Professional Judgment & Special Circumstances

Financial Aid Review Process

Federal regulations allow a college’s financial aid office to review certain special or unusual circumstances that may affect a student’s ability to pay for college. This review process is called Professional Judgment (PJ).

A Professional Judgment review may result in an adjustment to specific FAFSA data elements, a student’s Cost of Attendance, or dependency status, when supported by appropriate documentation and reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

What is Professional Judgment?

Professional Judgment is the authority granted to financial aid administrators under Section 479A of the Higher Education Act to make adjustments when a student’s financial situation is not accurately reflected on the FAFSA.

Important things to know:

  • Professional Judgment decisions are made individually, not automatically
  • Documentation is required
  • A review does not guarantee additional financial aid
  • Decisions apply only to the specific award year reviewed

Types of Circumstances That May be Considered

Professional Judgment requests generally fall into two categories:

Special Circumstances (Financial Changes)

These may allow adjustments to income or cost of attendance information used to determine aid eligibility, such as:

  • Loss or reduction of employment
  • Significant reduction in income
  • Divorce or separation
  • Death of a spouse or parent
  • Unusual or excessive medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance
  • Disability related expenses
  • Childcare expenses incurred while completing coursework
  • Loss of child support, alimony, etc.
  • One time income source included on FAFSA that no longer reflects current circumstances

Unusual Circumstances (Dependency Review)

In limited cases, a student may request a review of dependency status, called a Dependency Override, for situations involving:

  • Parental abandonment or estrangement
  • Abuse or neglect
  • Incarceration of parents
  • Human trafficking or refugee/asylee status
  • Other serious circumstances that prevent parental contact or support

Note: Dependency overrides are reviewed carefully and require supporting documentation. Approval is not automatic.

Circumstances That Are Not Considered for Professional Judgment

Federal regulations do not allow Professional Judgment adjustments for circumstances such as:

  • Routine debt or expenses, e.g. mortgage/rent, utilities, credit cards, car payments, etc.
  • Components already factored into the Cost of Attendance
  • Cost of living adjustments based solely on a student’s location
  • Lifestyle expenses
  • Voluntary reduction of income
  • Parent refusal to contribute to educational costs and/or student self-sufficiency
  • Temporary or expected fluctuations already reflected on the FAFSA

How to Request a Professional Judgment Review

  1. Submit your FAFSA for the applicable award year.
  2. Contact the Financial Aid Office to request a Professional Judgment review. The Office of Financial Aid can be reached via email at FinancialAid@ColumbiaSouthern.edu or by phone at 877-316-8396.
  3. Documentation will be populated for you in the MyCSU portal. Complete and submit the Professional Judgment Request Form.
  4. Provide required documentation supporting your situation. If you need additional space in the MyCSU portal to upload documentation, please notify the Office of Financial Aid.
  5. Await review and notification of the decision. You will be notified when your request is submitted for review and notified of any decision/adjustment within 14 days from the date of submission.

***Requests are reviewed only once all required information is received.

Documentation Requirements

Documentation varies by circumstance but may include:

  • Signed personal statement explaining the situation
  • Tax returns or wage statements
  • Termination or unemployment documentation
  • Medical bills or insurance statements
  • Legal documents (e.g., divorce decree)
  • Third party statements (when appropriate)

The Office of Financial Aid will communicate with you about required documentation. Additional documentation may be requested to clarify or verify information. Please watch your emails closely for requests for additional information.

Important Reminders

  • Professional Judgment decisions are final for the award year reviewed
  • Reviews are conducted in accordance with federal regulations
  • Not all requests result in changes to financial aid eligibility
  • Appeals must be based on new or additional documentation

Need Help or Have Questions?

Our Financial Aid team is here to help you understand the process and what may be considered.

Contact Financial Aid:

Accessibility & Equity Statement

Our institution is committed to reviewing Professional Judgment requests fairly, consistently, and with care. All requests are evaluated individually, and staff are trained to support students navigating complex personal or financial situations.

Professional Judgment reviews are conducted in accordance with the Higher Education Act and applicable federal regulations. Decisions are made by authorized financial aid administrators on a case by case basis and apply only to the award year reviewed.