Sometimes life circumstances impact a student's financial aid situation after they have completed the FAFSA application. In these cases, students can apply for a Special Circumstance Appeal. This appeal initiates a re-evaluation of their financial aid eligibility on a case-by-case basis for significant, unexpected changes in income or financial status. Appeals require supporting documentation and must be for a valid reason such as:
- Special Circumstances may refer to significant changes to your financial situation (such as loss of employment or pay cuts), or other special circumstances (such as tuition expenses or high unreimbursed medical or dental expenses).
- Unusual Circumstances refer to the conditions that justify an aid administrator 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), more commonly referred to as a dependency override.
Special Circumstance Appeal Request
It is used for students and families who have experienced a significant change in income. A review of your special circumstances does not guarantee that you will be eligible for additional financial aid.
If the student already has an Student Aid Index (SAI) of "0" or less, submitting a special circumstances request will not result in additional financial aid as the maximum amount was already awarded.
Examples of Special Circumstances that may be considered
- Loss or significant reduction of employment, wages or unemployment compensation
- Widowed, separated or divorced since filing the FAFSA
- Unusually high unreimbursed medical expenses paid
- One-time income received in tax year listed on the FAFSA
Instructions
- Submit completed Special Circumstances form with all required documentation.
- 2025-2026 Special Circumstances Form (PDF) (summer 2025, fall 2025, spring 2026)
- 2026-2027 Special Circumstances Form (PDF) (summer 2026, fall 2026, spring 2027)
Budget Increase Request
If you have exceptional expenses not already included in your cost of attendance, you may be eligible for Additional Financing in the form of loans.
Examples of budget increases considered:
- Additional required educational expenses related to your academic program.
- Unusual transportation expenses greater than what is already included in your cost of attendance.
- Study Abroad expenses
- Expenses due to a disability or unexpected medical cost.
- Childcare expenses while attending college.
- Other reasonable, educationally related expenses not already included in your cost of attendance (COA).
- You can view your estimated cost of attendance in your financial aid notification in myRedDragon.
Instructions
- Submit completed Budget Increase Form with all required documentation.
Dependency Override Request
The Dependency Override request is for students who feel they should be considered independent from their parents for financial aid purposes but do not meet the federal criteria to be considered independent.
Common Reasons for Dependency Override
- Abusive family environment that threatens your health or safety
- Parental abandonment
- Student is unable to locate their parents
- Incarcerated parents
We cannot override dependency in cases where:
- Parents refuse to contribute to the student's education.
- Unwillingness of parents to provide information.
- Students demonstrating total self-sufficiency.
- Parents not claiming student as a dependent for tax purposes.
Instructions
- Submit the Dependency Override Request form
- Submit a letter of explanation of extenuating circumstances. Include the following information:
- Last date and nature of parent contact
- Location of your parents
- How you have provided financially for yourself
- Submit signed third-party letters from two or more people who have first-hand knowledge of the situation. The letters should be from people who are unrelated to you but are aware of your circumstances, such as a counselor, clergy, social agency official, court official, law enforcement official, ect.
- Submit documentation of how the student is financially supporting themselves (current paycheck stub, tax return, ect).
- Submit additional documentation, if applicable (police report, court documents, documentation of parental incarceration, ect).
Subsequent Year Requests
Any continuing student that was previously approved for a dependency override will need to inform the financial aid office in subsequent years that their circumstances are unchanged. In addition to submitting the FAFSA each year, students will need to also submit the following:
- Dependency Override Request form (PDF)
- Detailed explanation that extenuating circumstances have not changed from previous year.