In order to be considered as an independent student for financial aid purposes, you must meet one of the following six criteria:

• Be over 24;
• Be a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces;
• Be enrolled in a graduate or professional degree program;
• Be married, or have been married;
• Have legal dependents other than a spouse;
• Be an orphan or a ward of the court, or have been a ward of the court until age 18.

If you have an extremely adverse circumstance that prevents you from receiving assistance from your parents, you should contact your campus financial aid office. However, you should note that your parents' unwillingness to provide their financial information or to pay their expected contribution is usually not accepted as a reasonable circumstance.

If you don't meet one of the federal criteria to be an independent student, you will have to supply your parents' information on the financial aid application. If extenuating family circumstances prevent you from supplying your parents' information, contact the financial aid office to discuss your situation.