Special Circumstances

Special Circumstances

If a family's financial situation changes considerably from one year to the next due to extenuating circumstances such as the death of a parent, unemployment, retirement or significant out-of-pocket medical expenses, please contact our office for guidance.

Requests for consideration of aid must be made in writing to the Office of Financial Aid. All requested documentation must be submitted prior to a review for special circumstances.

If a student's parents are divorced or separated, any additional documentation requested to support a reconsideration due to special circumstances must be submitted by the parent who provided more financial support during the last 12-month period prior to filing the FAFSA. If an equal amount of support was provided, provide information for the parent with greater income and assets. By law, stepparent income must be included in the household income of the parent of record.

In some instances, a student may have both special and unusual circumstances.

Unusual Circumstances

To apply for funding as an independent student, a student must meet one of the qualifications listed on the FAFSA. Self-supporting students do not qualify as independent without meeting one of the established criteria.

There are times when unusual circumstances (e.g., human trafficking, refugee or asylee status, parental abandonment, incarceration) allow a financial administrator to adjust a student's dependency status on the FAFSA.

Requests for consideration of aid must be made in writing to the Office of Financial Aid.

In some instances, a student may have both special and unusual circumstances.