Financial Aid Appeals Policy



2023-2024 Appeals

Appeals of Special Circumstances

If there has been a significant change to you or your family’s financial circumstances, you can submit an appeal to the Office of Financial Aid to request a review of your eligibility for federal and/or state grants. Appealable circumstances may include the following reasons:

  • Termination
  • Layoff
  • Retirement
  • Loss of Unemployment Benefits
  • Injury or Illness
  • Disability
  • Excessive Medical Expenses
  • Death of a Spouse/Parent
  • Divorce
  • Loss of Child Support
  • One-Time Lump Sum Payment

To appeal, you will be required to submit an appeal form, a detailed explanation of your circumstance, and supporting documentation that illustrates your change in income. The Office of Financial Aid will review your information to determine if an adjustment to your FAFSA is warranted and will result in an increase of your eligibility for federal or state financial aid. Please note that incomplete appeals will not be reviewed and will be returned to you along with a request for additional information. 

Students who have a $0 expected family contribution are already receiving the maximum amount of federal and state aid so even if there has been a change in circumstance, they are not eligible for any additional federal or state grant assistance. If you are not sure if you have a $0 EFC, you can email finaid@dom.edu and ask to verify your EFC. You can also view your EFC on the Student Aid Report (SAR) you received when you completed the FAFSA.

Timelines for appeals to be reviewed: 

We strive to review appeals within two weeks of receipt of all required documentation. We will review all submitted appeals no later than 60 days after the student enrolls. Students are notified of a decision once the process is completed.   

Acceptable documentation: 

Documentation should be submitted along with the appeal form. Acceptable documentation may include: 

  • A documented interview between the student and the financial aid administrator; or 
  • Supplementary information, as necessary, about the financial status or personal circumstances of eligible applicants as it relates to the special circumstances. 
Appeal for Private School Tuition

Private school tuition, at an elementary or secondary school is one of the circumstances that can impact a family’s ability to pay for college. In some cases, we may be able to make an adjustment to your FAFSA to increase your eligibility for federal or state aid. Families that already have a zero expected family contribution (EFC) are not eligible to appeal. 

You will be required to submit a copy of your tuition statement from the school your younger child will be attending. It must reflect the same academic year for which you are appealing for additional aid at Dominican University. The statement must show your out-of-pocket expense for tuition minus any scholarships offered by the school.

If you are submitting an appeal for private school tuition, complete this form.   

Appeal for Unusual Circumstances (Dependency Appeal)

This appeal refers to the conditions that justify an aid administrator making an adjustment to a student’s dependency status based on a unique situation. Conditions may include:

  • Human trafficking
  • Being legal granted refugee or asylum status
  • Parental abandonment or estrangement
  • Parental incarceration

Students who think they qualify for an appeal of unusual circumstances should submit this form via our secure transfer tool. 

Please note that this determination is different than the determination of independent status due to the student being a homeless youth or at-risk homeless youth. If that is the circumstance, please complete this form. 

Acceptable documentation:

Documentation should be submitted along with the appeal for unusual circumstances form. Acceptable documentation may include:

  • A documented interview between the student and the financial aid administrator;
  • Submission of a court order or official Federal or State documentation that the students’ parents or legal guardian are incarcerated;
  • A documented phone call or written statement from an attorney, a guardian ad litem, a court-appointed special advocate (or similar), or a representative of a TRIO or GEAR UP program that confirms the circumstances and the person’s relationship to the student;
  • A documented determination of independence made by a financial aid administrator at another institution in the same or a prior award year; or
  • Utility bills, health insurance, or other documents that demonstrate a separation from parents or legal guardians.

Acceptable documentation may also include a documented phone call or written statement, which confirms the unusual circumstances with:

  • A State, county, or Tribal welfare agency;
  • An independent living case worker who supports current and former foster youth with the transition to adulthood; or
  • A public or private agency, facility, or program servicing the victims of abuse, neglect, assault, or violence.

Timelines for appeals to be reviewed:

We strive to review appeals within two weeks of receipt of all required documentation. We will review all submitted appeals no later than 60 days after the student enrolls. Students are notified of a decision once the process is completed.

Appealing for an Increased Cost of Attendance

Undergraduate and graduate students can also appeal for an increase in their cost of attendance. An increase in their cost of attendance may allow a student or parent to borrow more in federal or private loan funds (if all other eligibility requirements have been met). View the cost of attendance or reach out to finaid@dom.edu if you have questions about what your cost of attendance. 

Reasons for an appeal for an increase in cost of attendance may include disability expenses, additional technology expenses, costs for care of dependents, or medical expenses.