Whether you plan to go to college, professional school, or graduate school, you will need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to receive aid such as grants, work-study, and federal student loans.
Typically, the FAFSA requires you to submit details about both your and your parent(s)’ financial information if you are a dependent student. However, if you are an independent student, you will likely be submitting the FAFSA on your own.
Here’s how you can submit the FAFSA without the help of your parent(s).
Can I File the FAFSA Without My Parents?
Your ability to submit the FAFSA without your parent(s)’ information depends on your dependency status.
All FAFSA applicants are considered either independent or dependent students.
If you are an independent student, you only need to submit your own financial information (and your spouse’s, if you are married) and do not need your parent(s)’ information.
If you are a dependent student, you will need to submit both you and your parent(s)’ financial information.
What is the Difference Between an Independent Status and a Dependent Status?
You are considered a student with an independent status if you are one of the following:
- At least 24 years old
- A graduate/professional student
- An orphan or ward of the court
- An emancipated minor
- Married
- Someone who is homeless or at risk of being homeless
- Have legal dependents (children)
- Have a dependency override from a financial aid administrator with proper documentation
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you can be considered as an independent student for the FAFSA.
If you answer no to all of the questions, you are considered a dependent student.
More information on specific circumstances and common questions can be found on this FAFSA worksheet on dependency status.
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How to Fill Out the FAFSA Without Your Parent’s Help
If you are an independent student and answered yes to at least one of the questions above, you do not need your parent(s)’ help to fill out the FAFSA.
On the other hand, if you are a dependent student, you may not necessarily need help from your parent(s), but you will still need their financial information.
Make sure you have the following information at your disposal before filling out your FAFSA. Most of this information will need to be obtained from your parent(s):
- Your Social Security Number
- Your parent(s)’s Social Security Numbers
- Tax Information
- Tax Returns
- IRS W-2
- Parent(s)’s tax information
- Family income
- Records of untaxed income
- Child support
- Veterans benefits
- Information on any financial assets you have
- Cash in your checking and/or savings account
- Investments like stocks and bonds
- Business assets
- Mortgages
What Do You Do if Your Parents Refuse to File the FAFSA With You?
If your parent(s) refuse to help you fill out the FAFSA and provide any of their financial information, you have several options at hand.
Convincing your parent(s) to give you their financial information is the most optimal situation so that you can receive as much money as you can for college costs, but we understand that this might not be possible in unusual or difficult circumstances.
If you are not submitting your FAFSA as an independent but are still in a situation that considers you as one that is not included in the U.S. Department of Education’s guidelines, take the following steps.
Reach Out to Your Financial Aid Office
If you do not meet the requirements to be an independent student and cannot access your parent(s)’ financial information for whatever reason, reach out to the financial aid offices of the schools that you hope to attend.
Explain your situation to the financial aid administrators and provide the appropriate documentation that legitimizes your situation (ex. A letter from a church member, a sibling, a teacher, etc.)
Doing so will call the attention of the university’s financial aid office to consider other financial options they can give to you and work with you to remedy the issue (ex. More work-study options, special loan options, etc.)
See If You’re Eligible for a Dependency Override
Financial aid offices can grant dependency overrides to students they believe qualify as an independent student without meeting the federal government’s outlined criteria.
This means that even if you do not qualify for FAFSA as an independent in technical terms, this dependency override considers you as an independent.
You can only receive a dependency override from a financial aid administrator, not the federal government.
A dependency override is extremely difficult to obtain; approximately, only 2% of undergraduates become independent because of a dependency override.
This should not hinder you from trying; every effort counts, especially if your extenuating circumstances are severe or unusual.
How to Obtain a Dependency Override
- Determine if your circumstances are unusual or special. Your situation should be in a similar vein to the following:
- Your parent(s) are incarcerated
- You are fleeing an abusive household
- You do not know where your parent(s)/guardian(s) are
- Explain your situation to the financial aid office via email or phone (if possible).
- Prepare the proper documentation to prove the validity of your situation.
