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Special Circumstance Appeals

Financial aid eligibility is initially determined using information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or California Dream Act Application, including tax information from the applicable tax year. We understand that families may experience changes in financial circumstances after filing their application or may have expenses that are not fully reflected in the standard financial aid calculation. 

If you or your family have experienced significant financial changes or unusual circumstances, you may be able to submit a Special Circumstances appeal for review. These appeals are reviewed individually through a federally authorized process called Professional Judgment, which allows financial aid administrators to evaluate documented circumstances within established federal guidelines. 

Submission of an appeal does not guarantee approval or an increase to financial aid eligibility. Students and families should use their current financial aid offer when making enrollment and attendance decisions. Because Special Circumstances appeals require individualized review and supporting documentation, processing times may be lengthy and we are unable to estimate the potential impact of an appeal or provide an average adjustment amount.  

  • Appeals for the 2026–27 academic year will be available beginning June 15, 2026. 

  • Appeals are submitted through the Student Forms portal. 

  • Review times vary by appeal type. 

  • Students may be asked to provide additional documentation after initial submission. 

  • If your Student Aid Index (SAI) is already -1,500, this is the lowest possible SAI under federal methodology. Students with an SAI of -1,500 who filed during the priority filing period are already receiving the maximum grant aid available. 

How to Request an Appeal 

  1. Log in to Student Forms 

  2. If you have not previously used Student Forms, create your account. 

  3. From the Student Forms home page, click “Manage Requests” in the top right corner. 

  4. Select the appropriate appeal form for the correct academic year. 

  5. Provide a brief summary explaining why you are requesting the appeal form. Note: When prompted, indicate that you are requesting the form to appeal financial aid. This box is to initiate the form and is not the appeal itself. 

  6. Complete all required sections and upload supporting documentation. 

  7. Click both “Submit” and “Finish” to finalize your submission. 

Additional information

  • Parents included on the financial aid application who must participate in the appeal process will also need to create a separate account. 

  • If parent information is required, the parent will receive an email invitation to complete and electronically sign their portion of the form. 

  • Only students can upload supporting documentation. Parents should provide documentation directly to the student for upload. 

  • Incomplete submissions will delay processing.