FAFSA dependency status for masters student after undergrad - should parents be excluded?

Good news - for graduate/professional school, all students are automatically considered independent on the FAFSA regardless of age or parental support! Your daughter will only need to report her own income and assets, not yours. This is different from undergraduate where students under 24 typically need parent info even if parents don't contribute financially. When she completes the 2025-2026 FAFSA for her Masters program, there will be a question asking if she's pursuing graduate/professional education, and when she selects yes, the system won't ask for parent information at all.

Dont waste ur time filing fafsa for grad school tbh!!! My sister got her Masters and the ONLY thing they gave her was loans with terrible interest rates. No grants at all. All the free money is for undergrad. Grad students just get awful loans from the govt.

I had a similar situation with my son last year. Found out graduate students are automatically considered independent on the FAFSA. It actually made things MUCH simpler. He just needed his own tax info.

make sure she understands that grad school aid is mostly LOANS not grants!!!!! i thought i'd get pell grants again but NOPE, just offered $20,500 in unsubsidized loans (interest accrues immediately) and then Grad PLUS loans for the rest. interest rates are like 7-8% right now. make sure she knows what she's signing up for!!!!

When I was trying to navigate this for my own graduate degree, I spent WEEKS trying to get someone on the phone at Federal Student Aid. Finally I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual person in about 15 minutes. They have this video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent confirmed what others are saying - graduate students are automatically independent, which simplified everything. But they also explained some nuances about how my specific program would be classified that made a difference for my loan eligibility. Worth the call to get exact info for your daughter's situation.

All students pursuing masters degrees are considered independent on the FAFSA, but that doesn't necessarily mean she'll get substantial financial aid. Graduate financial aid typically consists of: 1. Unsubsidized Direct Loans ($20,500/year maximum) 2. Graduate PLUS loans (up to the cost of attendance, requires credit check) 3. Work-study opportunities (limited by program) 4. Potential departmental assistantships (teaching/research positions) 5. Institutional scholarships (varies widely by program) The FAFSA is required for the federal loans and work-study, but many of the better funding options (assistantships/fellowships) come directly from academic departments and require separate applications. Her SAI will likely be lower as an independent student, but that primarily affects undergraduate aid. For graduate students, it's more about loan eligibility.

btw has she looked into employers that will pay for grad school?? that's wat my cousin did. she works at this company that pays for her MBA classes as long as she maintains a B average. she has to stay at the company for 2 yrs after graduating or pay it back but its way better than loans!!!!

I went thru this with my daughter and we were SOO confused bcuz she turned 24 right in the middle of her program!!!! So like first semester she was dependent, second she was independent? Made no sense but then we found out for GRAD school age doesnt matter at all! But make sure she actually includes the school she's going to on her FAFSA otherwise they won't get her info!!!!

One other important consideration: If your daughter will be completing her undergraduate degree in May and starting her Masters program in Fall 2025, she'll need to submit the 2025-2026 FAFSA. The application should be available October 1, 2024, and I'd recommend completing it as early as possible. Also, some graduate programs have supplemental financial aid forms beyond the FAFSA (like the CSS Profile for certain private institutions). She should check with each program's financial aid office about any additional requirements. Many graduate programs also have merit-based scholarships with separate applications and earlier deadlines.

Just wanted to add that your daughter should also look into graduate assistantships early in the application process! Many programs offer TA (teaching assistant) or RA (research assistant) positions that can cover tuition and provide a small stipend. These are often more competitive than regular admissions, so she'll want to mention her interest in assistantships in her application materials and reach out to potential faculty advisors. Some programs automatically consider all applicants for assistantships, while others require separate applications with earlier deadlines. The funding landscape varies dramatically between programs and universities, so it's worth having detailed conversations with each program's graduate coordinator about available opportunities.