Residency requirements are often encoded in state statute and vary significantly from state to state. But generally, a dependent student must have at least one parent who is a state resident for at least one full year before the student matriculated in college.

If a dependent student:

• Count the student, the student's parent(s), even if the student is not living with them. Exclude a parent who has died or is not living in the household because of separation or divorce. Include a parent who is on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces apart from the family.
• Count the student's siblings if the following are true:
  • They live with the student's parents (or live apart because of college enrollment)
  • They receive more than half of their support from the student's parents, and
  • They will continue to receive more than half their support from the student's parents during the award year.
• Other persons if the following are true:
  • They live with the student's parents,
  • They receive more than half their support from the student's parents, and
  • They will continue to receive more than half their support from the student's parents during the award year.

• Count the student and the student's spouse if applicable.
• The student's dependent children if the following are true:
  • They live with the student,
  • They receive more than half of their support from the student, and
  • They will continue to receive more than half their support from the student during the award year.
• Other persons if the following are true:
  • They live with the student,
  • They receive more than half of their support from the student, and
  • They will continue to receive more than half their support from the student during the award year.

The student has or will have one or more children who receive more than half of their support from the student, now and through the last day of the award year.