how will getting married affect my financial aid?

Strawberry145

my fiance earns quite a bit of money. will this lower financial aid available to me? has anyone been in this situation before? do u advice for me to just wait and get married after school? i am in grad school and will be in the next 4 years. the only thing is that 4 years is too long of a wait.

KitKatBar2

Yeah. 4 years...that's my engagement time by the end .

But anyway...It just depends on if he makes more money than what you had to report for your last fafsa, right? If he makes a lot more, it will probably be less financial aid for you. 

But I'm an undergrad...so what do I know

jenzibaba

From what I understand, it all depends on whether you are considered a dependant or independant student right now.  If you are still considered a dependant, then your aid is based off your parent's incomes.  And if you are a dependant, your federal loan amount will go up too when you become an independant student.  So depending on what your situation is now will depend on what happens to your aid in the future.  I know for my brother, he got married sooner than expected because it was actually a better situation for him to be married for financial aid than not to be married.  Hopefully it works out for the better for you.

stephdonjon

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_students_will-getting-married-affect-financial-aid?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:684Discussion:843fd152-58ec-4276-ad8c-b0d5dbc3949fPost:38e6f366-af44-4f3d-a56b-4506876faa8e">Re: how will getting married affect my financial aid?</a>:
[QUOTE]From what I understand, it all depends on whether you are considered a dependant or independant student right now.  If you are still considered a dependant, then your aid is based off your parent's incomes.  And if you are a dependant, your federal loan amount will go up too when you become an independant student.  So depending on what your situation is now will depend on what happens to your aid in the future.  I know for my brother, he got married sooner than expected because it was actually a better situation for him to be married for financial aid than not to be married.  Hopefully it works out for the better for you.
Posted by jenzibaba[/QUOTE]

This is also my understanding of it. Surely if your fiance is well off, he wouldn't mind helping to offset your costs if your financial aid award amounts goes down? After all, at this point, you're investing in your future together.

Mieka&Jon

If you're like most grad students, you're financing 100% of your education with loans. With that being said, your husband's income will not affect your loan amounts but may affect your ability to borrow federal subsidized loans (which are interest free while you're in school and during your grace period). Worst case scenario, you will still be able to borrow the full amount in federal unsubsidized loans.

I'm also in grad school (and I work in financial aid) so let me know if you have any more questions!

angiem33

I know plenty of married students - we are in law school shouldn't be any different than traditional grad school loan restrictions and all of the married students get the same funding as single students, they aren't eligible for less simply because someone else can support them.  Likewise, students whose parents pay for school aren't entitled to any less loan $$, they can just elect to borow less if they want.  Hope that helps!

LindsayB2217

Financial aid is already pretty low just because you're in grad school. Once you finish one bachelors degree you can't get much help anymore according to the person I talked to... 

JeniBug82

I dont know if it varies state to state, but the way I understand it is that they base it off the income listed on your previous year's taxes...so if you file jointly and it sees the higher income, it would affect it that way. If you file spearately, which I know you can in Illinois, if it reflects only your income that should help! (I think!)

alliebee0131

My question is only slightly different, I'm still going for my bachelors, and right now my mom claims me so I get pretty good financial aid, I'm wondering how getting married will effect me, an undergrad after getting married, I'll still have a year left after I get married?