Independent student family size includes the following:

• The student.
• The student’s spouse, if applicable.
• The student’s dependent children if all of the following are true:
  • They live with the student (or live apart because of college enrollment);
  • They receive more than half of their support from the student, and
  • They will continue to receive more than half their support from the student during the award year.

 Other persons, if the following are true:

• They live with the student;
• They receive more than half of their support from the student, and
• They will continue to receive more than half their support from the student during the award year.

The provided criteria for “dependent children” or “other persons” mirror the requirement that family size aligns with those the student could claim as a dependent on a U.S. tax return if the student were to file a U.S tax return at the time of completing the 2026-2027 FAFSA. As a result, the student should not include any unborn children in the family size.

Dependent family size includes the following:

• The student.
• The student’s parents (or stepparent, if applicable), even if the student is not living with them. Exclude a parent who has died or is not living in the household because of separation or divorce. Include a parent who is on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces apart from the family.
• The student’s siblings, if all of the following are true:
  • They live with the student’s parents (or live apart because of college enrollment);
  • They receive more than half of their support from the student’s parents; and
  • They will continue to receive more than half their support from the student’s parents during the award year.
• Other persons, if the following are true:
  • They live with the student’s parents;
  • They receive more than half of their support from the student’s parents; and
  • They will continue to receive more than half their support from the student’s parents during the award year.

The provided criteria for “dependent children” or “other persons” mirror the requirement that family size align with those the parent could claim as a dependent on a U.S. tax return if the parent were to file a U.S tax return at the time of completing the 2026-2027