Key takeaways:
- Most college students are considered “dependents” for the FAFSA and need their parents to complete the form with them to maximize financial aid.
- If your parents refuse to fill out the FAFSA, talk with them first to understand their reasons and enlist the help of your guidance counselor.
- Explore other resources and sources of aid to better afford college, such as scholarships, state grants, and private student loans.
If you are under the age of 24, you’ll most likely need your parents to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with you. If your parents decline to help with the FAFSA, however, you may still have options for financial aid. We provide some must-know steps below.
Do your parents have to complete the FAFSA with you?
Most students going to college straight out of high school are considered “dependents” by the U.S. Department of Education and need to complete the FAFSA with their parents to maximize financial aid.
You are only considered an independent student if you meet at least one of the following criteria:
- You’re over the age of 24.
- You’re married.
- You’re enrolling in a graduate or professional program.
- You’re in or are a veteran of the U.S. armed forces.
- You have children or dependents who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you.
- You were, at any time since you turned 13, an orphan, ward of the court, or in foster care.
- You’re a legally emancipated minor.
- You’re in legal guardianship with someone other than your parent or stepparent.
- You were unaccompanied and either homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless in the last year.
What if your parents refuse to help with the FAFSA?
If your parents refuse to help you with the FAFSA, your financial aid package could be severely limited. You need the form to qualify for federal student aid, and many colleges also require the FAFSA for institutional aid consideration. Here are some steps to take if they’re not willing to submit it with you.
1. Have an open discussion
Find out their reasoning first to plan your next steps. Do you have a strained relationship and they’re simply unwilling to help you in any way? Or perhaps they misunderstand how the FAFSA works and believe they’re cosigning on a student loan?
If it’s a simple misunderstanding of what the FAFSA is, explain it with clear facts – and highlight how it actually helps you afford college.
Some benefits and points you’ll want to mention include:
- It’s easy to fill out.
- The application takes only a few minutes to complete.
- It can save you thousands of dollars.
- This isn’t cosigning on a loan.
- Even if you’re offered a financial aid package with loans, you don’t necessarily have to take it.
- It’s required for many scholarships, state grants, and institutional financial aid packages.
- Failing to complete it could cause you to graduate from college with high-interest debt.
If they’re having trouble seeing your side of things, you may want to schedule a meeting with them and your guidance counselor or financial aid office. The professionals have seen this before and can help explain how the application works, even if your parents are a bit stubborn.
2. Get a dependency override
Students who have a strained relationship with their parents might qualify for a dependency override. It allows you to complete the FAFSA without their information.
You may be eligible if:
- There is a history of abuse in your family.
- There is a hostile relationship.
- The parent or guardian is incarcerated.
- The parent or guardian is physically or mentally incapacitated.
Students can’t qualify for a dependency override simply because their parents won’t financially support them or they misunderstand the FAFSA.
3. Meet with the financial aid office to submit the FAFSA without your parents
If you don’t qualify for a dependency override, you still have options. Your next stop – if you haven’t gone there already – should be your college’s financial aid office to explain the situation. They can help you complete the FAFSA to apply for an unsubsidized direct loan, which doesn’t depend on financial need. You’re not eligible for subsidized direct loans without your parents (unless you’re an independent).
To qualify, you need a signed form from your parents or guardian stating that they won’t help you complete the FAFSA. If your parents refuse to do this, though, you’ll need a third party to confirm the situation, such as another relative or teacher.
4. Explore other sources of aid
An unsubsidized direct loan isn’t your only option. There may be other forms of financial aid available. Take these steps:
- Ask your college financial aid department about institutional aid you might qualify for.
- Apply for scholarships.
- Explore private student loans.
- Find job opportunities near your school.
- Apply for state grants.
- Consider attending a community college for the first two years, as they tend to be much more affordable than 4-year schools.
If you absolutely cannot afford college at this point in life, you may want to consider returning to your education when you turn 24 – when you can complete your FAFSA without the aid of your parents or guardian.
Affording college
In most cases, college students need their parents or guardians to complete the FAFSA with them. If your financial aid package is limited because they won’t help you submit the form, now is the time to start applying for scholarships. Our Scholarship Search tool can help you identify and apply to awards you qualify for – start today, it’s free!