- Discuss a dependency override with your financial aid director.
Explore Scholarship and Grant Options
Scholarships and grants are a form of gift aid that are basically free money from federal, statewide, private, or institutional organizations.
Scholarships are issued based on need, merit, and special achievements. Grants, on the other hand, are only issued based on financial need.
Scholarships and grants can be used to cover all kinds of costs, such as the cost of tuition, the cost of books/school supplies, the cost of room and board, etc., depending on the amount of money you receive.
Be sure to take advantage of scholarship opportunities and grant offerings.
Here are some of Sparrow’s favorite scholarship search engines:
Grant search engines:
Explore Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans and Private Loan Options
The federal government offers low-interest student loans to qualifying undergraduate and graduate students.
Consider applying for federal student loans to cover the cost of attendance.
If you can demonstrate financial need through your FAFSA as an independent student or with a dependency override, apply for the Direct Subsidized Loan.
Direct Subsidized Loan
Direct Unsubsidized Loan
For undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need
For undergraduate and graduate students; do need to demonstrate financial need
Your school determines how much you can borrow
Your school determines how much you can borrow
The U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on the loanIf you’re in school at least half-timeDuring defermentDuring the first six months of a grace period
You must pay the interest on the loan at all times.
If you cannot demonstrate financial need because you did not submit your FAFSA with your parent(s)’ information, or if you could not obtain a dependency override, consider private student loans.
Private student loans are offered by private organizations, and these loans usually have independent terms and services.
Private loans should be your last option when it comes to exploring means to pay for your college education. Unlike scholarships and grants, loans need to be paid back on time, or they can harm your credit score and accrue overwhelming amounts of education debt.
If you are looking for competitive private student loan options, consider using Sparrow’s free online tool to find what loans are available to you on the market. After submitting an application with us, you can use our prequalification tools to determine whether or not you qualify for a loan before applying to it, explore cosigner options, and find the best repayment option and interest rates.
As Your Last Resort, Wait Until You Are 24
If all else fails, you still have the last resort option of waiting until you are 24 to submit your FAFSA as an independent.
In the meantime, you can attend college through private student loans, grants, scholarships, and savings. Furthermore, you should still receive some amount of financial aid despite not having any of your parent(s)’ information submitted in your FAFSA.
Another option is attending community college for two years so that you only have to pay for half of your college tuition costs.
Student loan rates from our partners
Ascent
Ascent’s undergraduate and graduate student loans are funded by Bank of Lake Mills, or DR Bank, each Member FDIC. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions. Certain restrictions, limitations; and terms and conditions may apply. For Ascent Terms and Conditions please visit: www.AscentFunding.com/Ts&Cs. Rates are effective as of 4/1/2024 and reflect an automatic payment discount of either 0.25% (for credit-based loans) OR 1.00% (for undergraduate outcomes-based loans). Automatic Payment Discount is available if the borrower is enrolled in automatic payments from their personal checking account and the amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. For Ascent rates and repayment examples please visit: AscentFunding.com/Rates. 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. Cosigned Credit-Based Loan student must meet certain minimum credit criteria. The minimum score required is subject to change and may depend on the credit score of your cosigner. Lowest rates require interest-only payments, the shortest loan term, a cosigner, and are only available for our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores. Actual APR offered may be higher or lower than the repayment examples above, based on the amount of time you spend in school and any grace period you have before repayment begins.
Ascent’s undergraduate and graduate student loans are funded by Bank of Lake Mills, or DR Bank, each Member FDIC. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions. Certain restrictions, limitations; and terms and conditions may apply. For Ascent Terms and Conditions please visit: www.AscentFunding.com/Ts&Cs. Rates are effective as of 4/1/2024 and reflect an automatic payment discount of either 0.25% (for credit-based loans) OR 1.00% (for undergraduate outcomes-based loans). Automatic Payment Discount is available if the borrower is enrolled in automatic payments from their personal checking account and the amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. For Ascent rates and repayment examples please visit: AscentFunding.com/Rates. 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. Cosigned Credit-Based Loan student must meet certain minimum credit criteria. The minimum score required is subject to change and may depend on the credit score of your cosigner. Lowest rates require interest-only payments, the shortest loan term, a cosigner, and are only available for our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores. Actual APR offered may be higher or lower than the repayment examples above, based on the amount of time you spend in school and any grace period you have before repayment begins.
