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Student Financial Services

Dependency Status/Unusual Circumstances

The federal government sets the criteria for determining the dependency status of financial aid applicants. Students who do not meet at least one of the conditions listed below are considered dependent for financial aid purposes and are required to provide parental information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

To be considered independent, a student must be at least one of the following:

  • At least 24 years of age
  • A veteran of the U.S. Armed forces or serving on active duty for purposes other than training
  • Enrolled in a graduate degree program
  • Married at the time the FAFSA was completed
  • An orphan, in foster care, or a ward of the court at any point after the age of 13
  • Have legal dependents (not a spouse) for whom you provide more than half of their support
  • An emancipated minor or in legal guardianship as determined by a court
  • An unaccompanied youth who is homeless or at risk of being homeless as determined by your high school or district homeless liaison or the director of a youth homeless shelter

Circumstances for which a Dependency Appeal will NOT be considered:

  1. Parents refuse to contribute to the student's education.
  2. Parents are unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA application or for verification.
  3. Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
  4. Student lives apart from parents and is self-supporting.

Circumstances for which a Dependency Appeal WILL be considered:

  1. Abuse, Abandonment, or Estranged Relationship - Student has no parental contact due to serious family problems, such as, physical or mental abuse, estrangement, abandonment, parental drug abuse, incarceration, or mental incapacity. Student must be in a separate household from his or her parents for health/safety reasons.
  1. Divorce - Student was previously married and is now divorced, causing a “dependent” status on the FAFSA. Student is maintaining a separate residence from his or her parents and ex-spouse and is self-supporting.


If you believe you have an unusual circumstance that affects your dependency status, please contact the Financial Aid Office for an evaluation of your situation at xufinaid@xavier.edu or 513-745-3142.