I'm curious what independent student really meant?

In terms of federal student aid, dependency is determined by your answers to a series of questions on the FAFSA (are you over the age of 24, married, supporting your own dependent, in the military or a veteran, etc.). If you can't answer yes to one of those questions, then you are considered a dependent for financial aid purposes and must include parent information. This is true even if you don't live with a parent, aren't supported by your parent, aren't claimed on your parent's tax return, or your parent is not contributing to your education. The purpose of the FAFSA is to determine your parent's ability to pay for college. It doesn't matter whether your parent is actually supporting you or paying for college because the FAFSA isn't measuring that--it's measuring their ability to. So, most likely you would be considered a dependent even if you're paying all your own expenses.

You are only considered independent for the purposes of financial aid if you are:

- age 25 or older

- a grad student

- married

- have a dependent other than a spouse for whom you provide over 50% of support

- vet of the US military

- were declared an emancipated minor or orphan or ward of the court before age 18

Otherwise, you are considered dependent for the purposes of financial aid.