Don’t snub your state schools. F
focus less on the ‘community campus feel’ and more on what you will do there. College is what you make of it.
If a teenager can move to another state and be independent of any parental assets for two years without a huge chunk of their own assets sitting there to show up on FAFSA, yes, they may apply as in state, independent students in a number of states. Yes, I’ve seen this happen.
An acquaintance has housed her nephew since he graduated from high school. His mother had remarried and tensions were way high. Kid did not want to go to college—May have applied and taken a gap year. He lived with aunt for a couple of years and applied to college in CA as s. Independent student. No clue if he got any Cal grant money. Or money at all other than from federal government.
The standards for being an independent student are stringfnt and some of the state and school aid may have requirements in addition to those of FAFSA.
In the case of the above young man, what happened was not at all premeditated to get college financial aid. .
Please name the states where you have seen this happen @cptofthehouse
During this two year period…if this is even possible…the student would need to provide 100% of their support, and would not be able to be declared as dependents on parent tax returns. This means the “teenager who relocates OOS” would need a job where they earn enough for ALL of their living expenses…rent, utilities, food, car costs, discretionary spending. Everything.
So…tell us where this teenager could relocate and get this kind of job…and be fully self supporting.
It won’t be easy…if the state even allows it.
And…a student might be able to be independent for instate tuition purposes but NOT for financial aid purposes.