Special circumstances refer to financial situations not represented on the FAFSA that justify an aid administrator making adjustments to the data elements of the FAFSA calculation that will impact the Student Aid Index (SAI).
Unusual circumstances are those that justify an aid administrator making an adjustment to a student’s dependency status.
Cost of attendance adjustments can be applied when the standard cost of attendance does not represent the educational expenses being incurred by the student or family.
Graduate students are only eligible to file an appeal for a cost of attendance adjustment.