Special or Unusual Circumstances

A student’s financial aid offer is based on the information that was provided on the FAFSA® application as true and correct on the day it was completed.

The staff of Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office understand that there may instances when that original information no longer reflects your current circumstances.  The U.S. Department of Education allows you the opportunity to request updated information be submitted and reviewed, to better reflect your current situation. A student may have both a special and unusual circumstance.  With appropriate documentation, we may be able to adjust your FAFSA.

There are two types of appeals that students can request:

Special Circumstances

This refers to unexpected events or changes a student or a student’s family might experience due to financial hardship and may also include other financial obligations not already reflected in the student’s submitted FAFSA® information. Requesting and appeal may allow for an adjustment to be made to the student’s cost of attendance (COA) and/or may include adjustments to data that was entered on the FAFSA® application. These circumstances may include but are not limited to:

    • Reduction in your or your family’s income (loss of employment, reduction in earnings, etc.)
    • High medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance (incurred and paid during the current enrollment period)
    • Separation or divorce has occurred (after the FAFSA® was submitted)
    • Change in household size (Added members to the family size after the FAFSA® was submitted)
    • Tuition expenses at a primary or secondary school or child/dependent care expenses
    • Transportation/Travel expenses paid that exceeded the student’s allowable budget

 

SUBMIT AN APPEAL

Unusual Circumstances

When a student feels they may have an unusual circumstance that would cause an adjustment to their dependency status on the FAFSA® application, they may request an appeal to reflect their current situation more accurately. To review your current circumstances, please reach out to the Financial Aid and Veteran Services Office so we can assist you with this appeal. These circumstances may include but are not limited to:

    • Dependency overrides: when a student is unable to contact a parent or where contact with parents poses a risk to such student
    • The student is unable to provide parent data
    • Dependent students without parent support
    • Unaccompanied homeless youth or homeless youth determinations
    • Additional expenses paid due to a student’s disability
    • Having to leave home due to an abusive or threatening environment
    • Incarceration of the student or their parents
    • Refugee or asylee status and separation from parents or displacement of parents in another country
    • Victims of human trafficking
    • Parental abuse, abandonment, or estrangement

 

SUBMIT AN APPEAL