text: how should a student pay for college if their parents refuse to pay and fafsa gives only loans to them? other than applying for scholarships, why should a student be penalised if his/her parents make enough money to not get fafsa grants/scholarships yet refuse to pay for their child's college education file as an independent, not as dependent on your parents. this way they look at your personal income, not your parents. this also means your parents cannot claim you on their taxes-- which gets them huge benefits. they may spring for college if you threaten to file as independent.