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My daughter is a freshman at Florida (Gainesville), and I'm wondering whether at some point she can establish residency there and qualify for in-state tuition. Is this a state law or a university policy? Any suggestions?

By GatorDad on Saturday, September 29, 2001 - 08:29 am: Edit

Bump

By George Meany on Saturday, September 29, 2001 - 03:56 pm: Edit

Have you checked Florida's school Web site yet for details on establishing in-state residency?

By GatorDad on Wednesday, October 03, 2001 - 01:24 pm: Edit

Yeah, I looked there first, George. I checked FSU, too, since I figured it would be a state rule that would probably apply to both schools. Couldn't find any info at either site.

By Jaelyn on Thursday, April 11, 2002 - 10:00 am: Edit

How can I declare my independency from my parents for financial aid?

By Dadster on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 02:48 pm: Edit

Missed your post, Jaelyn, sorry. There are really two situations: being independent to establish local residency (for in-state tuition at state colleges) and being independent for financial aid purposes.

You'll have to check with the specific college and/or state regulation to find out what it takes to become emancipated. In general, I don't think the FAFSA allows for this possibility, so you'll most likely have to work this out at the college level. Being declared independent for aid calculations will most likely require special circumstances if you are of normal age and your parents aren't deceased or missing.

By David Hawsey on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 03:48 pm: Edit

In order to be considered "independent", one or more of the following situations must exist:

You are independent if you are 21, are a veteran of the U.S. armed forces, are married, are a ward of the court or were a ward of the court until age 18, have no living parents and have no legal guardian, or have a legal dependent who gets more than half of his or her support from you. The FAFSA has more details about these categories.

Students think that they can become independent merely by establishing residency (via an apartment or PO box address, for example) for the minimum amount of time dictated by the individual state. This is far from the truth. In fact, students and parents often believe the child is independent, but they continue to declare the student on the parent's income tax forms. In general, a student must not be declared on a tax form (all tax forms - state, local and federal) for at least one year, resulting in a total of at least two years until the student is no longer on record (last year, plus the current year -- reported NEXT year).

By Mark Y on Friday, May 31, 2002 - 09:53 am: Edit

I think you have to be 24 to be declared independent. Otherwise you'd see a lot of juniors and seniors declaring their independence.

By Kendra on Monday, July 29, 2002 - 01:12 pm: Edit

I am a resident and student in NH. Claiming residency in this state is crazy. My family has owned a home in this state for 10 years but because we moved away for a short time, they won't give me residency. Their school policy is crazy, it states that if you go home to visit family during vacations, holidays etc they won't consider you. Can we say anti-family.

By Jenni on Monday, August 19, 2002 - 09:07 pm: Edit

can someone please tell me about the emancipation statue for florida?

By Dadster on Monday, August 19, 2002 - 10:28 pm: Edit

I've heard that about New Englanders, Kendra... if you can't trace your lineage back five or six generations, you're an outsider. Guess that carries over to college residency, too...

By Laura on Thursday, September 19, 2002 - 04:28 pm: Edit

I heard from a couple people that if you emancipate yourself from your parents, that the state basically pays for your college through grants & scholarships. If you can prove that you are your only source of income. Does anyone know if this is true? or have any more info about it?

By Mik Asa on Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 10:00 am: Edit

I'm 24, fully independent, and thinking of transfering from Michigan to a school in Florida. Does anyone know what it will take for me to get in-state tuition there? I checked the intended school's website but found no information.

By Jeff on Sunday, December 22, 2002 - 04:54 pm: Edit

Is it possible to emancipate myself from my mother and stepfather and try to claim some sort of dependency to my real dad, who is not around. That could possibly bring up the whole missing parent thing. Thanks

By Kat1353 (Kat1353) on Wednesday, April 02, 2003 - 09:36 pm: Edit

Does anyone know how you can become a resident of the State of Delaware after attending school for one year so you can get the in-state tuition rate without your parents moving there? Thanks.

