Marital Status Appeals

Students are classified as dependent or independent because federal student aid programs are based on the principle that students (and their parents) are considered the primary source of support for postsecondary education. However, there are situations, such as a student marrying before or during a given FAFSA year, that can change the student’s dependency status.

Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, if the student believes their status should be independent for financial aid purposes due to marriage, the student should return to their 2024-2025 FAFSA form and make the necessary changes, including adding their spouse as a contributor, then re-submit their FAFSA. All contributors on the FAFSA must sign off on the form and provide consent for the IRS to pull in their Federal Tax Information.