Demonstrated Financial Need. Demonstrated financial need is the difference between the cost of attendance and the expected family contribution. (Financial Need = COA – EFC) Dependency Status. Students may be considered dependent or independent. Dependent students must provide financial information for their parents on the FAFSA. Independent students must provide financial information for their spouse, if any, on the FAFSA, but do not provide parental information. Independent students include students who are over age 24 as of December 31 of the award year, married students, graduate students, orphans, veterans, active duty members of the Armed Forces and students with dependents.
