Will my FAFSA application affect my daughter's financial aid eligibility?

I was in a similar situation last year! Your FAFSA application won't directly impact your daughter's financial aid eligibility. Since you're both filing separate FAFSA applications, the system treats you as independent applicants. However, if your income changes because you're reducing work hours to attend school, that COULD impact her aid next year when she reapplies.

my sister n me were both in college at same time with our mom. each fafsa is seperate but ur income matters for ur daughters fafsa since shes ur dependent. ur school status doesnt matter for her aid but ur income does

There are a few important technical points to clarify here: 1. Your FAFSA application and your daughter's are completely separate 2. Your status as a student does NOT automatically lower your daughter's SAI (Student Aid Index, formerly EFC) 3. HOWEVER, your changed financial circumstances (reduced income from working part-time) WILL be reflected in her next FAFSA 4. For the current aid year, your daughter's package is already set and won't change unless you submit an income appeal 5. For next year's FAFSA, your reduced income would potentially qualify her for more aid One important thing: If your daughter is listed as your dependent on taxes, but you're also a student, neither of you can claim the other as a dependent on your FAFSA forms.

DONT BELIEVE WHAT PPL ARE SAYING HERE!!! When I went back to school with my son in college they TOTALLY changed his financial aid package mid-year!! The financial aid office said it was because they had to "redistribute family resources" or some garbage. We LOST almost $3000 of his grant money!!

Just wanted to add - I've been trying to reach someone at FSA about a similar situation for THREE WEEKS. Kept getting disconnected or waiting 2+ hours. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an agent in 20 minutes who confirmed that parent education status doesn't directly impact dependent student aid. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. Saved me so much frustration!

This is actually a common question. Your student status doesn't directly affect your daughter's FAFSA. However, there's an important consideration: if your return to school will affect your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), that will impact your daughter's next FAFSA calculation. The current year's FAFSA is already processed and won't change. Also, if you're receiving any education tax credits like the American Opportunity Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit, those don't impact the FAFSA calculations either.

soooo wait does this mean OP could potentially qualify for more aid themselves bc they have a dependent in college?? the FAFSA has that question about how many people in your household are in college right?

Don't forget to check with your school's financial aid office about education benefits through your employer if you're working! My company had tuition assistance that didn't affect my son's FAFSA at all. Many employers offer education benefits that aren't reported as income on your taxes, which means they won't impact your daughter's aid calculations either.

i thought there was some kind of special form for when both parent and kid are in school? my cousins filled something out for this exact situation last year. something about family members in college? anybody know what im talking about??

Just to add some reassurance - I went through this exact situation two years ago when I started my MBA while my daughter was a junior in college. The key thing that helped us was timing our FAFSA applications strategically. Since your income reduction from going part-time won't show up on tax returns until next year, you might want to contact your daughter's financial aid office about a "special circumstances" or "professional judgment" review for her current aid year if the income change is significant. They can sometimes adjust aid mid-year based on documented changes in family financial situation. Also, keep detailed records of your school expenses - while they don't directly reduce your daughter's SAI, they can sometimes be considered in appeals processes.

This is really helpful information! I'm in a similar boat - considering going back to school while my son is in college. One thing I want to add is that you should also check if your state has any specific programs for parents returning to school. Some states have grants or scholarships specifically for adult learners that don't count as income on the FAFSA. Also, if you're considering federal work-study as part of your aid package, that income is excluded from next year's FAFSA calculations, which could be another small advantage. The timing advice about special circumstances appeals is spot on - definitely worth exploring if your income drop is substantial!

Welcome to the community! This is actually a really common concern for parents returning to school. From what I've learned through my own experience, your FAFSA application operates completely independently from your daughter's - they're processed as separate applications even though you're related. The main thing that could impact her aid is if your household income changes significantly due to cutting back work hours for school. One thing that might actually work in your favor: when you fill out your own FAFSA as a graduate student, you'll be able to count your daughter as a household member in college, which could potentially increase your own aid eligibility. Just make sure to keep good documentation of any income changes throughout the year - if your part-time transition creates a substantial drop in household income, your daughter's school might be able to do a special circumstances review to adjust her current aid package. Good luck with your master's program!

