Sam Houston State University-SSS

Are you 24 or older as of January 1st this year?*

YesNo

Are you married?*

YesNo

Do you have a child or children who received more than half of their support from you?*

YesNo

Do you have any dependents (other than your children or spouse)?*

YesNo

Are you an orphan (both parents deceased) or ward of the court or in foster care at any time after turning age 13, or were you a ward of the court until age 18?*

YesNo

Are you/were you in legal guardianship?*

YesNo

Are you/were you an emancipated minor?*

YesNo

Did an official determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or at risk of being homeless?*

YesNo

Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?*

YesNo

Are you currently active duty military personnel for purposes other than training?*

YesNo

If you checked “yes” to one or more of the above questions, you are considered an independent student.
If you checked “no” to all of the above questions, you are considered a dependent student.

Note: If you are a dependent student, but you are unable to provide your parent’s income information because they are incarcerated, you have left home due to an abusive family environment, you do not know where your parents are and are unable to contact them (and you have not been adopted), or any other special circumstance, please attach a letter stating your special circumstances to this application so that we can take it into consideration when determining your low-income eligibility.

Please attach the following with your completed application.

If you are a dependent student, we need your parents’/guardians’ proof of income from the previous-previous year. If you are an independent student, we need your proof of income from the previous-previous year.

You can submit one of the following as proof of income:

Your/your parents’ signed income tax return (1040) from last year or proof of unemployment
A statement signed by you/your parents stating your/their most recent taxable income and number of family members for that year

Proof of Income (if applicable)

Browse Files

(for detailed information on these requirements & instructions, go to: www.shsu.edu/triosss/