Professional Judgement

PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT

Professional Judgement refers to the school鈥檚 authority to make adjustments, on a case-by-case basis, to information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so that the Department of Education can recalculate the Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI is the number that the school uses to determine if a student is eligible for need based financial aid.

PLEASE NOTE: The school does not have the authority to make direct adjustments to the SAI or the formula used to calculate the SAI, just data elements on the FAFSA which may change the SAI.

Policies are in place to provide consistent decisions for student applications concerning special circumstances which may or may not affect the student's eligibility for financial aid.

Examples of special circumstances are as follows:

Unusual medical and dental expenses (expenses which exceed 7.5% of Adjusted Gross Income)
Support of extended family
Private elementary and secondary school costs; childcare and dependent care costs
Unusual debts
Income reduction or non-recurring income
Divorce or death of parent
Dependency status

NOTE: Documentation must be provided in all cases to be reviewed. The use of professional judgement is neither limited to nor required for the situations mentioned.

All cases will be reviewed by a financial aid administrator. To determine eligibility for special circumstances, contact the Financial Aid Office.

You did not report parent information on your FAFSA because you indicated that you are an unaccompanied homeless youth or at risk of homelessness. To confirm this, please submit documentation to the Financial Aid Office.

If your documents do not verify your status, you鈥檒l need to update your FAFSA to include your parent(s) information. If you believe you should not include this information, please contact the Financial Aid Office or complete a Student Dependency Override Form.

Documentation Needed

FAFSA Question	Documents to Submit
Did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or at risk of homelessness (on or after July 1, 2023)?	Letter from your high school homeless liaison
Did a director or designee of an emergency or transitional shelter, street outreach program, or drop-in center determine you were an unaccompanied homeless youth (on or after July 1, 2023)?	Letter from the shelter or program director
Did a director or designee of a TRIO or GEAR UP program determine you were an unaccompanied homeless youth (on or after July 1, 2023)?	Letter from the TRIO or GEAR UP program director
Are you an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or self-supporting and at risk of homelessness?	Student Dependency Override Form
Did a Financial Aid Administrator determine you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or at risk of homelessness (on or after July 1, 2023)?	Student Dependency Override Form
Do unusual circumstances prevent you from contacting your parents, or would it be unsafe to do so?	Student Dependency Override Form

Please note this is in reference to the 2025-2026 Award Year.

The FAFSA determines your dependency status based on several questions. If you answer 鈥渘o鈥� to all, you are considered a dependent student and must provide parent information. However, if there are unusual circumstances鈥攕uch as abuse, neglect, or abandonment鈥攖he Financial Aid Office may perform a dependency override to make you an independent student. This allows you to qualify for financial aid without parent information.

Dependency Overrides Cannot Be Granted For:

Parents refusing to contribute financially
Parents unwilling to provide information
Students being financially independent
Parents not claiming the student on taxes

Requesting a Dependency Override

If you want the Financial Aid Office to review your situation, please submit the following:

Complete your for the appropriate year.
A typed personal statement explaining your circumstances and why you cannot provide parent information. Include the nature of your situation, your relationship timeline with your parents, and any current contact.
Two letters of support (preferred) from professionals familiar with your situation (such as a therapist, counselor, or clergy). If unavailable, letters from others who know your circumstances are acceptable鈥攎ake sure they include their contact info and relationship to you.
Any other documents that help explain your situation.

Once all materials are received, the Financial Aid Office will review your case and determine your dependency status. You鈥檒l be notified once a decision is made, along with your initial or revised financial aid offer (if eligible).

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