I just went through this exact situation last year! As a newcomer here, I wanted to share my experience to hopefully ease some of your concerns. My daughter was a junior when I started my master's program, and I was terrified about messing up her financial aid. The good news is that your individual FAFSA applications are completely separate systems - think of them as two different people applying for aid (which you essentially are). Your student status doesn't automatically change her dependency status or SAI calculation. However, what everyone's mentioning about income changes is absolutely crucial. When I reduced my hours to accommodate classes, our household income dropped about 35%, and this DID positively impact my daughter's aid package for the following year. We also discovered that I qualified for additional aid on my own FAFSA because I could count her as a household member attending college. One practical tip: reach out to both financial aid offices early in the process. My daughter's school was incredibly helpful in explaining exactly how any changes might affect her current package, and my graduate program's aid office helped me understand all the resources available for returning adult students. Welcome to the community, and don't let the financial aid complexity discourage you from pursuing your education! It's definitely manageable with the right information.

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add my perspective on this situation. I'm actually considering going back to school while my son is in his freshman year, so this thread has been incredibly informative! One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the timing of when you submit your FAFSA applications. Since the FAFSA uses "prior-prior year" tax information, your current year income changes won't automatically show up in next year's calculations. However, many schools allow you to update your information if there are significant changes to your financial circumstances. Also, I've been researching graduate programs and learned that as a graduate student, you're automatically considered independent for FAFSA purposes, which means your aid eligibility is based solely on your income (and spouse's if married), not your parents'. This is different from your daughter's situation as an undergraduate dependent student. The community advice about contacting both financial aid offices early is spot-on. I've already started having preliminary conversations with schools I'm considering, and they've all been very helpful in explaining how parent-student scenarios typically work. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's making this decision much less overwhelming!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly detailed discussion! I'm in a very similar situation - considering returning to school for my graduate degree while my daughter is in her second year of college. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful in understanding how the FAFSA process works when both parent and child are students. What I'm finding most valuable is the distinction everyone's made between your student status (which doesn't directly impact your daughter's aid) and your income changes (which definitely can). I'm planning to reduce my work hours significantly, so it sounds like the income reduction could actually benefit my daughter's aid package for next year, even though my being a student won't automatically change anything. The advice about contacting both financial aid offices early really resonates with me. I think I was overthinking this and worried about making some kind of mistake that would hurt my daughter's current aid. It's reassuring to know that the systems are separate and that schools are generally helpful in explaining how changes might affect existing packages. One question for those who've been through this: did you find it helpful to coordinate the timing of your applications, or does it not really matter as long as you're both meeting your respective deadlines? Thanks again for creating such a supportive and informative discussion!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to add my experience to this helpful discussion! I actually completed my master's degree last year while my daughter was finishing her junior year of college, so I can speak to how this situation played out in practice. The most important thing I learned is that your FAFSA applications truly are independent - your student status doesn't create any automatic changes to your daughter's aid eligibility. However, the income impact is very real and can actually work in your favor. When I reduced my work schedule to attend evening classes, our household income dropped by about 30%, and this resulted in a significant increase in my daughter's grant aid for her senior year. One thing I wish I had known earlier is that some graduate programs offer specific financial assistance for working parents. My school had a "Parents in Graduate School" scholarship that I only discovered halfway through my program - definitely worth asking about during your application process! Also, keep detailed records of all education-related expenses (tuition, books, etc.) even though they don't directly reduce your daughter's SAI. Some schools consider these expenses during professional judgment reviews if you need to appeal aid decisions. The transition was definitely manageable, and both my daughter and I successfully completed our programs without any major financial aid complications. Good luck with your master's program - you've got this!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share some additional perspective on this situation. I'm currently in my first semester of graduate school while my son is a sophomore in college, so this is very fresh experience for me! One thing I discovered that hasn't been mentioned yet is that some schools have "family education discounts" or sibling/parent-child enrollment benefits that can provide additional savings beyond federal aid. My graduate program offered a 10% tuition discount specifically for parents of current college students. It's worth asking admissions offices about these types of institutional benefits. Also, regarding the work-study point someone made earlier - I can confirm that graduate work-study income doesn't count toward next year's FAFSA calculations, which has been helpful for managing expenses without impacting my son's aid eligibility. The coordination aspect is interesting too. While the FAFSA applications are separate, I found it helpful to complete both around the same time so I could ensure consistency in how I reported household information. Having all the financial documents organized for one application made the second one much smoother. One practical tip: if you're planning to use education tax credits, make sure you understand which parent claims them. Since I'm now a student too, we had to strategically decide who claims which credits to maximize our overall tax benefit without creating any FAFSA reporting issues. Thanks for starting such an informative discussion - this community has been incredibly helpful for navigating these complex situations!