LendKey
1 – Terms and Conditions Apply
Loan products, terms, and benefits may be modified or discontinued by participating lenders at any time without notice. Rates displayed are reserved for the most creditworthy consumers who enroll to make automatic monthly payments. Your initial rate will be determined after a review of your application and credit profile. Variable rates may increase after consummation. You must be either a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident in an eligible state and from an eligible school, and meet the lender’s credit and income requirements to qualify for a loan. Certain membership requirements (including the opening of a share account, a minimum share account deposit, and the payment of any applicable association fees in connection with membership) may apply in the event that an applicant wishes to apply with, and accept a loan offered from, a credit union lender. If you are not a member of the credit union lender, you may apply and become a member during the loan application process if you meet the lender’s eligibility criteria. Applying with a creditworthy cosigner may result in a better chance of loan approval and/or lower interest rate. Loans for exam preparation classes, including, but not limited to, loans for LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, and GRE preparation, are not available via LendKey.com.
2 – Cosigner Release
Some lenders participating on LendKey.com may offer the benefit of cosigner release. Cosigner release is subject to lender approval. In order to qualify, the borrower, alone, must meet the following requirements: (1) Make the required number of consecutive, on-time full principal and interest payments as indicated in the borrower’s credit agreement during the repayment period (excluding interest-only payments) immediately prior to the request. Any period of forbearance will reset the repayment clock; (2) The account cannot be in delinquent status; (3) The borrower must provide proof of income indicating that he/she meets the income requirements and pass a credit review demonstrating that he/she has a satisfactory credit history and the ability to assume full responsibility of loan repayment; (4) No bankruptcies or foreclosures in the last sixty months; and (5) No loan defaults.
3 – Autopay Rate Reduction
Subject to floor rate and may require the automatic payments be made from a checking or savings account with the lender. The rate reduction will be removed and the rate will be increased by 0.25% upon any cancellation or failed collection attempt of the automatic payment and will be suspended during any period of deferment or forbearance. As a result, during the forbearance or suspension period, and/or if the automatic payment is canceled, any increase will take the form of higher payments.
4 – AutoPay Discount & Lowest Interest Rate
Subject to floor rate and may require the automatic payments be made from a checking or savings account with the lender. The rate reduction will be removed and the rate will be increased by 0.25% upon any cancellation or failed collection attempt of the automatic payment and will be suspended during any period of deferment or forbearance. As a result, during the forbearance or suspension period, and/or if the automatic payment is canceled, any increase will take the form of higher payments. The lowest advertised APR is only available for loan terms of 10 years and is reserved for the highest qualified applicants, taking into consideration the applicant’s credit and other factors.
1 – Terms and Conditions Apply
Loan products, terms, and benefits may be modified or discontinued by participating lenders at any time without notice. Rates displayed are reserved for the most creditworthy consumers who enroll to make automatic monthly payments. Your initial rate will be determined after a review of your application and credit profile. Variable rates may increase after consummation. You must be either a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident in an eligible state and from an eligible school, and meet the lender’s credit and income requirements to qualify for a loan. Certain membership requirements (including the opening of a share account, a minimum share account deposit, and the payment of any applicable association fees in connection with membership) may apply in the event that an applicant wishes to apply with, and accept a loan offered from, a credit union lender. If you are not a member of the credit union lender, you may apply and become a member during the loan application process if you meet the lender’s eligibility criteria. Applying with a creditworthy cosigner may result in a better chance of loan approval and/or lower interest rate. Loans for exam preparation classes, including, but not limited to, loans for LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, and GRE preparation, are not available via LendKey.com.
