Professional Judgment

Professional judgment (PJ) is a critical discretion granted to financial aid administrators, allowing for tailored adjustments to a student’s financial aid package based on individual circumstances. This process is essential for ensuring financial aid accurately reflects a student’s current financial situation rather than solely relying on standard metrics like the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) information.

Students with special circumstances or unusual circumstances can request a Professional Judgement (PJ) and a Financial Aid Administrator may use PJ on a case-by-case basis to adjust the following:

Student's Cost of Attendance
FAFSA Data Elements used to calculate the Student's Student Aid Index (SAI)
Student's Dependency Status

Professional Judgement (PJ) requests will not be accepted after classes have ceased for the Academic Year or after the student has ceased enrollment. A PJ request does not guarantee approval or an increase or change in aid eligibility.

To request a review for special or unusual circumstances, parents and/or students must submit all required documents. These documents will be evaluated by a financial aid advisor to determine eligibility. If approved, the financial aid offer will be updated and a notification sent to the student.

Special circumstances typically refer to specific financial situations that a student or their family may encounter, which affects their ability to pay for education.

Special Circumstances for which a student may request a PJ to adjust FAFSA data elements may include but are not limited to:

Loss of income for student and/or spouse due to divorce, death, change or loss of employment or disability
Loss of income for parent(s) due to divorce, death, change or loss of employment or disability
Lump sum distribution or non-recurring income that inflates adjusted gross income
Major medical expenses not covered by insurance, already paid out-of-pocket
Tuition payments made for elementary/secondary school costs for young sibling
Child Support Received that has decreased or ended

Students requesting a Special Circumstances PJ to adjust FAFSA data elements must provide the following documentation but not limited to:

Request for Special Circumstances PJ form
Detailed letter of appeal explaining their special circumstances and reason for appeal
The required documentation listed for each item the student selected on the Request form

Unusual circumstances usually involve a student’s personal situation beyond normal financial changes. Students must clearly prove an adverse family situation to be considered independent for financial aid. Such adverse situations may include: physical or emotional abuse, severe estrangement, abandonment, parental drug or alcohol abuse, mental incapacity, or other circumstances beyond the student's control that prevent them from accessing their parents' financial information.

Students requesting an Unusual Circumstances PJ to adjust student's dependency status must provide the following documentation but not limited to:

Unusual Circumstances PJ Request Form
A letter explaining the student’s circumstances and the current living situation
A letter from the student’s teacher, counselor, medical professional, social worker, or clergy who can verify the student’s situation
Court documentation or police reports if applicable.

A student may submit an appeal request, by which a financial aid advisor may decide that a dependent student with extenuating circumstances should be treated as an independent student. This is called a dependency appeal and is considered on a case-by-case and year-by-year basis. Federal guidelines stipulate the following conditions do not qualify as circumstances meriting a dependency override:

Non-Eligible Criteria for Independence:

Parents refusing to contribute to your education
Parents unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA or documents for verification
Parents not claiming you as a dependent for income tax purposes
Student demonstrating total self-sufficiency