Appeal Process
Prospective students: Those interested in applying for a financial aid appeal must wait until they have received an offer of admission. This is to ensure that families are not completing all the work of an appeal if they are not admitted to college.
Returning students: Those interested in applying for a financial aid appeal must wait until they have received their original financial aid award.
Per Federal Regulations, there are two appeal processes that can be completed through the Office of Financial Aid: Special Circumstance and Unusual Circumstance. Please reference the chart below to determine which process is appropriate for your situation.
| Special Circumstance Appeal | Unusual Circumstances Appeal | |
| Circumstance Examples | Income Loss, Change in Marital Status, Change in Number in College, Parental Death. | Victim of Human Trafficking, Parent Incarceration, Refugee with no Parent Support, Documented Parental Abuse, Parental Incarceration. |
| Additional Information | Appeals for additional financial aid should be submitted if a family's entire financial situation is not represented by information provided on the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and federal tax returns AND is beyond the family's control. | This is often referred to as a "Dependency Overide". This may adjust a student's dependency status and what information is required on other financial aid documentation. |
| Supporting Documentation Examples | Appeal Letter, Past or Current Year Tax Documentation, Medical Bills | Court Order Showing Incarceration, Welfare Agency Statement, Case Worker Statement, Court Appointed Guardian or Advocate Statement. |
| Appeal Stipulations | Students awarded additional need-based aid as a result of an approved appeal are required to borrow all of their federal student loan eligibility as part of a shared financial partnership between themselves and the college. | If an appeal is approved, that decision will carry over to future years as long as circumstances remain unchanged (unless otherwise stipulated in the appeal decision). |
| Forms | Special Circumstances Appeal Form | Unusual Circumstances Appeal Form |
Merit Scholarship Appeal
Please note that merit scholarships are not open to appeal--either to receive a scholarship or to increase the amount awarded.
Please contact the financial aid office with questions or for additional information about any of the above listed appeal processes.