<p>They actually could force you to go somewhere if you’re still under 18 by the time the school year starts. This is rarely a problem in practice because students are usually 18 by the time they start university or shortly thereafter.</p>
<p>AFAIK, emancipation does not, by itself, cause one to be classified as an independent student for FAFSA purposes.</p>
<p>Realistic options include:</p>
<ol>
<li>A university you can afford without financial support from your parents. This probably means your own state’s public universities. Some states, notably Minnesota and New York, have reasonable OOS tuition. Some private and OOS public universities offer good scholarships to excellent students. But even four years at an in-state public university will be expensive without any parental support or financial aid.</li>
</ol>
<p>1a. If you have to pay full price wherever you go, community college can save a lot of money.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>If you’re willing to serve in the military, that automatically causes you to be considered independent for FAFSA purposes. You also then have the GI Bill which helps greatly in paying for college. The military isn’t for everyone, though. One should join the military to serve and to grow as a person rather than just to pay for college.</p></li>
<li><p>It’s possible to find work which doesn’t require a college degree but which pays better than retail, fast food, etc. You can then use the money to help pay for college.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Any of the above are probably more limiting than the university choices your parents will help you with.</p>
<p>Also note that it’s unlikely that an 18-year-old with minimal credit history can borrow enough money to go to an expensive school. It’s difficult even for people with many years of positive credit history to borrow money in this economy. Realistically, you can’t count on anything but unsubsidized Stafford loans. The limits are rather low for students who are dependent for FAFSA purposes.</p>
<p>That said, what are your parents’ reasons for being unwilling to pay for the college of your choice? They may be valid. For example, maybe they correctly perceive the college you prefer to be a party school. I wouldn’t refuse to even consider their reasons except in extreme cases, e.g., they want to push you into a career you’re not interested in.</p>