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Changes to your aid

Professional judgment request policy

There are many circumstances that may have an impact on the financial aid you are offered. Depending on your situation, we may be able to adjust information you reported on your FAFSA or your cost of attendance. These adjustments could result in a change to your financial aid eligibility and may increase the amount of grant or loans you can receive.

Deadlines

  • We cannot guarantee a change will be processed if documentation is submitted after the processing deadline.
  • Loans must be accepted in the financial aid portal in Academica while you are still enrolled for the semester.
  • Processing deadlines: Fall semester-December 1, Winter semester-April 1, Spring semester-June 1, Summer and Spring/Summer semesters-August 1, MD students-one month prior to the end of the semester of enrollment. 

Requesting a review of your eligibility for special circumstances

Undergraduate student - estimated family contribution (EFC) or student aid index (SAI) appeal

If you SAI or EFC is above -1500 a review for a change in your SAI/EFC may help you receive more federal financial aid. This may be in the form of Federal Pell Grant funds or Federal Subsidized loan funds.

If you or your family's financial situation has changed since filing the FAFSA due to special circumstances or if there are certain expenses not reflected on the FAFSA, you may submit a Special Circumstance Appeal. The following financial situations are examples of special circumstances that can be considered:

  • Loss of employment
  • Reduction in earnings
  • Paid medical costs not covered by insurance
  • Death of a parent

To request a review of your extenuating financial circumstances

  1. Contact our office to discuss your circumstances and obtain the Special Circumstance Form.
  2. Submit the Special Circumstance Form with an explanation statement and documentation that supports your extenuating financial circumstances. Appeals submitted without the required supporting documentation will be denied.

Note: If you are an undergraduate and have an EFC of zero (0), or an SAI of -1500 you are already receiving the maximum about of federal financial aid.

The following DO NOT qualify as special circumstances: parents refuse to contribute to your education; parents are unwilling to provide information on your FAFSA or for verification; parents do not claim you as a dependent for income tax purposes; you demonstrate total self-sufficiency. However, you may qualify for a dependency override based on your unusual circumstances.

Submission of a special circumstance appeal does not guarantee a favorable change in your financial aid eligibility or award(s). If you have reached the federal lifetime Pell limit or the federal lifetime loan limit for your grade level and dependency status, we will not be able to award these funds.

Undergraduate student - unusual circumstances and dependency override

The Dependency Override Appeal is available if you have unusual circumstances that may qualify you for independent status, which could increase your financial aid eligibility. We may be able to update your dependency status if you have qualifying unusual circumstances and documentation to support it. Examples of unusual circumstances include abandonment by parents or an abusive family environment that threatens your health and safety.

The dependency override form is available on our status appeal forms page.

Undergraduate student - cost of attendance appeal

If your FAFSA Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) is zero or your Student Aid Index (SAI) is -1500, a review for a change in your EFC/SAI will not help you receive more aid. If you have borrowed up to your maximum cost of attendance, but have experienced unusual educational costs you may request a review for an increase in your cost of attendance. If your documented costs meet the requirements for an increase in your cost of attendance, you may be eligible to apply for an increase in your federal or private loan funds.

Cost of attendance budget adjustment examples include costs for dependent care during class or study times; costs related to a disability; computer purchase; and an allowance for reasonable costs directly related to your program of study.

Cost of attendance appeal forms are available on our status appeal forms page.

Graduate or professional school students

Very rarely is need-based aid awarded to graduate or professional school students and a review for a change in your EFC/SAI will not help you receive more aid.

Cost of attendance appeal

If you have borrowed up to your maximum cost of attendance, but have experienced unusual educational costs you may request a review for an increase in your cost of attendance. If your documented costs meet the requirements for an increase in your cost of attendance, you may apply for an increase in your federal or private loan funds - both of which require credit approval. 

Cost of attendance budget adjustment examples include dependent care directly related to attendance at WSU; costs related to a disability; computer purchase for educational purposes; costs incurred, while enrolled, to obtain a professional license; and an allowance for reasonable costs directly related to your program of study. 

The request for a budget adjustment does not guarantee an adjustment will be made. Your request may be denied. Budget adjustment requests are reviewed by a financial aid administrator, within the context of federal financial aid regulations.

Cost of attendance appeal forms are available on our status appeal forms page.

Changing your response

If you accepted or declined a full or partial loan offer in Academica and want to change your response, complete the loan revision form and submit it to the financial aid office.

Loan cancellation

You have the right to cancel all or a portion of the loan and have the canceled funds returned to the lender. You must notify the financial aid office in writing within 14 days of the date of the disbursement notice if you want to cancel all or a portion of the loan.

Revisions by the financial aid office

If your eligibility changes, we may be required to make adjustments to your awards. Federal financial aid regulations require adjustments in financial aid if your eligibility changes. Eligibility can decrease due to changes in your class registration, tuition charges, or the FAFSA. If we are required to remove aid that has already been paid to you, it may create a balance that you will be responsible for paying. 

Course participation

Your participation in class must be confirmed by your instructor. If you fail to attend class your financial aid may be reduced or canceled. 

If it is necessary to revise your award, we will notify you via email to review your awards in Academica. You may also have a message from us in Academica in the Student Resources section.

Verification review

Selected for verification? You are required to submit documentation in order for us to confirm your financial aid eligibility.

  • Once the verification process is complete, your awards may be revised to reflect your correct eligibility.
  • If you fail to complete the verification process you will not receive your financial aid funds.

Mid-year updates

Did you receive aid from another school in the same academic year? Mid-semester or mid-year changes or updates to your FAFSA or your student status may result in eligibility changes.

  • If you attended another school and we are notified that there has been a change in your loan or Federal Pell Grant amounts, your award will be reviewed and may be revised.

Non-enrollment or reduction in credit hours

Financial aid awards are based on your regular, full-time enrollment in an eligible degree or certificate program. Your scholarships and grant amounts will lock at the census date; however, if you drop all classes, fail to attend, or fail to earn credits, we may be required to cancel a portion of your aid and you may owe a balance to the university.

  • If you enroll less than full time, your financial aid awards may be reduced or canceled.
  • Federal loans will only be paid if you are enrolled at least half-time at the time of disbursement.
  • Your participation in class must be confirmed by your instructor. If you fail to attend class your financial aid may be reduced or canceled. 
  • If you do not enroll for a semester, aid and loans for that semester will be canceled. If you intend to re-enroll within the academic year, you may submit a Loan Revision Form to request a review of your award.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

  • You must maintain satisfactory academic progress. Your award is invalid if the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards have not been met.
  • If you have extenuating circumstances, you may appeal this decision.

Additional aid from outside sources

  • All educational resources (i.e. scholarships, stipends, etc.) that are not listed on the award notification must be reported to the Office of Student Financial Aid.
  • You cannot receive financial aid funding above your cost of attendance.
  • When additional aid is received after other financial aid awards have disbursed, it may result in the reversal of other aid and leave you with an outstanding balance.