INFORMATION FOR
To determine Independent Status, the Financial Aid Office is required to adhere to the standard definition of independent status as mandated by Congress and outlined by the United States Department of Education.
According to this definition, you will be considered an automatic independent student if you meet one of the following criteria:
A Financial Aid Administrator may authorize a Dependency Status Override ONLY if a student THOROUGHLY DOCUMENTS EXTREME FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS INCARCERATION OF PARENT OR VIOLENT ABUSIVE PARENTAL BEHAVIOR. This determination must be confirmed every year.
EXTREME FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT include:
If you are requesting a Dependency Status Override based on one of the reasons listed above, you are a dependent student.
If you believe your situation qualifies as an EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCE, WHICH YOU CAN DOCUMENT, you may follow the directions below:
If you have specific questions please email finaid@wpunj.edu for assistance.