Marriage Status

Everything you need to know about FAFSA®, how to fill out the application, troubleshoot, and monitor your status.

What BYU-I Students Need to Know

When you get married, you can change from Dependent to Independent on FAFSA® Independent students often qualify for better aid because Parent income information is not needed for Independent students. BYU-Idaho allows married students to petition for this change, but not all Universities do.

You are not required to update your marital status; update it only if it affects your financial aid awards.

FAFSA® Application

Important: Do not update your FAFSA® until after you are married. Updating your FAFSA® may cause delays in aid disbursement. Marital status updates can take up to 4 weeks to process, especially at the beginning of the semester.

Steps to Update Marital Status

1. Check Your Current Aid Eligibility

Log in to studentaid.gov
Go to "My Aid" → "2025-2026 FAFSA® Application"
View FAFSA® Submission Summary
Find your SAI (Student Aid Index) in the Eligibility Overview

Note:

If your SAI is 0, or negative, you’re already getting maximum Pell Grant
Updating to Married Independent status may increase loan offers

2. Estimate New Aid Eligibility

Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator 

Enter your new information - marital status, family size, income, and assets
Compare estimated SAI and aid offers with current SAI and aid offers
If new information is significantly better, proceed to step 3

3. Update your FAFSA®

Complete your FAFSA as usual.
Visit the Financial Aid Office to discuss your change in marital status and eligibility for Independent status.
Make corrections to your 2025–2026 FAFSA as needed.

For more information, visit Updating FAFSA Marital Status.

4. Continue Through the Error

Because not all schools allow marital status updates, an error prompt will show asking if the student was married prior to the original date the FAFSA® was completed. YES is the correct answer.
This error will help you complete the process, so hit CONTINUE! 

Update your "Dependency Status" to YES, you were married on the day you submitted the FAFSA®
Adjust the household size and number in college
Invite your spouse to contribute and share tax information
Use your current name on your social security card
1. Do not use your married name on the FAFSA® unless you have your new Social Security Card with your married name listed

Another Error prompt will display – hit CONTINUE again

5. Submit Updated FAFSA®

Sign and submit the updated FAFSA®
Ensure your spouse completes their portion
Wait 3-5 days for BYU-Idaho to receive the update

6. Complete Documents

A Marital Status Update Request document will be added to your Financial Aid portal
1. Complete and upload as quickly as possible
After review, you may be required to submit more documents, which will be listed in your Financial Aid Portal.