Appeals

We understand that circumstances may happen that can drastically change a student’s financial situation. You may appeal your financial aid decision based on special and/or unusual circumstances described below.

• Special circumstances refer to the financial situations that affect your ability to cover college costs, such as a loss of income, high unanticipated expenses (e.g., medical/dental, home repair, etc.) paid out of income, or the separation, divorce, or death of a parent.
• Unusual circumstances refer to the conditions that necessitate making an adjustment to a student's dependency status based on a unique situation (e.g., human trafficking, refugee or asylee status, parental abandonment, incarceration, etc.) more commonly referred to as a dependency override.

Submitting an appeal for special circumstances

Along with submitting a financial appeal form (linked below) a student should include supporting documentation (e.g., termination letters, unemployment determination letters, cancelled checks, copies of bills, etc.) Please be specific in explaining the changes in your financial situation.

The Director of Student Financial Assistance will review the appeal and contact the student directly with a decision regarding the outcome. We will make every effort to make a decision with the information provided, however, additional documentation may be requested.

2023-24 Financial Aid Appeal Form

2022-23 Financial Aid Appeal Form

SUBMITTING An appeal for unusual circumstances

Please review the dependency override policy linked below, and book a meeting with the Director.

Dependency Override Policy