
4. You are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training including the National Guard or Reserves enlistee who is on active duty for other than state or training purposes;
5. You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
6. You have children who receive more than half of their support from you from July 1 of the starting school year through June 30 of the ending school year (i.e. July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 of the 2008-2009 school year)
7. You have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30 of last half of the school year attending (i.e. June 30, 2009 of the 2008-2009 school year);
8. You, at any time since you turned age 13; had no living parent (biological or adoptive) even if you are now adopted, you were in foster care even if you are no longer in foster care as of today, or you were a dependent or ward of the court even if you are no longer a dependent or ward of the court as of today;
9. You were or are an emancipated minor as determined by a court;
10. You were or are in legal guardianship as determined by a court;
11. The high school or school district homeless liaison at any time on or after July 1, one year prior to this school year, determined you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless;
12. The director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determined that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless; or
13. The director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determined that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or was self-supporting and at risk of being homeless.

If you are NOT in one of the categories mentioned above, you are considered a dependent student. You must report your parents´ financial information through the FAFSA. If you feel you have a valid or extenuating circumstance where you should be considered an independent student even though you do not meet the criteria, you have the right to submit an appeal that will be considered by the UVU Financial Aid Appeals Committee.