Professional Judgement

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. The change must have occurred at least 8 weeks prior to submitting your request for professional judgment consideration. Exclusions from professional judgment include voluntary retirement and most windfall income (inheritance, bonuses, etc.).

Professional Judgment Steps for 2025-2026:

1. 1. Complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA using the 2023 income.
   2. If the change happened to a parent on the FAFSA, submit the Parent Estimate Professional Judgment form with as much information as possible including an explanation of the changes. This form is accepted through February 1, 2026 for 2025-2026.
   3. If the change happened to the student on the FAFSA, submit the Student Estimate Professional Judgment form with as much information as possible including an explanation of the changes. This form is accepted through February 1, 2026 for 2025-2026.
   4. Mines will respond to this Estimate submission with more information within two weeks.
   5. If an official Professional Judgment form is requested by Mines, the student will upload the form and requested documentation through Trailhead. Uploads are accepted through February 28, 2026.
   6. Your student will receive an email when the Professional Judgment has been processed. Processing can take 2-4 weeks.
   7. Your student will receive a second email when their aid package has been updated. This should happen within a week of processing.

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.  You do not need to make adjustments if you marry after filing the FAFSA. If you reported your marital status incorrectly on your FAFSA, please make the correction at studentaid.gov.

Professional Judgment Steps for 2025-2026:

1. 1. Complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA using the 2023 income.
   2. If the change happened to a parent on the FAFSA, submit the Parent Estimate Professional Judgment form with as much information as possible including an explanation of the changes. This form is accepted through February 1, 2026 for 2025-2026.
   3. If the change happened to the student on the FAFSA, submit the Student Estimate Professional Judgment form with as much information as possible including an explanation of the changes. This form is accepted through February 1, 2026 for 2025-2026.
   4. Mines will respond to this Estimate submission with more information within two weeks.
   5. If an official Professional Judgment form is requested by Mines, the student will upload the form and requested documentation through Trailhead. Uploads are accepted through February 28, 2026.
   6. Your student will receive an email when the Professional Judgment has been processed. Processing can take 2-4 weeks.
   7. Your student will receive a second email when their aid package has been updated. This should happen within a week of processing.

If you have had out-of-pocket expenses due to medical or dental expenses during 2025 for members of your family, we may be able to adjust your FAFSA. Expenses should not include those paid for or reimbursed by insurance. The potential impact to your aid is highly individual. If your SAI is more than 60000, the likelihood of any increased aid based on out-of-pocket medical costs is low.

If you have already filed your 2025-2026 FAFSA and want to discuss the potential impact of 2025 medical expenses, please contact our office:

Phone 303-273-3301

Request an Appointment

If you have had out-of-pocket expenses due to a natural disaster, we may be able to adjust your FAFSA. Expenses should not include those paid for or reimbursed by insurance.

If you have already filed your 2025-2026 FAFSA and want to discuss the potential impact of 2025 natural disaster expenses, please contact our office:

Phone 303-273-3301

Request an Appointment