Under current law, students pursuing an undergraduate degree in the United States are considered financially independent (from their parents) for the purposes of financial aid if, among other conditions, they are 24 years of age or older. When students' parents are able to pay, considering them financially independent may result in more generous…

A study analyzing the impact of a recently proposed Department of Education independent student definition on Illinois Pell Grant applicants, identifying those program applicants who changed their status from dependent to independent in 1981-82 and 1982-83, and analyzing the effect of their status change on their eligibility is reported. (MSE)

The definition of the independent college student is discussed in hearings that are part of the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. The importance of the definition has increased as the amount of federal dollars for student aid programs has declined or remained constant and the number of students requiring aid has increased. The current…

This report provides results from a Minnesota state survey designed to identify the characteristics of the students enrolled in Minnesota colleges and how their families are financing their education. Data are presented from survey responses of 5,347 undergraduate college students. Information is presented separately for dependent and independent…

Application forms for the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant (BEOG) Program for 1974-1975 were compared to Internal Revenue Service (IRA) tax forms to determine the scope of applicants' misreporting and to identify categories of applicants who tend to misreport. A total of 70,063 tax forms and BEOG records from eligible and ineligible applicants…

Current federal definitions and proposed alternative definitions of financially independent students, and the effect of the definitions on the numbers and attributes of independent students, are reviewed. Current federal law defines financial aid applicants as financially independent of their parents if they meet three criteria (the "tri-form"…

A status report for the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant Program (Basic Grant Program) for the 1976-1977 academic year is presented. Information is provided on: applicants for the 1976-1977 year; program trends for academic years 1973-1974 through 1976-1977; the number of Basic Grant recipients and nonqualifying applicants for 1976-1977 by…

The nature and extent of misreporting by applicants for the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant program was investigated. Types of potential program abuse were assessed, along with the accuracy of income estimates that students make on Supplemental Basic Grant applications, which are the basis for determining a student's eligibility. Attention was…

A large survey of postsecondary students in California was used to test the sensitivity of alternate definitions of the independent student population on the number and proportion of independent students, to trace the cost implications of these alternate definitions, and to offer conclusions about the effects of these definitional changes. (MLW)

Results of a 1984-1985 national study of independent students are presented, based on self-reported data from independent students. Independent students were identified by the following criteria: they were not claimed as dependent on their parents' tax returns, did not live with their parents for more than 6 weeks during 1984 or 1983, and did not…

Data that is needed on student financial aid applicants are discussed in hearings held as part of fact finding prior to reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. Topics include: types of students who apply for student financial assistance, the income levels of their families, the types of institutions they choose, and the degree to which the…

Reporting of zero/low income by applicants for Basic Educational Opportunity Grants (BEOGs) was studied, with attention to the extent that such reporting was inaccurate. The BEOG applicant database was studied to gain understanding of the characteristics of those who report zero-income on Basic Grant applications. A random sample of 400,000 BEOG…

A status report for the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant Program (Basic Grant Program) for the 1977-1978 academic year is presented. Information is based on merged applicant and recipient files. Statistical tables cover: total number of applicants, number of qualified and nonqualified applicants; number of recipients; total expenditures;…

A status report for the Pell Grant Program (formerly called Basic Educational Opportunity Grant Program) for the 1980-1981 academic year is presented. Information is based on merged applicant and recipient files. Included are a description of highlights of the program for 1980-1981, program trends for 1973-1974 through 1980-1981, and summary…

A status report for the Pell Grant Program (formerly called Basic Educational Opportunity Grant Program) for the 1981-1982 academic year is presented. Included are a description of highlights of the program for 1981-1982, program trends for 1973-1974 through 1980-1981, and summary tables for 1980-1981 on characteristics of Pell Grant recipients.…