I filled out my FAFSA for 2015-2016 as a dependent student with my parent income.
If I get married in 2015, would my 2016-2017 be filed as an independent student with my spouse income, and my grants/financial aid be updated accordingly?
You would get federal aid accordingly. Which means that you may qualify for a Pell Grant, and you will be allowed to take loans to the independent student limit. Now getting any further funds from you colleges may or may not happen. Are you at a CSS profile school? A state college or what?
I’d be at a public non-CSS college and my wife would be at a private non-CSS college in a neighboring city.
Are either on aid now? I don’t think it is likely you will get much further funds than what you started with.
Keep in mind as two young married people you will have a very low income protection. Depending on how much you and your wife makes, the only thing that you may end up gaining is increased federal loans. It does not mean that you will necessarily get increased aid.
Your wife will have to look up the financial aid policies at her school because some schools have policies in place that if you start as a dependent student, you end as a dependent student even if you have life events that make you an independent student.
Is the idea of getting married motivated by financial aid?
Neither of your colleges meets full need for all students. It is very possible that your aid won’t be sufficient for you to continue…if you are expecting more aid.
What are your EFCs now?