Living on my own under the age of 24: FAFSA rule?

Paying for College
1

I recently moved out on my own (not in the dorms) and am not currently enrolled in school. However, I plan on returning back to UNC Charlotte after being out of state for a couple of years. How will me living on my own with no help from my parents impact my FAFSA? I know that I will most likely have to wait until I have filed my taxes as an independent to know but was wondering if anyone had any information on this topic. I am 21 if that has any affect.

2

Doesn’t change anything for federal aid.

3

For FAFSA, a student is not independent until they are 24. There are a couple other conditions like being in the military or married or having a child you support. But living on your own doesn’t qualify for you. Filing your own taxes is immaterial. When you file FAFSA, you will have to fill it out for your parents income and assets and for you, the student, income and assets just like everyone else.

4

Ask UNC if you qualify for instate tuition since you started there and presumably graduated from HS there, and are living there now, perhaps you will qualify. You first can go to the website and look up, read and understand the residency requirements. Maybe it will be clear. If you are going to be classified as an OOS student it will be very expensive. In that case I would wait. What does ‘pay my way through’ mean, anyway?

5

I have heard a similar explanation but was not sure. Thank you for your response!

6

Here is the federal aid page with the questions that determine if you are a dependent for FAFSA filing. If you answer YES to any then you can file independent, otherwise no.
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/infographic-accessible

7

I am living back in NC. Thank you for your suggestions! My last sentence was really a more general of how I am feeling about the situation not literally and specifically paying for my schooling.

8

Thank you so much for your link and response!

9

http://ncresidency.uncc.edu/residency-requirements

University of North Carolina residency rules.

While you did graduate from a NC high school you could have an uphill battle.

10

@polarbearwings

Where do your parents reside? Usually your state of residence for tuition purposes is where your parents live if you are an undergraduate student.