<p>I am currently a freshmen in college, i am planning to get married next year and transfer to a school around where my fiance is stationed. My tuition right now is all taken care of thanks to my grants. But will getting married affect my financial aid award? My husband is a US Marine in service. He doesn't make a lot a year and when we get married, we'll have to rent an apartment. I know getting married while in school doesn't seem like a good idea, but this is our dream for a long time ago. I am really concern with whether or not i receive enough grants like i do now to pay for college, my husband's income is about the same as my parent's income. will it be a big difference in my financial aid package from being a dependent of my parent to being a dependent of my husband?</p>
<p>It might be a big difference depending on the income levels. Parent’s income has a lot more income protection than a student or the student’s spouse. And a higher % of a student’s (and spouses) income goes toward the EFC that the % of a parent’s income. Also if income is below $30k and independent student with no dependent other than a spouse is not eligible for the automatic 0 EFC.</p>
<p>For instance a dependent student who is an only child and whose parents make say $40,000 a year and have no assets would have an EFC of around 3000. The same student if independent and married and with a combined (spouse and student) income of the same amount of $40,000 would have an EFC of around 11,000. Obviously that would make a large difference to financial aid.</p>
<p>I would do the fafsa4caster using your fiance’s projected income/assets. I agree with swimcatsmom, you’re likely to lose government grants.</p>
<p>If you use one of the EFC calculators like sk8rmom suggested, it will be very clear to you what the impact will be. No need to speculate.</p>
<p>You need to investigate tuition waivers and scholarships that are available to military dependents. As a dependent, if you enroll in University of Maryland University College [url=<a href=“http://www.umuc.edu/index.shtml]UMUC[/url”>http://www.umuc.edu/index.shtml]UMUC[/url</a>] coursework on-line, or at one of their sites on and near military bases, you are entitled to in-state tuition no matter where you reside. A number of other universities offer similar programs.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you and your Marine!</p>
<p>My Fiance doesnt make more than 30 000 a year, and he is stationed in California, i did some research and found that in state tuition for California universities are very cheap because of the living expense over there. I am going to be his dependent, and since he’s in the Marine, as soon as I move over there, i will be a resident automatically, i wonder i will get more grants just because i have no income and his income is very low too? Is there anyway i can find out how much grants i get for school if i’m married? Because we’re not actually married yet, so i have no papers or anything to submit for fafsa…and thank you so much for answering!</p>
<p>Don’t forget that his housing and food allowances will count as income, as will any bonuses. He may not be getting a housing allowance now, but will as soon as you are married. And much of CA has a high rate so he will be getting at least $12K just in BAH. </p>
<p><a href=“http://images.military.com//ContenFiles/2009-bah-with-dependents.pdf[/url]”>http://images.military.com//ContenFiles/2009-bah-with-dependents.pdf</a></p>
<p>Use the with dependents figures.</p>
<p>You don’t need papers or anything to estimate your EFC with the fafsa4caster. It will only give you an estimate. College Board also has a similar program on their website. You can google for CAL grant info, or search for one of the CAL grant threads on this board (until one of the west coast FA gurus chime in!)</p>
<p>I seem to recall that you have to have graduated from a CA HS to be eligible for the Calgrant. I don’t *think *the OP will be eligible. </p>
<p>As others have said, run your numbers (your income plus spouse to be’s income) through one of the EFC forecasters to get an idea of your potential EFC.</p>
<p>Check to make sure the school gives financial aid to transfers. Not all colleges provide transfers with aid.</p>