Dependent students entering into college must have a high school diploma or GED, depending on the college's admission standards.
A dependent student must receive more than half of their financial support from someone else, other than a spouse as married students do not qualify for dependent status. You do not have to live with the individual providing support.
Students can be considered dependent if they are twenty three years of age or younger. Students over the age of 23 are considered independent students for the purposes of financial aid.
In order to be considered a dependent student, you must be enrolling in an undergraduate, or bachelor's degree program. Students enrolling in advanced degree programs may qualify for dependent status on a case by case basis, but are usually considered independent students.
In order to qualify for dependent status, a student must not be providing more than 1/2 the support for another individual. This includes the student's children or other dependent.
Students that have not served in any branch of the US Armed Forces will qualify as a dependent student.
There are currently no income restrictions on dependent students.