Under 24, already have Bachelor's, living in state for four years - in-state tuition?

Paying for College
1

<p>Hello,
I graduated from Full Sail almost two years ago with my B.S. in Business and have been living in FL since 2005.
I am looking to go back to school to complete a Computer Science degree, as my current degree is not affording me many opportunities.</p>

<p>My question is to whether or not I will be classified as a FL resident. I just turned 23-years old and my parents both live (separately) out of the state of FL. I have been working in FL for over a year and have proof of income. However, the in-state requirements state that if you are under 24, one of your parents must be a legal resident of that state.</p>

<p>Where does this put me?</p>

2

<p>I think if you’re pursuing a graduate degree, you’d be considered in-state, but if it’s another BS degree, you’d still be considered a dependent and thus out of state. At least that’s how I understand it works for FA, and I’d expect for residency as well. When in doubt, you can always call the school in question and ask!</p>

3

<p>Once you earn a Bachelor’s degree then you are an “independent” regardless of age.
If you have been living and working in Fla for two years and established residency there - you lease an apt, registered a car, have a Fl drivers license and/or registered to vote - then you are a Fla resident. Where your parents live has no bearing any longer.</p>

4

<p>Everything I’ve read online states that you have to be going for a Graduate degree, regardless if you have a Bachelor’s, to be considered independent.</p>

<p>I am going to be earning a second Bachelor’s degree. I have an A.S. degree and a B.S. and will need to earn an A.A. before I can get the Bachelor’s.</p>

5

<p>Even if you are declared independent, for a second bachelors expect nothing beyond loans as you will not be eligible for Pell and probably not eligible for other state aid.</p>

6

<p>^ right.
Move forward, not backwards. Forget the second BS. Go for the grad degree.</p>

7

<p>My Bachelor’s degree does not transfer into other schools.
I went to Full Sail University, which is a highly specialized technical school for the media/entertainment industry.</p>

<p>As the market is horrible, I am planning on completing another degree in Computer Science, which is what I was originally going for.</p>

<p>I am unsure where this puts me in terms of dependency and financial aid and all the information which I read/receive is soo conflicting.</p>

<p>So confused ^_^</p>

8

<p>Your best course of action for a clear and accurate answer is to contact the FA Offices at the schools you are considering. Technically, students who have already received a Bachelor’s are considered Independent, regardless of age or other usual factors. However, since the degree is non-transferable, it may not count as a degree earned for this purpose. For FAFSA purposes (federal aid which will be restricted to loans since you have already earned a Bachelor’s Degree) you will definately be considered Independent as transferablity does not matter. However, institutional aid has different rules, set by the institution.</p>

9

<p>There are two issues here…independence for instate tuition and independence for financial aid purposes.</p>

<p>DS got his bachelors degree. He WAS independent for finaid purposes because of that. </p>

<p>BUT he was going to a public conservatory in a state where we do not reside. He paid out of state tuition as he was technically a resident of our home state…not the state where the college was located. AND we were paying more than half of his support.</p>

<p>The OP needs to contact the schools in FL that he is considering. Since he has a bachelors degree, he IS an independent student for finaid purposes but I’m not sure about this second bachelors issue. He needs to clarify that with the school.</p>

<p>He also needs to clarify his IN STATE status. If he graduated two years ago and has been working and residing in FL for those two years post bachelors, one would think he would qualify for instate tuition…but the only way to really know is to speak to someone at the FL school.</p>

10

<p>

</p>

<p>Is this what the school you are considering told you?</p>

<p>From Florida State University</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.fsu.edu/~philo/residency.pdf[/url]”>http://www.fsu.edu/~philo/residency.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>From the guide to state residency</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.fsu.edu/~philo/residency.pdf[/url]”>http://www.fsu.edu/~philo/residency.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

11

<p>sybbie,</p>

<p>Right, that is what I read.<br>
Am I totally misunderstanding something?</p>

<p>I have been trying to get a hold of the FA office at the school for a while now and still have not heard anything back.</p>

<p>When it states, “I am a dependent person and my parent or legal guardian has resided in Florida for at least twelve months.”</p>

<p>I was not born after January 1986 and am not working on a graduate degree, so still have no idea where I stand.</p>

<p><em>long sigh</em></p>

12

<p>If you cannot answer yes to any of the dependency questions on the FAFSA, you are NOT going to be considered independent, regardless of whether or not you already have a bachelors degree.</p>

<p>You will only be eligible for loans and work study, and loans will use the undergrad aggregate limits.</p>