<p>I see a lot of kids who take time off after starting college, and don’t restart until after age 24. Their parents may refuse to pay their costs, but even if they will, it behooves them to check out what financial options are available to them That they were homeless or whatever isn’t going to affect their status as they are independent through the age stipulation. That is more of an issue for those who are under age 24 and do not meet independent critieria otherwise. Not all school will accept that as an independent critierion, by the way, for their own funds. The PROFILE schools will want a lot more info than that,mose likely, and will make their own determination. But in this case, it doesn’t matter as the OP is over 24.</p>
<p>As Sybbies states, a lot of PROFILE schools and schools that tend to give generous aid, and really any school can have such stipulations, will not permit a former dependent student to automatically be classified as independent. Not for their own funds, anyways. They do this to avoid getting steep increases in need by students marrying, those who do take this break and returning, getting a dependent, etc. They will look at each case. in these situations. Clearly someone returning at age 50 is not going to be treated the same as someone who returns at age 25. Veterans are often not subject to the rule either. </p>
<p>So the original school might have stipulations for aid or for return that whole other school might not have. The OP can give it a whirl. I know of many students who took breaks in school and returned to get their degree at NYU or Columbia General Studies, or the SUNYs and CUNYs. Nothing new about doing that and I wish the OP well.</p>
<p>But not all schools meet full need, not all parts of those schools who meet full need have that policy for all students and the OP does have to check the policies of each school But yes, as a general rule, students with lower EFCs, that are in poverty are eligible for more financial aid from schools. Eligible does not equate getting it, however, beyond the federal and whatever state entitlements there are. Schools can do what they want with their own money, and most schools do not meet full need to most of their students.</p>