Professional Judgment

2025-2026 Incoming Estimated forms accepted beginning March 1
2025-2026 Continuing student forms accepted beginning April 1
View our Newsletter about 2025-2026 Professional Judgments

If the information reported on the FAFSA no longer reflects your financial or family situation, the Financial Aid office may be able to help! The federal Department of Education allows Financial Aid Offices to adjust FAFSA information for individual special and unusual circumstances through a process called Professional Judgment.

View the options below for Professional Judgment categories or contact our office with questions. For estimates, please complete this Estimated Income Adjustment form.

Professional judgment decisions only apply to current or future enrollments. The priority deadline is the end of February. We will accept professional judgments after this date for the current aid year. Adjusted aid may be limited to federal funds after the priority deadline.

Income Adjustments

If you have had an involuntary loss of income or benefits since 2023 (the tax year reported on your FAFSA), the Financial Aid Office may be able to use more current information to determine your eligibility. Please use the parent form for adjustments to parental income and the student form for adjustments to student income. Please email our office to put a requirement on Trailhead so you can securely upload your documents. We no longer accept documents by email.

Parent Income Adjustment Forms:

Estimated Parent Income Adjustment: Submit this form first! We will run a simulation on the FAFSA to determine if an official change is warranted and which year is most beneficial.
2024 Income Adjustment: This form requires you have already filed your 2024 taxes and include documentation with submission.
2025 Income Adjustment: This form is accepted beginning May 1, 2025. Your change must have occurred at least 8 weeks prior to filing this form.

Student Income Adjustment Forms:

Estimated Student Income Adjustment: You can use this form if you are unsure which tax year would be most
beneficial for you. We will run a simulation on the FAFSA to determine if an official change is warranted.
2024 Income Adjustment: This form requires you have already filed your 2024 taxes and include documentation with submission.
2025 Income Adjustment: This form is accepted beginning May 1, 2025. Your change must have occurred at least 8 weeks prior to filing this form.

Marital Status Changes

If you are now single due to legal separation, divorce, or widowhood, use this form to report the change to our office and we can remove a spouse’s income from the FAFSA. Please email our office to put a requirement on Trailhead so you can securely upload your documents. We no longer accept documents by email. You do not need to make adjustments if you marry after filing the FAFSA.

2025-2026 Parent Change of Marital Status

2025-2026 Student Change of Marital Status

Medical Expenses

If you have had out-of-pocket medical or dental expenses for a member of your household that exceed $3000 in 2025 (for the 2025-2026 FAFSA) we may be able to adjust your FAFSA. The $3000 does not include any amount covered by insurance or insurance premiums. Follow the instructions on the form, Please email our office to put a requirement on Trailhead so you can securely upload your documents. We no longer accept documents by email.

2025-2026 Parent Medical Expenses

2025-2026 Student Medical Expenses (for FAFSA Independent Students)

Natural Disasters

If you have had out-of-pocket expenses due to a natural disaster, we may be able to adjust your FAFSA. Use the 2025-2026 form for expenses in 2025 below to report these expenses. Please email our office to put a requirement on Trailhead so you can securely upload your documents. We no longer accept documents by email.

2025-2026 Parent Natural Disaster Expenses

2025-2026 Student Natural Disaster Expenses (for FAFSA Independent Students)

Does your cost of attendance not reflect your actual living expenses? Click here to learn more about the budget review process.

Unusual Circumstances

The FAFSA asks questions to determine if parent information is required. If you cannot answer yes to any of those questions and you cannot get parent information, you may have an unusual circumstance. Contact our office to discuss your individual situation. Conversations about unusual circumstances are best done over the phone or zoom.