Do I count graduate student as an exemption in FAFSA?

Paying for College
1

I am currently filling out a preliminary FAFSA with younger D and have come to a roadblock.

My older D,22, is a graduate student overseas. She has taken out student loans for the tuition and some living expenses. We are paying her plane tickets and provide some support for the shortfall between what the loan covers and the expenses (rent, unforeseen expenses and medical/dental). She is still on our medical plan and catches up on her visits when home). She is not working. She comes home for winter and summer break. Other than that, she is away for the entire year. As she graduated early from college, we are also paying her small undergraduate loan in installments. I am not sure if she counts as a dependent/exemption on our taxes and when the FAFSA is asking how many exemptions will we claim, I am not sure to include her or not.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

2

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She has taken out student loans for the tuition and some living expenses.


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How much is that? You have to be providing 51% of her total expenses.

3

You may claim her as a dependent, If her loans did not cover more than half of her expenses. See http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Qualifying-Child-Rules and http://www.irs.gov/publications/p17/ch03.html

4

thank you for the link. I have to do the worksheet. I was not sure if loan was counted as self support, so the worksheet will help figure this out.

5

While you might be able to put her on the FAFSA, there are colleges that will not count the grad student in the financial aid formula for their younger siblings. This is something you should check with each college.

6

The loans are the way she is supporting herself. If the loans were YOURs, then that would be different.

7

Thank you for the quick replies. This has been helpful.