2 – Cosigner Release
Some lenders participating on LendKey.com may offer the benefit of cosigner release. Cosigner release is subject to lender approval. In order to qualify, the borrower, alone, must meet the following requirements: (1) Make the required number of consecutive, on-time full principal and interest payments as indicated in the borrower’s credit agreement during the repayment period (excluding interest-only payments) immediately prior to the request. Any period of forbearance will reset the repayment clock; (2) The account cannot be in delinquent status; (3) The borrower must provide proof of income indicating that he/she meets the income requirements and pass a credit review demonstrating that he/she has a satisfactory credit history and the ability to assume full responsibility of loan repayment; (4) No bankruptcies or foreclosures in the last sixty months; and (5) No loan defaults.
3 – Autopay Rate Reduction
Subject to floor rate and may require the automatic payments be made from a checking or savings account with the lender. The rate reduction will be removed and the rate will be increased by 0.25% upon any cancellation or failed collection attempt of the automatic payment and will be suspended during any period of deferment or forbearance. As a result, during the forbearance or suspension period, and/or if the automatic payment is canceled, any increase will take the form of higher payments.
4 – AutoPay Discount & Lowest Interest Rate
Subject to floor rate and may require the automatic payments be made from a checking or savings account with the lender. The rate reduction will be removed and the rate will be increased by 0.25% upon any cancellation or failed collection attempt of the automatic payment and will be suspended during any period of deferment or forbearance. As a result, during the forbearance or suspension period, and/or if the automatic payment is canceled, any increase will take the form of higher payments. The lowest advertised APR is only available for loan terms of 10 years and is reserved for the highest qualified applicants, taking into consideration the applicant’s credit and other factors.
Earnest
Auto Pay Discount Disclosure
You can take advantage of the Auto Pay interest rate reduction by setting up and maintaining active and automatic ACH withdrawal of your loan payment. The interest rate reduction for Auto Pay will be available only while your loan is enrolled in Auto Pay. Interest rate incentives for utilizing Auto Pay may not be combined with certain private student loan repayment programs that also offer an interest rate reduction. For multi-party loans, only one party may enroll in Auto Pay.
Student Loan Origination (Private Student Loan) Interest Rate Disclosure
Actual rate and available repayment terms will vary based on your income. Fixed rates range from 4.36% APR to 16.15% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Variable rates range from 5.87% APR to 16.45% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Earnest variable interest rate student loan origination loans are based on a publicly available index, the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The variable rate is based on the rate published on the 25th day, or the next business day, of the preceding calendar month, rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent. The rate will not increase more than once per month. Although the rate will vary after you are approved, it will never exceed 36% (the maximum allowable for this loan). Please note, Earnest Private Student Loans are not available in Nevada. Our lowest rates are only available for our most credit qualified borrowers and contain our .25% auto pay discount from a checking or savings account. It is important to note that the 0.25% Auto Pay discount is not available while loan payments are deferred.
Earnest Private Student Loans are made by One American Bank, Member FDIC, or FinWise Bank, Member FDIC. One American Bank, 515 S. Minnesota Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104. Finwise Bank, 756 East Winchester, Suite 100, Murray, UT 84107
Earnest loans are serviced by Earnest Operations LLC, 535 Mission St., Suite 1663 San Francisco, CA 94105, NMLS #1204917, with support From Navient Solutions, LLC (NMLS #212430). One American Bank, FinWise Bank, and Earnest LLC and its subsidiaries, including Earnest Operations LLC, are not sponsored by agencies of the United States of America.
© 2024 Earnest LLC. All rights reserved.
Auto Pay Discount Disclosure
You can take advantage of the Auto Pay interest rate reduction by setting up and maintaining active and automatic ACH withdrawal of your loan payment. The interest rate reduction for Auto Pay will be available only while your loan is enrolled in Auto Pay. Interest rate incentives for utilizing Auto Pay may not be combined with certain private student loan repayment programs that also offer an interest rate reduction. For multi-party loans, only one party may enroll in Auto Pay.
