FAFSA Data on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

About FAFSA Data on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (UHY)

FSA periodically releases FAFSA data on independent student status for unaccompanied homeless youth (UHY). UHY are youth who are experiencing homelessness on their own rather than under the care of a parent or guardian. UHY, as independent students, do not need to report their parents’ financial and other information on the FAFSA. This support is critical in helping UHY access the financial support they need to pay for college.

While this data is useful and informative, it is important to understand what the data does and does not represent. To this end, the U.S. Department of Education includes important clarifying points on page 1 of its UHY FAFSA Data Report. NCHE encourages people seeking to understand the data better and/or referencing the data in publications or talking points to read ED’s clarifying points about the data in their entirety.

About FAFSA

FAFSA stands for “Free Application for Federal Student Aid.” The official FAFSA web address is https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa/.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) provides more than $150 billion in federal aid each year in the form of grants, work-study funds, and loans. Completing the FAFSA is the first step toward receiving federal aid for college, career school, or graduate school. In addition, many states and colleges use FAFSA data to determine student eligibility for state and school aid; further, some private financial aid providers may use FAFSA information to determine eligibility for their aid.

Visit FSA’s FAFSA: Applying for Aid webpage for more information about FAFSA completion.