Completing the FAFSA
1. What is Nicholls’ school code?
2. If I have a parent who is enrolled in a college or university, can this parent be counted as a family member in college when calculating my financial aid?
3. My parents have a lot of debts. Isn’t there a place to report their expenses on the FAFSA?
4. I’m going to be married during the school year for which I am applying for aid. Can I fill out my FAFSA as “married”?
5. My parents are separated or divorced. Whose information should be given on the FAFSA?
6. My custodial parent remarried and signed a prenuptial agreement that absolves the step-parent from financial responsibility for my education. Why does my step-parent have to provide financial information on the FAFSA?
7. What does it take to be considered an independent student?
8. My parents don’t want to fill out the FAFSA. Can I use only my information?
9. My parents don’t claim me on their tax return and don’t give me any money. Can I file as “Independent”?
10. I am really independent, why do I have to apply for financial aid using my parent’s income and asset information?
11. I’m moving out of my parents’ house and will support myself from now on. Do my parents still have to fill out the FAFSA?
12. What happens if my parents decide they will not provide any financial assistance (Expected Family Contribution) towards my college expenses?
1. What is Nicholls’ school code?
Nicholls’ school code is 002005.
2. If I have a parent who is enrolled in a college or university, can this parent be counted as a family member in college when calculating my financial aid?
No. Federal regulations no longer allow parents of students to be considered as part of the “number of family members in college” when calculating students’ financial aid. The Office of Financial Aid will reduce the number of family members in college if you include a parent in this number; only the student and the student’s siblings may be included. A reduction in the number of family members in college may significantly reduce your financial aid eligibility.
3. My parents have a lot of debts. Isn’t there a place to report their expenses on the FAFSA?
No. The formula used by the Federal processor to calculate the Expected Family Contribution assumes that a certain amount of income is needed to support a family. Also, it is based on the household size and the number of family members in college. The Federal financial aid methodology does not make allowances for different lifestyle choices, which often influence the amount of a family’s living expenses.
4. I’m going to be married during the school year for which I am applying for aid. Can I fill out my FAFSA as “married”?
No. You must indicate your marital status as of the date you are completing the FAFSA. Once you have indicated your marital status you cannot change that status for the academic year that you have applied for financial aid.
5. My parents are separated or divorced. Whose information should be given on the FAFSA?
On the application, information should be given for the parent you lived with the most in the last 12 months. If you don’t live with either parent or lived with both parents for an equal number of days, information should be given for the parent who provided the greater amount of support to you during the last calendar year. FAFSA instructions have information that will be helpful if you have questions about providing information from separated or divorced parents.
If your parent that you counted above has remarried, you must also include information about your stepparent on the FAFSA. Your stepparent must be included, regardless of the marriage date or the stepparent’s intent to provide financial support for you. If you receive financial support from the other parent also, you should report this as an Other Untaxed Income amount on the FAFSA.
6. My custodial parent remarried and signed a prenuptial agreement that absolves the step-parent from financial responsibility for my education. Why does my step-parent have to provide financial information on the FAFSA?
Prenuptial agreements are ignored by the federal need analysis process. After all, two individuals (parent and step-parent) cannot make an agreement between them that is binding on the third party (the federal government). The federal government considers the step-parent a source of support regardless of any prenuptial agreements to the contrary. If a step-parent marries the parent, he or she is considered responsible for supporting the parent and children even if he or she is unwilling to do so.
7. What does it take to be considered an independent student?
In determining whether you are independent, our office is required to adhere to the standard definition of independent status as outlined by the United States Department of Education. To be considered an independent student for financial aid consideration, you must be able to answer “yes” to at least one of the seven questions in Step Three of the FAFSA. If you cannot answer “yes” to at least one of these questions, you are considered a dependent student and must include parental information on the FAFSA form.
For federal student aid purposes, an independent student:
- is a student who was born before January 1, 1982 (for the 2005-2006 academic year); or
- is a U.S. Armed Forces veteran; or
- is a graduate or professional student; or
- is married; or
- is an orphan or ward of the court; or
- has legal dependents other than a spouse
8. My parents don’t want to fill out the FAFSA. Can I use only my information?
If none of the dependency status questions on the FAFSA apply to you, the parental information is required because you are classified as a dependent student for financial aid purposes. The U.S. Department of Education does not recognize a parent’s unwillingness to complete the FAFSA as a reason for them to not provide the information. See “What does it take to be considered an independent student?”
9. My parents don’t claim me on their tax return and don’t give me any money. Can I file as “Independent”?
The definition of an independent student is very narrowly defined by law and impacts many students who consider themselves “independent.” See “What does it take to be considered an independent student?”
10. I am really independent, why do I have to apply for financial aid using my parent’s income and asset information?
The definition of an independent student is very narrowly defined by law and impacts many students who consider themselves “independent.” See “What does it take to be considered an independent student?”
11. I’m moving out of my parents’ house and will support myself from now on. Do my parents still have to fill out the FAFSA?
Students under 24 years of age are considered dependent on their parents by federal law no matter where they live (there are limited exceptions - please note them in the FAFSA instructions). If your parents do not provide their information on your application, you probably cannot be considered for aid. If you have special circumstances that make it impossible for your parents to complete the application, contact us. See “What does it take to be considered an independent student?”
12. What happens if my parents decide they will not provide any financial assistance (Expected Family Contribution) towards my college expenses?
The federal student aid programs are based on the premise that students (and their parents, or spouse, if applicable) have the primary responsibility of paying for their college education. You are encouraged to seek scholarships. You can also seek employment. Additionally, you may want to consider a student loan.