Independent Undergraduates: 19992000

1
Independent Undergraduates 1999-2000
NASSGAP/NCHELP 22nd Annual StudentFinancial Aid
Research Network Conference June 9-11, 2005

• Christina Chang-Wei
• MPR AssociatesBerkeley, California
• cwei_at_mprinc.com

2
Criteria for Determining Independent Status
Percent
100
84
80
60
53
46
40
20
8
1
1
0
Has dependents
24 or older
Married
Veteran
Orphan/ ward of the court
Independent for other reason
3
Criteria for Determining Independent Status Among
Undergraduates Younger than 24
Percent
100
80
72
60
40
32
20
6
5

2
0
Has dependents
24 or older
Married
Veteran
Orphan/ ward of the court
Independent for other reason
Not applicable.
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Characteristics of Independent Students

• Older
• Family responsibilities
• First-generation students
• Career-oriented
• Enrolled in public 2-year institutions
• Employed
• Attend part time

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Characteristics of Independent Students

• Independent students characteristics make them
  more likely to be at risk for not completing a
  postsecondary education.

Percent
100
80
80
67
58
60
53
42
40
24
24
22
20
12
3
0
0
0
Worked 35 hours or more per week
Delayed enrollment
No high school diploma
Enrolled part time
Have children
Single parent
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Enrollment Characteristics

• More than one-half (56) are enrolled in
  community colleges
• About two-thirds (64) are enrolled in
  career-oriented fields
• Independent students who are younger than 30 and
  who have children are less likely to enroll in
  4-year institutions

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Enrollment Characteristics
Percent
100
Less- than-4-year institutions
80
4-year institutions
53
65
68
70
60
40
47
20
35
32
30
0
No children
Have children
No children
Have children
Younger than 30
30 or older
8
Income and Poverty Status

• Income among independent students is related to
  marital status and having dependents
• Single parents constituted the largest proportion
  (40) of independent students who are below 125
  of the poverty level

Married parents
Single, no dependents
20
33
40
7
Married, no dependents
Single parent
9
Age 24 Criterion

• Independent students age 24-29 were the most
  likely to be single with no dependents.

Percent
100
11
23
30
80
51
Single, no dependents
18
57
60
24
Single parent
19
Married, no dependents
18
40
17
13
17
Married parent
20
40
29
15
18
0
Total
Younger than 24
30 or older
24-29
10
Age 24 Criterion

• About one-half of all seniors at 4-year
  institutions were independent.

1st Year
4th/5th Year
Difference
25 7 3 8 7
49 20 9 9 12
24 13 6 1 5
Total independent Single, no dependents Married,
no dependents Single parent Married parents
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Federal, State, and Institutional Aid
Percent
100
80
60
43
35
40
29
24
19
15
20
0
Federal grants
State grants
Institutional grants
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Federal Aid

• Percentage of independent students applying for
  federal aid by institution type

Applied for federal aid
Total independent
42
Public 4-year Public 2-year Private
not-for-profit 4-year Private for-profit
52 29 53 89
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Federal Aid

• Receipt of Pell Grants and Stafford loans by
  institution type among independent federal aid
  applicants

Pell Grants
Stafford loans
Total independent
61
52
70 23 67 73
Public 4-year Public 2-year Private
not-for-profit 4-year Private for-profit
62 61 54 71
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Borrowing Among Independent Students

• Overall, among those who applied for federal aid,
  independent students (52) were less likely than
  dependent students (58) to take out a Stafford
  loan.
• However, 31 of independent students took out
  both subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans,
  compared to only 13 of dependent students who
  took out both types of loans.

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Borrowing Among Independent Students
Percent
100
80
60
40
33
31
16
20
13
13
4
0
Received subsidized Stafford loans only
Received unsubsidized Stafford loans only
Received both subsidized and unsubsidized
Stafford loans
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Applying for Aid

• 42 of independent students and 57 of dependent
  students submitted a FAFSA in 1999-2000
• Among those enrolled in Fall 1999, 45 of
  independent students and 67 of dependent
  students submitted a FAFSA prior to May 1999
• Among independent students who applied for
  federal aid, late applicants were more likely to
  be
• Middle to high income
• Attending part time
• Enrolled in public 2-year institutions

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RECAPIndependent Students 1999-2000

• Most independent students (70) have family
  responsibilities, but even more independent
  students can qualify for independent status based
  on age (84 are 24 or older).
• Independent students are more at risk than
  dependent students for not completing a
  postsecondary education.

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RECAPIndependent Students 1999-2000

• Independent students are more likely to enroll in
  community colleges and career-oriented programs.
  Those under 30 who have children are more likely
  to choose less-than-4-year institutions than
  those without children.
• Income among independent students was related to
  marital status and having dependents. Single
  parents constituted the largest proportion (40)
  of independent students living below 125 of the
  poverty level.

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RECAPIndependent Students 1999-2000

• Independent students were more likely than
  dependent students to receive Pell Grants but
  less likely to receive state or institutional
  grant aid.
• Independent students were less likely to borrow
  but when they did borrow, they were more likely
  to take out both subsidized and unsubsidized
  Stafford loans.
• Independent students were less likely than
  dependent students to apply for aid and to apply
  for it on time.