Professional Judgement

In cases where unique or exceptional situations affect your eligibility for federal student aid, federal regulations provide financial aid administrators with the ability to exercise discretion or professional judgment on an individual basis. With appropriate documentation, they can make adjustments to the data elements on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form, specifically the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), to achieve a more precise evaluation of your family’s capacity to contribute towards your educational expenses. It’s important to note that the Department of Education lacks the authority to override a school’s decision based on professional judgment.

Students may pursue a Professional Judgment decision based upon the following categories:

• “Special Circumstances” which refers to financial situations such as the loss of a job, etc.; and/or,
• “Unusual Circumstances” which refers to the conditions that justify an adjustment to a student’s dependency status based on a unique situation. This is commonly referred to as a “Dependency Override”

A student may have both a special circumstance *and* an unusual circumstance. If a student would like to be considered for an adjustment to their Cost of Attendance or Expected Family Contribution based on a Professional Judgment determination, they will need to meet with the financial aid office for a preliminary assessment and interview and provide any documentation which supports their request. For a more complete list of acceptable documentation, please see the financial aid office. The financial aid office will make a determination as soon as possible but no later than 60 days from the student’s request date.

Below are some instances in which a student and/or parent may seek a Professional Judgment, although these are not the only circumstances where Professional Judgment may be applicable:

– Loss of employment or decrease in income

– Spouse’s illness or passing

– Medical and dental expenses not covered by insurance

– Unusually high child/dependent care expenses

– Parents enrolled in college

– Tuition expenses for elementary and secondary school

– Loss of benefits

– Male students who failed to register for Selective Service

– Dependency override

To request a Professional Judgment, please visit the financial aid office for further information and guidance.