How To Apply for Financial Aid

A Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID is the username and password you will use to log in to U.S. Department of Education websites like FAFSA.gov. It acts as your electronic signature for financial aid applications and lets you access and manage your federal student aid information securely.

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Other contributors may include:

• Your spouse, if you are married and did not file a joint federal income tax return with your current spouse
• Your parent, if you are considered a dependent student
• Your parent’s spouse or partner, if your parent is married or living with your other parent, and they did not file a joint federal income tax return

The FAFSA website includes a Who is My Parent section to help you determine which individuals to include.

You’ll need the following information for each contributor to invite them to complete their portion of the form:

• Legal name listed on their Social Security card
• Birth date
• Social Security number (if the individual does not have a Social Security number, provide their mailing address)
• Email address

Each contributor will require their own FSA ID.

Return to fafsa.gov and follow the instructions to fill out and submit your application.

The FAFSA requires students who are considered dependent to provide information about their parents. The FAFSA instructions state that you must provide information about your parents, even if you do not live with them.

Your legal parents are considered your biological, adoptive (regardless of gender), or state-designated parents. A person would also be considered your legal parent if the state determines that they are (for example, if the parent is listed on the birth certificate). If your:

• Legal parents are married to each other: Select “Married (not separated)” and answer the questions on the FAFSA for both of them. Same-sex couples must report their marital status as married if they were legally married in any country that permits same-sex marriage.
• Legal parents are separated but living together: Select “Married (not separated)” or “Remarried” and answer the questions on the FAFSA® for both of them.
• Legal parents were never married to each other or divorced and live together: Select “Unmarried and both legal parents living together” and answer the questions on the FAFSA® for both of them, regardless of their gender. Do not include any person who is not married to your parent and who is not a legal parent.
• Legal parents are divorced or separated and NOT living together: Select “Divorced” or “Separated” and answer the questions about the parent who provides the greater portion of your support, even if you do not live with them. If this parent is remarried as of the day you complete your FAFSA®, select “Remarried” and answer the questions about that parent and your stepparent.
• Parent was never married and does not live with your other legal parent: Provide information for only one parent. Answer the questions about the parent who provides the greater portion of your support, even if you do not live with them.
• Widowed parent is remarried as of the day you complete your FAFSA: Select ”Remarried” and answer the questions about that parent and your stepparent.

Grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, widowed stepparents, aunts, uncles and siblings are not considered parents for your FAFSA unless they have legally adopted you.

If you have any questions regarding who is considered a parent, please contact Student Financial Services.

If you are a dependent student with a documentable unusual circumstance that prevents you from supplying your parents’ information, you may submit a Petition for Independent Status due to Unusual Circumstances Form.

Unusual circumstances generally are defined by an inability to have contact with your parent(s).

Download the 2025-2026 Petition for Independent Status Form (PDF)Download the 2026-2027 Petition for Independent Status Form (PDF)

If you are a dependent student who does not qualify for independent status based on the Petition for Independent Status, or if you do not wish to submit a petition, you may be able to borrow a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan based on the dependent student loan limits if your parents do either of the following:

• Refuse to provide information on the FAFSA
• End your financial support and refuse to complete additional steps to finish the FAFSA process, such as verification

A request for a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan using this option will prevent you from being eligible for the Federal Pell Grant, other need-based aid, and any aid that requires a completed FAFSA®.

Please contact Student Financial Services for details and instructions.

If you have already completed the FAFSA for the current year and are transferring to Owens, add the Owens school code 005753 to your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) by making a correction at fafsa.gov.

Be sure to select a transaction that does not include the statement “This FAFSA Submission Summary reflects your financial aid administrator’s use of professional judgment.”

If you are seeking a degree or certificate from Owens and are also enrolled in courses at another institution, you may be able to receive financial aid based on your combined enrollment at both institutions by applying for a consortium agreement. Eligibility requirements apply—refer to the Consortium Agreement (PDF) for further details.

If you are seeking a degree or certificate at another institution and are taking classes at Owens, please contact the financial aid office to ask if you qualify for a consortium agreement. You must pay your balance to Owens Community College. If a completed consortium agreement is on file, your enrollment will be held.

If you have a bachelor’s degree (or higher), you are not eligible for grants. However, you may complete the FAFSA® to be considered for the Federal Work-Study program and the Federal Direct Loan program.