The Office of Financial Aid understands that there are times when students have circumstances that require additional consideration.
A student experiencing special or unusual circumstances should contact the Office of Financial Aid to schedule a counseling appointment. During the appointment, a counselor will discuss your situation with you and may ask additional questions or for documentation to support your situation.
Students can request consideration for the reasons listed below. Additional funding is not guaranteed.
Special Circumstances include:
- Recent unemployment of student or parent*
- Recent death or student’s spouse or parent*
- Recent separation or divorce of student or parent*
- Disability of student or parent*
*refers to parent reported on the FAFSA
During periods of a qualifying emergency or disaster as declared by the President or periods of economic downturn as declared the the Secretary of Education, documentation of unemployment must be provided within 90 days of the documentation having been received by the individual.
A student requesting review of special circumstances must complete the Special Circumstances Form and return it to our office with appropriate supporting documentation.
Unusual Circumstances** include but are not limited to:
- Student homelessness or at risk of being homeless
- Parental abandonment, estrangement or incarceration
- An abusive family environment
- Human Trafficking
- Refugee/asylee status
- Parental incarceration
**Requests will be completed within 60 days of enrollment, if possible.
A student requesting review of unusual circumstances must complete an Unusual Circumstances Form and return if to our office with appropriate supporting documentation.
Special or Unusual circumstances do not include:
- Income reduction
- Voluntary unemployment for reasons other than extraordinary
- Credit Card or other outstanding debt
- Student lives apart from the parent
- Multiple children in college (effective 24-25)
- Parental attendance in college
- Tuition for private grammar and/or high school
- Expenses above and beyond what is permissible in the cost of attendance categories
- Recreational expenses
Requests for Increase to Cost of Attendance
Cost of Attendance components cover most expenses that you may incur. A request for a Cost of Attendance increase may be requested for the following reasons included, but not limited to:
- Child or dependent care expenses
- One-time purchase of a computer up to $1,000
- Rental of a computer
- Transportation
- Housing costs (i.e. single room charge, off-campus housing, etc)
- Books and course materials
- Other supplies required for students with learning differences
Students requesting an increase to cost of attendance can complete a Cost of Attendance Petition.
The following do not qualify for Cost of Attendance Increases:
- Travel expenses not related to education (i.e. spring break)
- Expenses related to a sport or extra-curricular activity (i.e. band trip)
- Purchase, rental or lease of a vehicle
- Late fees
- Payment plan fees
- Test preparation course