If UR an adult at 18/responsible for yourself legally then how can the gvt/states req parents to pay 4 college

Question

Parents income is a factor...but if you are an adult...how can they use your parents income?

I realize then all students would qualify for some sort of aid...but in all other matters of law ...at 18 YOU are responsible for yourself...not your parents.

Answer 1

your parent's income is only a factor IF they claim you on their tax returns. if you do your own taxes and no one claims you, your parent's income doesn't affect you. if they claim you, that means they are responsible for you, so they are required to help you with college. for parents who claim but don't pay, they are screwing their kids.

Answer 2

Everything else that will help aside,..

First off... alot of people don't know 18 isn't completely a Legal adult with all matters. Some things are set up so you are not considered an adult, responcable for yourself,.... etc,.. until your 26. I think there is something for when your 28, too,.. where your not considered those things until your that age or older,.. but know 26 for sure.

But the most well known of things that your not considered an adult to do until your an age not 18 is at 21 when you can legally drink. There are other things,.. like I said,.. but people only care about 15/16, 18, & 21 (Driving, Smokeing, & Drinking,.. 16, 18, & 21 are Legal ages for adult sex paraphanila/entertainment in different areas/states as well,... 12-21 for Mariage without parents constant changeing from place to place for excuses and reasonws some times only their own.).

If you look into it,.. there may be an age in the 20's when they go " Oh, Parent's income is not a factor for you". Most people expect your still living with your parents and they are supporting you mostly when you decide to go to a college (the way the world is supposed to be).

Answer 3

It is not about being a legal adult, it is about whether you receive financial support from your parents or another source. This may seem unfair if you receive no financial support from your parents. I was in a similar situation in college. If it is in fact true that you do not receive any financial support from your parents, you should get them to write a letter to that effect and send it to the financial aid office. You too should write a letter about your financial independance. You may qualify for special circumstances which will increase your allotted student aid.

Considering parent's income is fair, especially when some parent have accounts set up specifically to pay for their children's education and/or can contribute to education costs. Also, divorced parents have to contribute to college education costs because for the costs to be borne by one parent is inequitable.

Answer 4

I know what you mean, when I went to college and I was trying to get financial aide.. I was living on my own, I was 18. paying my own bills.. but they said that the financial aide would go off my parents income. Since that is the way it went, they said my parents made to much money for me to get financial aide.. .. so I ended up having to make payments and basically live on ramen noodels just to go to college... then I had to drop out cause I couldn't afford it anymore.. and my parents didn't have the money to pay for it either...

so lifes a *****!

Answer 5

Actually, the government isn't requiring parents to pay for college. It is restricting aid to students who have other possible sources of income, in favor of students who have no other sources of income.
This is not the same as requiring parents to pay for college. For example, I put myself through college without any money from my parents and without a student loan. No one told my folks they had to pay for it.

Answer 6

I pay for my own college. that's about 20 yrs ago.

Answer 7

i didn't pay for mine---did not intend too..

no law will make me send one to college...........

they can join military---work,,,

earn their own way after age 18,

Answer 8

It is just to see where you financially stand.