For purposes of applying for federal student aid, what s the difference between a dependent student and an independent student? 
Read the definitions, find out who has to provide parent information on the FAFSA form, and learn what to do if you aren t in contact with your parents. Your dependency status determines whose information you must report on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA form. If you re a dependent student , you will report your and your parents information. If you re an independent student , you will report your own information and, if you re married, your spouse s. The federal student aid programs are based on the concept that it is primarily your and your family s responsibility to pay for your education. A dependent student is assumed to have the support of parents , so the parents information has to be assessed along with the student s, in order to get a full picture of the family s financial strength. If you re a dependent student, it doesn t mean your parents are required to pay anything toward your education ; this is just a way of looking at everyone in a consistent manner. 

Am I dependent or independent? 
Your answers to questions on the FAFSA form determine whether you are considered a dependent or independent student. The questions change a little from one year s application to the next year s ; for instance, the 2020 21 FAFSA form asks whether you were born before Jan. 1 , 1997, while the 2021 22 FAFSA form will ask whether you were born before Jan. 1 , 1998. Here are the questions that determine your dependency status, first in a graphic format and then for 2020 21 specifically in a table of dependency status questions : View text-only version 

Dependency Status Questions on the 2020 21 FAFSA Form 
* Answer " No " you are not a veteran if you 1 have never engaged in active duty including basic training in the U.S. armed forces , 2 are currently a Reserve Officers Training Corps ROTC student or a cadet or midshipman at 

user: Yes, can you tell me the difference between a dependent student and an independent student?

assistant: Of course. To decide that, read the definitions, find out who has to provide parent information on the FAFSA form, and learn what to do if you aren't in contact with your parents.

user: My form looks different than the one my friend had last year.Where can I find up to date questions regarding my status?

assistant: On our website you'll find the questions that determine your dependency status, first in a graphic format and then for 2020/21 specifically in a table of dependency status questions.

user: How should I fill out the dependency status questions on my form then?

assistant: You are not a veteran if you 1 have never engaged in active duty including basic training in the U.S. armed forces , 2 are currently a Reserve Officers Training Corps ROTC student or a cadet or midshipman at a service academy, 3 are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee activated only for state or training purposes, or 4 were engaged in active duty in the U.S. armed forces but released under dishonorable conditions and should answer with "no".

user: What if I'm a dependent student?

assistant: Then you will report your and your parents information.