Special Cases Related to Independent Status

For the 2024-25 award year, an independent student is one of the following, as of the day you completed your FAFSA:

1. Born before Jan. 1, 2001;
   • This is identified when you fill out Question 1 on the FAFSA
2. Married (and not separated);
   • May need to provide a copy of your marriage certificate.
3. A graduate (master’s or doctorate) or professional student;
   • We will look at what we have in our system.
4. A veteran who has a DD-214 that states they were honorably discharged from active duty, including training;
   • Submit your member 2 or 4 DD214 (military separation form), which includes boxes 23-30.  Member 1 copies of your DD214 do not suffice for this verification.
5. A member of the armed forces who is currently serving federal active duty (not state or training purposes);
   • Submit your active-duty orders.  Orders must state that you are under Section 12301 of Title 10 U.S.C.
6. An orphan since you turned 13 years of age or older;
   • Submit death certificates or obituaries for parent(s). Write a statement if not in contact with the other parent.
7. A ward of the court or state since you turned 13 years of age or older
   • Submit copies from either social services or the court.
8. In foster care since you turned 13 years of age or older;
   • Submit copies from either social services or the court.
9. Have children or other people (excluding their spouse), who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you now through June 30, 2025;
   • Submit a statement as to why you indicated this as your status and how you are providing support.
10. An emancipated minor who was legally emancipated by a court in their state of residence;
    • Submit court documentation.
11. Someone who is or was in legal guardianship (not custody) with someone other than their parent or step-parent, as determined by a court in their state of residence;
    • Submit court documentation.
12. Someone who is unaccompanied and homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless
    • See Question 6 for clarification.

When emailed by mckay.brekke@ndsu.edu or mary.gerardy@ndsu.edu, provide a brief statement as to why you marked that situation on your FAFSA, along with the specific document listed under each item above. After it’s reviewed, additional information may be required for any of those situations.

You will receive an email from mary.gerardy@ndsu.edu  with an attached form that you must complete, sign*, date and submit it back using one the options at the bottom of the form.

*Note: Unsigned documents will be returned. Your statement must be signed with a physical signature. Typed names or electronic signatures are not acceptable. 

If circumstances 1-11 do not pertain to your situation, see Question 6.

Definitions of homelessness:

• Unaccompanied: when a student is not living in the physical custody of a parent or guardian
• Homeless: lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing
• At risk of being homeless: when a student’s housing may cease to be fixed, regular, and adequate
• Self-supporting: when a student pays for their own living expenses, including fixed, regular, and adequate housing
  • Fixed: stationary, permanent, and not subject to change
  • Regular: used on a predictable, routine, or consistent basis
  • Adequate: sufficient for meeting both the physical and psychological needs typically met in the home

If you marked on your FAFSA that at any time on or after July 1, 2023, you were either:

1. Unaccompanied and homeless or
2. Unaccompanied, self-supporting, and at risk of homelessness

You will be sent an email from mary.gerardy@ndsu.edu with an attached form that you must complete, sign*, date and submit it back using one the options at the bottom of the form.

*Note: Unsigned documents will be returned. Your statement must be signed with a physical signature. Typed names or electronic signatures are not acceptable.

If none of the above circumstances pertain to your situation, see Question 7.

A dependency override for an unusual circumstance is based on extenuating family circumstances in which it would prevent the student from contacting their parents or contacting their parents would pose a risk to the student. Students must show compelling reason for excluding parental information from the FAFSA. The dependency override must be supported with documentation to demonstrate the dissolution of any student/parent relationship. This list is not all-inclusive and the presence of one or more of these situations does not guarantee the approval of a dependency override.

Examples of unusual circumstances include:

1. Abusive or threatening environment — Unsafe living environment as a result of physical, emotional, sexual or substance (drug or alcohol) abuse by a parent;
2. Parental abandonment or estrangement — parents voluntarily left the student or were absent in the student’s life for an extended period of time. Estrangement could include:
   • Conflicting Beliefs or Practices: Your parent(s) disowned or severed ties with you because of your beliefs, practices or preferences differ from theirs in one or more of the following areas: Race, religion, education health, gender, sexual orientation or cultural expectations, etc.
   • Institutionalization: At least one parent is institutionalized (hospital or treatment facility) and lacks the mental capacity to complete the FAFSA and you do not have contact with or receive any support from your other biological/legal parent.
   • Death: Your custodial parent is no longer living and you do not have contact with another biological/legal parent.
3. Legally granted refugee or asylum status and are separated from their parents, or their parents are displaced in a foreign country;
4. Victim of human trafficking – as described in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.);
5. Student or parental incarceration, where contact with the parent poses a risk to the student;
6. Student is unable to contact or locate a parent, or parents do not reside in the U.S. and cannot be contacted because of political policy, war or civil unrest.

You will be sent an email from mary.gerardy@ndsu.edu with an attached form that you must complete, sign*, date and submit it back using one the options at the bottom of the form.

*Note: Unsigned documents will be returned. Your statement must be signed with a physical signature. Typed names or electronic signatures are not acceptable.

If none of the above (personal, other or unusual) circumstances pertain to your situation, you may either contact your parents to provide their information on the FAFSA or apply for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan Only, see Question 8.

• Parents are unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA or for verification
• Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes
• Parents refuse to contribute to the student’s education
• Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency

In these situations, you may apply for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan Only. The Direct Unsubsidized Loan amount for a Freshman student is $5,500, Sophomore (completed at least 27 credits) amount is $6,500 and Junior and Senior amount is $7,500 for students who have completed 60 credits or more.