Dependency Status

The MassArt Office of Student Financial Assistance strictly adheres with federal regulations regarding dependency status.

If a student answers yes to any of the dependency status questions, they are considered an independent student and do not have to provide any parental information on the FAFSA or to the Office of Student Financial Assistance. If none of the independent student questions apply to you, you are a Dependent Student, even if your IRS tax status is different, even if you have no idea where your parents are.

A student with an exceptional case can appeal their Dependency Status by submitting documentation to support his/her case to the Director of Student Financial Assistance. Simply being self-supporting is not grounds for a dependency override. In rare cases, the Office will grant a dependency override. In some cases, the dependency status override may need to be reviewed each year.