If any of the items below apply to you, you’re considered an independent student for 2025–26 and won’t need to invite a parent contributor on your FAFSA.
If none apply, you’ll need to include parent information (from your parent contributor) when completing your FAFSA.
If you answer ‘Yes’ to any of the questions below, you’re independent on the 2025–26 FAFSA® and don’t need to invite a parent contributor.
Updated Independent Student Criteria (2025–26):
You’re considered independent if any of the following apply:
– You were born before January 1, 2002.
– You’re married (not separated) as of the date you file your FAFSA.
– You’ll be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program (MBA, DBA, PhD, etc.) during the 2025–26 academic year.
– You’re on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (not for training), or you’re a veteran.
– You have children or dependents (not a spouse) who live with you and receive more than half their support from you between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.
– Since age 13, you were an orphan, in foster care, or a ward of the court.
– You were legally emancipated or under legal guardianship (not by a parent or stepparent).
– On or after July 1, 2024, a school district liaison, shelter director, or youth program official determined you were unaccompanied and homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless.
If none of these apply, you’re considered a dependent student and must invite your parent contributor(s) to share their information on your FAFSA.
If you can’t provide parent information due to unusual circumstances, complete the FAFSA and select ‘I have unusual circumstances.’ Then contact CIU Financial Aid right away. We’ll guide you through a dependency override and help determine your eligibility for aid.
If your parents are unwilling but there’s no unusual circumstance, you may still submit your FAFSA and request Direct Unsubsidized Loan-only consideration.
Note: Law school and health profession students may be required to provide parental information regardless of their dependency status.
