The federal training sessions I attended when working with undergraduate populations indicated that students who are independent for aid purposes but who receive at least half their support from the parents can be included in both HH size and # in college. I am aware that there are schools that disagree, as did one school for which I worked … until we attended a webinar where the trainer said that there was nothing in the regulations that said students who are independent for aid purposes should be excluded from HH size or # in college if they met the “at least 51% support” test. If you challenge a school that says they shouldn’t be included, you would need to be prepared to show proof of the 51% support to have a chance at being successful in your challenge.