CSS Profile - Age to apply without parents

Paying for College
1

<p>Here's my story: I was one semester away from finishing my Bachelor's in EE at USC in Spring 2011, but I had to take some time off due to personal reasons. I'm now looking to head back to school and finish my degree, probably in Fall 2012 or Spring 2013. While I was previously in school I never qualified for financial aid (because of my parents), so I took out a little bit in loans and my parents helped me a little bit. But now my parents are unwilling/ unable to help me financially.</p>

<p>What is the minimum age I have to be to apply for financial aid (with the CSS Profile) without giving any of my parents' info? I'm currently 23 and turning 24 next April. I started filling out the Profile, and they were asking me about my parents info and I thought if I was 24 that would not be necessary.</p>

2

<p>Can you call USC and ask them what they consider “independent”?</p>

3

<p>The FAFSA will not ask for your parents’ information. Just call USC and ask…if you are independent for financial aid purposes per FAFSA, do they still require parent information on the Profile. They will tell you.</p>

4

<p>At many schools that give their own institutional aid, if you start as a dependent undergraduate student, you will finish as a dependent undergraduate student regardless of age, having children or marital status.</p>

<p>It seems as if USC has the same policy. OP will be considered dependent on parents regarding institutional aid from USC. </p>

<p>While OP may be independent, regarding Federal aid, he will need his parent’s information to get institutional aid from USC.</p>

<p>The School states the following:</p>

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5

<p>^That pretty much answers it. Thanks for finding it for me.</p>