It is also important to determine whether you qualify as a dependent or an independent student. There are some qualifications which will be presented to you as you fill your Free Application for Federal Student Aid and which will determine your status regarding being dependent or independent and if you meet the pell grant requirements. You will be considered an independent student if you will be over the age of 24 during the academic year for which you are applying for a grant. Other than your age, it will be important towards what degree you are working. If you are trying to earn a Bachelor’s degree, your status will be dependent if other qualifications also suggest so. None the less, if it is a master’s or doctorate degree you will be working towards, you will be considered to be independent.
Your marital status is also important. If you are married, then you will automatically be classified as independent. Moreover, if you are serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during the time of your application, you will be considered independent. However, if this service is for the purposes of training, you can still be categorized as dependent. There is another criterion regarding United States Armed Forces. If you are a veteran of these forces, you should be independent.
It is important to note that you can be classified as dependent if and only if you do not qualify for any of the criteria above. Even if one holds for you, you will be considered independent. For instance, a student aged 22, who is working towards his/her Bachelor’s degree and who has no relation to U.S. Armed Forces will be considered independent if he or she is married. Therefore, check all criteria before you understand your status of dependence when applying for a pell grant.