Determining Dependent or Independent Status
Are you Independent or Dependent?
The dependency status worksheet helps students determine if parental information is required on the FAFSA. Access the worksheet by clicking on “Determining Your Dependency Status” in the 1st column, center of screen (www.fafsa.ed.gov).
Determining Financial Need
To determine financial need, students must first complete the FAFSA (see Applying for Financial Aid link).
FAFSAs are submitted to the Department of Education (DOE) and the DOE uses the student's information to calculate an EFC (Expected Family Contribution) number. The EFC is a measure of a family's or individual's (depending on dependency status) financial strength. EFCs determine how much of the family's resources should be available to help pay educational costs and allow the school to determine how much aid can be awarded.
Notification and Verification
Students will receive an email in the Campus email system detailing the amount of aid awarded and the types of aid for which they are eligible. Students not eligible for federal or state grants will also receive an email informing them of their non-eligible status.
Some applicants will be chosen at random to have their FAFSA data verified. CFCC will notify applicants of documents required to complete the financial aid process. Other documentation, including copies of federal tax returns, may be required to verify the accuracy of the information submitted on the FAFSA.
