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Professional Judgment

In some circumstances the Office of Financial Aid will make a determination on certain submitted financial aid information.

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What is a Professional Judgment?

A professional judgment is a financial aid professional’s ability to review a student’s file on a case-by-case basis. Financial Aid offices have the authority to make changes to certain data elements on the FAFSA to account for circumstances they feel have not been adequately reflected in the Student Aid Index (SAI).  For example, they can investigate a change in family finances, or confirm personal circumstances related to a student’s dependency status.  They can also review a student’s individual expenses to determine if they demonstrate increased financial need.

Conditions that may merit the use of Professional Judgment

  • Cost of Attendance Increase Requests

    There may be times that students have educational costs that are significantly higher than the school鈥檚 standard Cost of Attendance (COA), or are not otherwise accounted for in the budget allowances. It may be possible to increase the COA to allow more aid to be awarded.

  • Student Personal Circumstances

    Students who have indicated on their FAFSA that they have one of the personal circumstances listed below might be eligible for a change in their dependency status (from dependent to independent) that could qualify them for more need-based aid. They are required to submit documentation via the Student Forms portal.

  • Special and Unusual Circumstances

    Students can appeal for re-evaluation of aid eligibility due to loss of income or benefits, extraordinary medical or dental expenses, K-12 school tuition for a sibling, parent鈥檚 marital status change, etc. Students also have the ability to appeal their dependency status due to unusual circumstances regarding their relationship with their parents, or request Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans due to a parent鈥檚 refusal to complete the parent section on the FAFSA. These documented circumstances can be submitted via the Student Forms portal.