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to add my perspective as someone who just went through the FAFSA application process while my daughter was starting her sophomore year. One thing that really helped me was understanding that the FAFSA system treats each application completely independently - your student status won't automatically trigger any changes to your daughter's current aid package. However, I learned that timing can be strategic when it comes to income reporting. Since you mentioned going part-time, I'd strongly recommend documenting the exact date your income changes and keeping pay stubs showing the reduction. If the change happens early in the year, you might be able to request a "special circumstances" review for your daughter's current aid year rather than waiting until next year's FAFSA cycle. Also, something I discovered that wasn't immediately obvious: as a graduate student, you'll be considered independent for your own FAFSA, which means your aid eligibility will be based solely on your income (and spouse's if married). This is completely separate from your daughter's dependency status as an undergraduate. One practical tip: when you're researching graduate programs, ask specifically about support services for parents of college students. Some schools have additional resources or even informal support networks for families navigating multiple tuition payments simultaneously. This community has been incredibly helpful for understanding these complex situations - glad you found it too!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share some encouragement and a few additional considerations for your situation! It's clear from all these responses that you're not alone in navigating this - so many parents successfully manage returning to school while their children are in college. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is the potential networking benefits of being in graduate school while your daughter is in college. You'll both be part of academic communities that often share resources about scholarships, grants, and financial opportunities that might not be widely advertised. I've heard of families discovering additional funding sources through these academic networks that they never would have found otherwise. Also, consider looking into whether your graduate program offers any graduate assistantships or teaching positions. Not only can these provide tuition waivers or stipends, but the income from these positions is often treated more favorably in FAFSA calculations compared to regular employment income. The key takeaway from everyone's experience seems to be that preparation and communication with financial aid offices are crucial. Document everything, ask questions early and often, and don't hesitate to reach out for help when you need it. The financial aid landscape can be complex, but it's definitely navigable with the right information and support. Best of luck with your master's program - it sounds like you're approaching this thoughtfully and strategically, which will serve you well throughout the process!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share my experience and hopefully add some reassurance! I'm currently in my second year of graduate school while my daughter just started her junior year of college, so I've been navigating this exact situation. The biggest relief for me was learning that your FAFSA applications are completely independent systems - your enrollment status won't automatically affect her current aid package. However, the income impact from reducing work hours can actually be beneficial for her future aid eligibility. One thing I discovered that might be helpful: many graduate programs have emergency funds or hardship grants specifically for students with dependents in college. I received an unexpected $2,000 emergency grant during my first semester when I explained our family's situation to the financial aid office. These funds often go unused because people don't know to ask about them. Also, I highly recommend creating a shared calendar with your daughter for all financial aid deadlines, renewal dates, and important dates for both your programs. It's been incredibly helpful for staying organized and ensuring we don't miss anything important while we're both juggling academic schedules. The learning curve is definitely manageable, and having a child in college actually made me more motivated to succeed in my own program. You've got great support here in this community - don't hesitate to ask questions as you go through the process!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share some additional insights that might be helpful for your situation! I'm actually a financial aid counselor at a state university, and I see parent-student scenarios like yours quite frequently. One thing I always tell families in your situation is to make sure you understand the difference between "current year" and "base year" income reporting on the FAFSA. Since FAFSA uses prior-prior year tax information, your income reduction from going part-time won't automatically appear on next year's FAFSA - it will use your current full-time income from two years ago. However, this is where professional judgment comes in. Both you and your daughter can request reviews based on significant changes in financial circumstances. I'd also recommend checking if your state offers any "family education" grants or programs. Some states have specific funding for families where multiple members are pursuing higher education simultaneously. These programs are often underutilized because people don't know they exist. From a practical standpoint, I've found that families who succeed in this situation are those who communicate openly with both financial aid offices from the beginning. Don't wait until there's a problem - establish relationships with the counselors at both institutions early in the process. One last tip: if you're planning to take out graduate PLUS loans, be aware that these have different terms and conditions than undergraduate loans, and the credit check requirements are different from parent PLUS loans your daughter might be eligible for. Welcome to the community, and feel free to reach out if you have any specific questions about the process!