Exceptional Circumstances
Sometimes life throws unexpected changes like a job loss, a drop in income, additional unforeseen expenses, a parent’s death or divorce, or a change in your own marital status. If something like this happens, the Financial Aid Office may be able to help adjust data elements used to calculate the Student Aid Index (SAI) on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) based on your circumstances or change your dependency status. These updates can affect your Student Aid Index (SAI), which helps determine how much financial aid you can receive.
To get started, make sure we have your FAFSA for the current federal award year on file. Then, depending on your situation, you may be able to submit one of two types of requests:
- Professional Judgment – for changes in financial circumstances
- Dependency Override – for unusual family situations
To apply, complete the Exceptional Circumstance Request Form
We follow federal guidelines from the U.S. Department of Education when reviewing requests, so be sure to provide all required documentation.
Professional Judgment
Eligibility for financial aid is determined by the FAFSA, which currently uses financial information from two years prior to estimate a family’s current circumstances. For example, the 2026-27 FAFSA uses 2024 income and tax information.
When special situations occur, it is possible to review a student’s aid eligibility based on their current circumstances through the Professional Judgment (PJ) process.
All Professional Judgment applications are required to have a detailed letter of explanation and supporting documentation. The Financial Aid Department may request additional documentation, beyond what is requested on the form, to support your special circumstances.
You will need to indicate the year you are requesting FAFSA information to be adjusted on your Professional Judgment Request Form. An approved Professional Judgment is only applicable to the FAFSA year for which it is granted. You may need to complete a Professional Judgment Request Form for multiple years using the same supporting documentation.
Types of Professional Judgment
- Change to Student Aid Index (SAI): If a review to make an adjustment to the student’s SAI is approved, the adjustment will be made to the student’s FAFSA. When the student’s updated FAFSA returns, the Financial Aid Department will make all necessary updates to the student’s aid. Supporting documentation will be maintained in the student’s financial aid file.
- Change to Cost of Attendance (COA): If an increase to a student’s cost of attendance budget is approved, the student’s budget will be adjusted accordingly. Supporting documentation will be maintained in the student’s financial aid file.
A change to the COA does not result in a change of eligibility for need-based funds; only increases the room in a student’s budget for aid, including PLUS and private loans.
To apply, complete the Exceptional Circumstance Request Form
Note: An approved Professional Judgment Request may not result in a change to the student’s financial aid award package.
Professional Judgment
Eligibility for financial aid is determined by the FAFSA, which currently uses financial information from two years prior to estimate a family’s current circumstances. For example, the 2026-27 FAFSA uses 2024 income and tax information.
When special situations occur, it is possible to review a student’s aid eligibility based on their current circumstances through the Professional Judgment (PJ) process.
All Professional Judgment applications are required to have a detailed letter of explanation and supporting documentation. The Financial Aid Department may request additional documentation, beyond what is requested on the form, to support your special circumstances.
You will need to indicate the year you are requesting FAFSA information to be adjusted on your Professional Judgment Request Form. An approved Professional Judgment is only applicable to the FAFSA year for which it is granted. You may need to complete a Professional Judgment Request Form for multiple years using the same supporting documentation.
Types of Professional Judgment
- Change to Student Aid Index (SAI): If a review to make an adjustment to the student’s SAI is approved, the adjustment will be made to the student’s FAFSA. When the student’s updated FAFSA returns, the Financial Aid Department will make all necessary updates to the student’s aid. Supporting documentation will be maintained in the student’s financial aid file.
- Change to Cost of Attendance (COA): If an increase to a student’s cost of attendance budget is approved, the student’s budget will be adjusted accordingly. Supporting documentation will be maintained in the student’s financial aid file.
A change to the COA does not result in a change of eligibility for need-based funds; only increases the room in a student’s budget for aid, including PLUS and private loans.
To apply, complete the Exceptional Circumstance Request Form
Note: An approved Professional Judgment Request may not result in a change to the student’s financial aid award package.
Financial aid administrators have the authority to change a student’s status from dependent to independent in cases involving unusual circumstances. For financial aid purposes, a student is considered dependent and should provide parental information on the FAFSA unless the student is:
- at least 24 years old
- married
- serving on active duty in the US Armed Forces
- a veteran
- providing more than half of the support for a dependent child or other dependent who lives with the student
- an emancipated minor
- homeless
- assigned a legal guardian before the age of 18
If you have an unusual circumstance and need to begin the appeal process, complete the Exceptional Circumstance Request Form
Examples of Exceptional Circumstances
Circumstances Supporting Documents Parent loss/income Last Pay statement; Layoff letter High medical/dental bills not covered by insurance and/or high cost of insurance premiums Medical/dental bill invoice, copy of insurance premiums or statement of medical/dental costs; detailed explanation of costs Reduction or loss of untaxed income, such as child support or social security benefits Loss of benefits letter; loss of support letter; detailed explanation for loss of untaxed income Student loss of income resulting from a return to school after ceasing full-time employment Last date of full-time employment; last pay statement Childcare costs for the student’s dependent(s) Daycare bill or other childcare-related costs Death of a parent/spouse Signed statement
Examples of Dependency Override
Circumstances Supporting Documents Circumstances Supporting Documents Experiencing parental abandonment, estrangement, or abuse without having been legally adopted Court records; police reports; statements from school staff, medical/therapeutic providers, or others familiar with your situation. Parent incarceration Court records; prison or jail resident records. Human Trafficking I-95 with T1 Refugee or Asylee status I-94; I-551
Financial aid administrators have the authority to change a student’s status from dependent to independent in cases involving unusual circumstances. For financial aid purposes, a student is considered dependent and should provide parental information on the FAFSA unless the student is:
- at least 24 years old
- married
- serving on active duty in the US Armed Forces
- a veteran
- providing more than half of the support for a dependent child or other dependent who lives with the student
- an emancipated minor
- homeless
- assigned a legal guardian before the age of 18
If you have an unusual circumstance and need to begin the appeal process, complete the Exceptional Circumstance Request Form
Examples of Exceptional Circumstances
| Circumstances | Supporting Documents |
|---|---|
| Parent loss/income | Last Pay statement; Layoff letter |
| High medical/dental bills not covered by insurance and/or high cost of insurance premiums | Medical/dental bill invoice, copy of insurance premiums or statement of medical/dental costs; detailed explanation of costs |
| Reduction or loss of untaxed income, such as child support or social security benefits | Loss of benefits letter; loss of support letter; detailed explanation for loss of untaxed income |
| Student loss of income resulting from a return to school after ceasing full-time employment | Last date of full-time employment; last pay statement |
| Childcare costs for the student’s dependent(s) | Daycare bill or other childcare-related costs |
| Death of a parent/spouse | Signed statement |
Examples of Dependency Override
| Circumstances | Supporting Documents |
|---|---|
| Circumstances | Supporting Documents |
| Experiencing parental abandonment, estrangement, or abuse without having been legally adopted | Court records; police reports; statements from school staff, medical/therapeutic providers, or others familiar with your situation. |
| Parent incarceration | Court records; prison or jail resident records. |
| Human Trafficking | I-95 with T1 |
| Refugee or Asylee status | I-94; I-551 |