Financial Aid Appeals

We recognize that you or your family’s finances can change unexpectedly. If you feel that your financial aid offer is no longer representative of your ability to pay for college, we can walk you through the appeal process.

Please note:

•  A completed FAFSA is required in order for your appeal to be reviewed.
• If you decide to move forward with an appeal, it is your responsibility to provide additional documents. Check your email regularly and provide the requested documents as soon as you can. The sooner we receive your documents, the sooner we can provide a decision.
• The Special Circumstances Appeal process is for federal (e.g. Pell Grant) and state (e.g. Cal Grant) need-based aid. Typically, an increase of institutional aid (e.g. merit scholarships and grants) is not considered. 
• Submitting an appeal does not guarantee approval or additional aid. Students are still obligated to make payment arrangements for any outstanding charges during the appeal process. If an appeal approval occurs after the semester has begun and payment has been made, any additional aid may be applied to your account and refunded if applicable.

Types of Appeals

There are four types of appeals. Read about which might apply to your circumstances and review the instructions on each page. If you still have questions, please see our FAQ page or contact us.

• Special Circumstances Request: This is the most common type of financial aid adjustment. You may be eligible for a Special Circumstance Request if you or your family has experienced a significant change in income/employment, a main financial contributor has died, your parents have divorced, you’ve incurred extraordinary medical bills, or you’ve received a one-time (non-recurring) type of income that was reflected on your FAFSA.
• Unusual Circumstances Appeal: You may be eligible for this appeal if you experienced extenuating circumstances like homelessness, incarceration of your parents, an abusive family environment, or more.
• Cost of Attendance Appeal: You may request a review of your cost of attendance if you incur educational expenses greater than your standard cost of attendance.
• Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal: Your financial aid offer is contingent on maintaining good academic standing as a student. If you are not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), you will be offered the opportunity to appeal so that you can reinstate your financial aid. You may be eligible for this appeal if you experienced extenuating circumstances that prevented you from meeting SAP.

If you think any of these situations might apply to you, please reach out to us about appealing your financial aid. We would be happy to speak with you.