Special and Unusual Circumstances

Special Circumstances

Did you or someone in your household recently experience unemployment or loss of income?

Sometimes a family’s current financial situation is not accurately represented on the FAFSA. Some examples include: loss or change in employment, death, divorce or separation of parents and unusual medical expenses. Your situation may or may not be related to COVID-19 to be considered. In some cases, your Financial Aid Administrator may be able to consider your special circumstances and re-evaluate your application. This review could result in additional aid.

• Based on the information you provide, your Financial Aid Administrator will re-evaluate your application to see if any changes can be made to revise your award.
• All requests will be considered, but not all requests will be approved or result in additional grant aid.
• Your Financial Aid Administrator will use professional judgment to assist you as best as possible. The decision of the Financial Aid Administrator is final and cannot be appealed.

Special Circumstances Process

Step 1: Submit a Special Circumstance Form to your campus. Carefully read and review the form.

2023-2024 Petition for Special Circumstances Form (PDF)

Examples of what cannot be considered as Special Circumstances: Parent’s refusal to contribute to education; Credit card or other unusually high debt. Carefully read and review the form to see what information is being asked of you to avoid delays.

Step 2: Await review of your form: Your Financial Aid Office will contact you within approximately 2 weeks of receiving your form and advise if any other information is needed.

Step 3: Submit any other required documentation: Common forms include: Signed Federal Tax Forms, W2 forms, pay stubs, or unemployment documentation.

Step 4: Check your email: You will be notified via email regarding the outcome.

Unusual Circumstances

Did you indicate you were unable to provide parental information when you submitted your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?

A Financial Aid Administrator may be able to make an adjustment to a student’s dependency status/dependency override based on unique situations such as human trafficking, refugee or asylum status, parental abandonment, and incarceration.

• Based on the information you provide, your Financial Aid Administrator will re-evaluate your application to see if any changes can be made to revise your award.
• All requests will be considered, but not all requests will be approved or result in additional grant aid.
• Your Financial Aid Administrator will use professional judgment to assist you as best as possible. The decision of the Financial Aid Administrator is final and cannot be appealed.

Unusual Circumstances Process

Step 1: Submit an Appeal for Unusual Circumstances Form. Carefully read and review the form before submitting.

2023-2024 Petition for Unusual Circumstances Form

Step 2: Await review of your form: Your financial aid office will contact you if any other information is needed.

Step 3: Submit any other required documentation: Common forms include: external (third party) source that documents, verifies, and supports your situation (e.g. such as social workers, counselors, clergy members, or teachers). If possible, any documentation should be on company letterhead or from a professional email address.

Step 4: Check your email: You will be notified via email regarding the outcome.

Request for Cost of Attendance Adjustment

A cost of attendance is created for every student who is awarded financial aid. In addition to tuition and student fees, the cost of attendance includes an estimated cost of books/supplies, food, housing, transportation, and personal expenses. If you have costs that are not included or beyond the costs of attendance calculated, you may Complete a Request for Cost of Attendance Adjustment form located on the Forms page.