FAFSA Parent Information necessary?

[PreMPHMan]

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Is the parent information necessary for federal financial aid when applying to MPH programs? Also do some programs require this info for their non-federal aid awards?

 

[EBT12]

Generally, you are considered an independent student if you are applying to a Master's or Doctoral level program. The FAFSA website outlines all of the details when you fill out the forms though. Private programs may still require parental information when awarding scholarships. At the institution I attend, even if you are married, you are required to submit parental financial information (and your spouses) to be considered for scholarships. It's kind of crazy if you ask me.

 

[EpiWin]

I'm currently living independently and have been supporting myself since graduating college. However, my parents' financial situation makes it appear that they have more assets than they actually do, and as a result including their info in my FAFSA would make it seem like I could be supported by them throughout my graduate education.

This is definitely not the case and I would be shouldering the cost myself, so I wanted to solicit advice: should I not include parental information when seeking aid? Should I include it because apparently some programs require it? Will I be given less aid because my EFC would be sky-high as a result of their financial information despite not reflecting the actual situation?

 

[ebp]

If a program requires that info, you shouldn't leave it out. However you only include it for FAFSA if you are a dependent of your parents - do they claim you on their taxes? If you are completely independent of your parents, and they don't claim you on their taxes, you do not need to include them on FAFSA.

 

[cerealrhapsody]

I'm currently living independently and have been supporting myself since graduating college. However, my parents' financial situation makes it appear that they have more assets than they actually do, and as a result including their info in my FAFSA would make it seem like I could be supported by them throughout my graduate education.

This is definitely not the case and I would be shouldering the cost myself, so I wanted to solicit advice: should I not include parental information when seeking aid? Should I include it because apparently some programs require it? Will I be given less aid because my EFC would be sky-high as a result of their financial information despite not reflecting the actual situation?

My understanding is that, assuming you're classified as an independent (which you automatically are if you're applying/pursuing a master's degree), parental information will not be used "against" you - i.e., even if your parents were millionaires, you'd still qualify for whatever aid you would qualify for on your own.

My parents make enough money that I never qualified for need-based aid as a dependent undergrad, but I still qualified for the max amount of aid for my MPH, even after including parental info on my FAFSA.

So I think the takeaway message is to always include parental info on the FAFSA if at all possible; it won't hurt you, and it could potentially help you.