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When the student starts the FAFSA using their FSA ID they will be instructed to add their parent(s) as contributors if they are a dependent student and potentially a spouse if an independent student is married. If a parent decides to start the FAFSA using their FSA ID they will be instructed to add the student as a contributor. Once added the contributors must provide the required information and consent (sign) their portion of the FAFSA for the form to be considered complete.

If you are unsure who to report as your parent on the FAFSA please review this questionnaire. While completing the FAFSA the student will also be walked through the following questionnaire to help determine which parent(s) to report on the FAFSA. If you are still unsure after reading through this and starting your FAFSA please contact the One Stop Office:

1. Are your parents married? If yes, provide information about both parents. If no, go on to the next question.
2. Do your parents live together? If yes, provide information about both parents. If no, go on to the next question.
3. Did one parent provide more financial support than the other over the last 12 months? If yes, provide information about the parent who provided the most financial support over the past 12 months, and if the parent has remarried, give information about the stepparent as well. If no, provide information about the parent who has greater income and assets, and if the parent has remarried, give information about the stepparent as well. 

Sometimes, special circumstances not reflected on your FAFSA can affect your ability to pay for your education. In these situations, federal regulations allow financial aid administrators to use professional judgment on a case-by-case basis, with documentation, to adjust the data elements on your FAFSA that may impact your Student Aid Index (SAI). If you believe you have a qualifying special circumstance please contact the One Stop Office after completing your FAFSA. Visit Rider’s Professional Judgement Request page for more information.

SAI is an eligibility index that the university uses to determine how much federal student aid the student would receive if the student attends the school. This is calculated using the information provided on the student’s FAFSA.

If your parent(s) are not willing to provide their information on the FAFSA, or assist with financing your education, you will not automatically qualify as an independent student. If you are deemed a dependent student and do not provide your parent(s) information on the FAFSA you may only be eligible to receive a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. For more information on determining if you are a dependent or independent student please refer to the.

The university is anticipating we will begin to receive FAFSA information by the beginning of December 2024. FAFSAs can take up to a week to process before being received by the schools listed on the application. 

Before any student can be sent a College Financing Plan (CFP) or financial aid eligibility can be determined the student must be admitted into the university and have completed a FAFSA. Your CFP will be prioritized if you applied and were accepted via early action.

The university hosts several events for admitted students to meet with a Financial Aid Counselor one-on-one to review their CFP in detail. View these dates on the Admitted Student Days website.