Professional Judgment/Special Circumstances

The professional judgment process requires a thorough review by the Office of Student Financial Assistance to determine what changes, if any, may be appropriate based on your FAFSA application. This process is time-intensive and includes the following steps:

1. Submit a Professional Judgment Request
   The student must submit all Professional Judgment paperwork electronically using the student portal or using the link below.
2. Professional Judgment Processing
   The student’s file is then reviewed to determine if all required documentation has been submitted. If additional documentation is needed, the student will be notified via their COD email account.
3. Professional Judgment Decision
   The Office of Student Financial Assistance will determine if a student's Professional Judgment request meets the criteria to make data element changes to their FAFSA.

If the request for Professional Judgment is approved, appropriate changes will be made to the student's FAFSA and submitted to the Department of Education. The Department of Education will then recalculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and the student's eligibility for need-based aid. The student will be notified via their COD email account.

If denied, the student will be notified via their COD email account.

In some cases, an adjustment does not increase the student's eligibility for grants or the total amount of aid awarded.

The Office of Student Financial Assistance reserves the right to deny any appeals that would not increase a student's eligibility for aid. The decision of the Office of Student Financial Assistance is final and cannot be appealed to the Department of Education.

Special circumstances are anything that differentiates the family's finances from those of other families. Below are examples to include, but not limited to, reasons to submit a professional judgment request:

Reduced Work Earnings

• Loss of employment or layoff
• Reduction in work hours or partial/temporary loss of employment
• Reduction in work income due to illness or injury

Other Loss, Reduction or One-Time Adjustment to Income

• One-time IRA or Pension Distribution

Loss of Benefits

• Reduction or loss of child support or alimony
• Change in Workman’s Compensation or Long-Term Disability Income

Medical Expenses

• Unusually high medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance

Divorce, Death or Separation After Filing the FAFSA

• Divorce/Separation of a Dependent Student’s Parent or of an Independent Student
• Death of a dependent student’s parent or of an independent student

Dependency Status

Please note: Use of professional judgment is neither limited to nor required for the situations mentioned.

Situations that are not considered special circumstances:

• Car payments
• Cost of Attendance adjustments
• Credit card or other personal debts
• Elementary or secondary tuition paid by the family
• Mortgage payments
• Outstanding debt or bankruptcy
• Parent’s enrollment in postsecondary education program
• Standard living expenses (i.e., utilities, credit-card expenses, children’s allowances, etc.)
• Support of extended family or second household
• Tithing
• Vacation expenses
• All other discretionary expenses

• FAFSA - Special Circumstances and Professional Judgment (Recording)