Professional Judgment
2025-2026 Forms and Information Coming in February 2025
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 2022 (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.
- 2023 Income Adjustment: This form requires you have already filed your 2023 taxes and include documentation with submission.
- 2024 Income Adjustment: This form is accepted beginning May 1, 2024.
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. - 2023 Income Adjustment: This form requires you have already filed your 2023 taxes and include documentation with submission.
- 2024 Income Adjustment: This form is accepted beginning May 1, 2024.
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.
Medical Expenses
If you have had out-of-pocket medical or dental expenses for a member of your household that exceed $3000 in 2024 (for the 2024-2025 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.
2024-2025 Parent Medical Expenses
2024-2025 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 2024-2025 form for expenses in 2024 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.
2024-2025 Parent Natural Disaster Expenses
2024-2025 Student Natural Disaster Expenses (for FAFSA Independent Students)
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.
- Call us! 303-273-3301
- Request a virtual appointment
Contact Info
Mailing address:
Colorado School of Mines
Financial Aid Office
1301 19th Street
Golden, CO 80401
Office Location:
Ben Parker Student Center, E160
1200 16th St
Golden, CO 80401
Walk-In Hours:
Monday through Friday
9am - 4pm
303-273-3301
Toll-free: 1-888-446-9489
finaid@mines.edu
For scholarship questions, email scholarship@mines.edu
More information:
For billing issues contact: Bursar's Office 303-273-3158
For health insurance waivers contact: Student Health Insurance 303-273-3388
For College Opportunity Fund contact: Registrar's Office 303-273-3200
For information on Veteran Affairs contact: Registrar's Office 303-273-3200