Student Loan Origination (Private Student Loan) Interest Rate Disclosure
Actual rate and available repayment terms will vary based on your income. Fixed rates range from 4.36% APR to 16.15% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Variable rates range from 5.87% APR to 16.45% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Earnest variable interest rate student loan origination loans are based on a publicly available index, the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The variable rate is based on the rate published on the 25th day, or the next business day, of the preceding calendar month, rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent. The rate will not increase more than once per month. Although the rate will vary after you are approved, it will never exceed 36% (the maximum allowable for this loan). Please note, Earnest Private Student Loans are not available in Nevada. Our lowest rates are only available for our most credit qualified borrowers and contain our .25% auto pay discount from a checking or savings account. It is important to note that the 0.25% Auto Pay discount is not available while loan payments are deferred.
Earnest Private Student Loans are made by One American Bank, Member FDIC, or FinWise Bank, Member FDIC. One American Bank, 515 S. Minnesota Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104. Finwise Bank, 756 East Winchester, Suite 100, Murray, UT 84107
Earnest loans are serviced by Earnest Operations LLC, 535 Mission St., Suite 1663 San Francisco, CA 94105, NMLS #1204917, with support From Navient Solutions, LLC (NMLS #212430). One American Bank, FinWise Bank, and Earnest LLC and its subsidiaries, including Earnest Operations LLC, are not sponsored by agencies of the United States of America.
© 2024 Earnest LLC. All rights reserved.
College Ave
College Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply.
*The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as the borrower or cosigner, if applicable, enrolls in auto-pay and authorizes our loan servicer to automatically deduct your monthly payments from a valid bank account via Automated Clearing House (“ACH”). The rate reduction applies for as long as the monthly payment amount is successfully deducted from the designated bank account and is suspended during periods of forbearance and certain deferments. Variable rates may increase after consummation. $5,000 is the minimum requirement to refinance. The maximum loan amount is $300,000 for those with medical, dental, pharmacy or veterinary doctorate degrees, and $150,000 for all other undergraduate or graduate degrees. Information advertised valid as of 08/25/2022. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation.
This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a refi borrower with a Full Principal & Interest Repayment and a 10-year repayment term, has a $40,000 loan and a 5.5% Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 120 monthly payments of $434.11 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $52,092.61. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary.
This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Deferred Repayment Option with a 10-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 8.35% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 120 monthly payments of $179.18 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $21,501.54. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary.
Information advertised valid as of 3/07/2024. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of full principal and interest payments with the shortest available loan term.
College Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply.
*The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as the borrower or cosigner, if applicable, enrolls in auto-pay and authorizes our loan servicer to automatically deduct your monthly payments from a valid bank account via Automated Clearing House (“ACH”). The rate reduction applies for as long as the monthly payment amount is successfully deducted from the designated bank account and is suspended during periods of forbearance and certain deferments. Variable rates may increase after consummation. $5,000 is the minimum requirement to refinance. The maximum loan amount is $300,000 for those with medical, dental, pharmacy or veterinary doctorate degrees, and $150,000 for all other undergraduate or graduate degrees. Information advertised valid as of 08/25/2022. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation.
This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a refi borrower with a Full Principal & Interest Repayment and a 10-year repayment term, has a $40,000 loan and a 5.5% Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 120 monthly payments of $434.11 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $52,092.61. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary.
This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Deferred Repayment Option with a 10-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 8.35% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 120 monthly payments of $179.18 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $21,501.54. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary.
Information advertised valid as of 3/07/2024. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of full principal and interest payments with the shortest available loan term.
Closing Thoughts From the Nest
Completing the FAFSA may seem daunting, but it takes an average of one hour for students to submit their FAFSA if they have all the necessary information on hand.
If you are a dependent student whose parent(s) are accessible to you, make sure to obtain your parent(s)/guardians’ financial information to expedite the process.
If you are a dependent student who is currently in extenuating circumstances that hinder you from applying with your parent(s)’ financial information, be sure to contact your school’s financial aid office.