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Wednesday, April 02, 2003 - 11:37 pm: Edit

Generally you need to be a resident for a year and a day ( which means before application) before they will consider you eligible for instate residency ( Unless you can get your parents to move there too)
It used to be that if you had attended the school for one year, you could get subsequent years in state tuition. However that is no more as far as I know, they want only people who reside in the state year round, pay taxes, the whole ball of wax to get instate fees.

You are considered independent if you are 24 years old, married, a parent, or in grad school.
It is pretty hard to declare yourself independent from your parents just because they don't want to/ can't pay tuition unfortunately.
Federal laws are fairly consistent but the schools criteria are all over the place
Look at this from the Princeton Review site

Parental Contribution
If you have never applied for financial aid in the past and are operating under the assumption that, as a tax-paying grown-up x number of years out of school, you will be recognized as the self-supporting adult that you are, well, you've got some growing up to do.


Veterans of financial aid battles past will not be surprised to hear that financial-aid offices have a difficult time recognizing when apron strings have legitimately been cut. Some schools will consider your parents' income in determining your eligibility for financial aid, regardless of your age or tax status. Policies vary widely, so be sure to ask the schools you consider closely what their policies are regarding financial independence for the purposes of determining financial aid eligibility for the school's own money.


Only federal financial-aid standards for independence are simple and consistent. You are automatically considered Independent for purposes of federal aid (e.g., Perkins or Stafford loan programs) as a graduate student. It doesn't matter if you still live with your parents or even if they claim you as a dependent. You will be seen as independent in the eyes of the federal goverment. Again, these standards apply only to federal financial aid (Stafford and Perkins loans).


A few of the very selective schools will insist on seeing parent information anyway. The Harvard Law School FAOs, for example, require parents' financial data even if the student is forty years old and the parents have long since retired to Miami Beach. Though the schools may refuse to give you any of their own money, you can still qualify for Stafford loans by meeting the federal regulations for independent status.

By Jeaner (Jeaner) on Friday, April 04, 2003 - 01:48 pm: Edit

need help, i am considered a non-resident but i receive a fee wavier for attending high school(california) i really want to establish residency but its so impossible, does anybody know anyways that could help me establish residency here in california?

By Vaporr (Vaporr) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 03:34 pm: Edit

I am 20 years old and trying to apply for my financial aid. My parents are divorced, my father did not do his taxes for the 2002 year and my mother completely refused to give me any information for my FAFSA. She will not fill it out under any circumstances. I can't afford to pay for school out of my own budget, and I can't get any personal loans at this point. I was told I also couldn't claim independency, because this is not a neglect/abuse situation. What choices do I have as far as going to school?

By Js2132 (Js2132) on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 05:16 am: Edit

You only need the info of one parent. There will be a section which asks whether or not your chosen parent has filed. Get your dad's W-2 form and use the information to fill ou the FAFSA. Have him get another copy from his employer if he needs to.
You will still not be eligible for personal loans but once you have this sent in you can apply for a couple thousand in Stafford Subsidized loans if you qualify. Get cracking as W-2s can be a few weeks coming when you reorder them. Also, you MAY guess-timate if you need to, as many schools only do random verification checks. This is a GOOD IDEA if you have a cut-off deadline coming up. You will not be in trouble unless you under report you father's income or intend to decieve or commit fraud.

By Bettyah (Bettyah) on Tuesday, May 27, 2003 - 09:04 pm: Edit

Has any student under the age of 21 successfully established residency after two years of attending college in Florida, and if so, any tips you can share? My daughter wants to live in FL but my husband and I have five more years to go before retirement in MD. Thanks, Betty

By Dragon240 (Dragon240) on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 10:22 am: Edit

Ok. Hopefully someone can help me here. I am originally from Alabama born and raised there. In Aug 2002 I moved to TN for school, attended for fall semester and lost my scholarship (I had a 3.077 GPA and was required to have a 3.1). I didn't live in the dorms that semester but lived on my own. I have supported myself the entire time, paying for everything including an apartment and utilities, the whole bit. I am now considering moving back home to finish college. Not home with my parents but back in town to an apartment. My parent's havent supported me in any way since last august and won't be supporting me in the future. I need to find out about them not being considered for my financial aid. And will I still be considered in-state in my home state of AL? Thanks in advance.