Financial Aid

Letter from the Director

Forms

How To Apply
-Student Eligibility
-Dependency Status
-Academic Progress
-Professional Judgement

Types of Financial Aid
-Scholarships
-Federal & State Grants
-Stafford Loans

-Stafford Loan MPN

-PLUS Loan

-Alternative Loans
-Entrance & Exit Interviews

-Choosing a Loan Lender

-Applying for a Stafford Loan
-Campus Based Programs
-Additional Sources of Aid

Internet Resources

Important Terms

Important Financial Aid Numbers

Admissions

Student Accounts

Staff

Calendars 

Directories

When you apply for federal student aid, your answers to certain questions will determine whether you're considered dependent on your parent(s) and must therefore, report their income and assets as well as your own. Or whether you are independent and must, therefore, report only your own income and assets (and those of your spouse, if you are married).

Students are classified as dependent or independent because federal student aid programs are based on the idea students (and their parents or spouse, if applicable) have the primary responsibility of paying for their postsecondary education. Students who have access to their parental support (dependent students) should not receive need-based federal funds at the expense of independent students who do not have such access.

You are an independent student if at least one of the following applies to you:

Answer Yes or No to the questions below.

Yes or No	1. Were you born before January 1, 1984?
Yes or No	2. Are you enrolled in a graduate program (beyond a bachelor's degree) in 2007?
Yes or No	3. As of today are you married? (Answer "Yes" if you are separated but not divorced.)
Yes or No	4. Do you have children who receive more than half their support from you?
Yes or No	5. Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and Who receive more than half their support from you, now and through June 30, 2008?
Yes or No	6. Are you an orphan or ward of the court or were you a ward of the court until age 18?
Yes or No	7. Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?

If you claim to be an independent student, your school may ask you to submit proof before you can receive any federal student aid. If you think you have unusual circumstances that would make you independent even though none of the above criteria apply to you, talk to your financial aid administrator. He or she can change your status based on the documentation you provide. But remember, the aid administrator won't automatically do this. That decision is based on his or judgment along with the other counselors in the office. The decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.

Dutchess Community College's institutional policy is that documentation should come from a non-vested third party on official letterhead paper and indicate family circumstances that would preclude the student using parental income information to obtain federal financial aid. Examples should include reference to situations of alcohol, drug, and sexual, verbal, physical and / or psychological abuse. Examples of non-vested third party are clergy members, social workers, high school guidance counselors, and psychiatrists.

To apply for a dependency change at Dutchess Community College, please contact the Office of Financial Aid to acquire the Petition for Dependency Status Review.

NEWS & EVENTS | Dutchess Community College HOME

Comments and questions about this page can be directed to the Office of Financial Aid.

Copyright © 2003