Financial Aid Office
Professional Judgement
Understanding Professional Judgement (PJ)
St. Cloud State University recognizes that changes may be experienced in the financial situation of a household. While the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) determines financial aid eligibility based on data from two years prior, the Professional Judgment process exists to re-evaluate a student’s aid based on certain significant changes.
Federal regulations allow limited exceptions or adjustments to information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Such exceptions or adjustments, known as “Special Circumstances” or “Unusual Circumstances”, are considered on a case-by-case basis based on supporting documentation of your circumstances. Whether any adjustments are made is at the sole discretion of the Financial Aid Office, and cannot be appealed beyond the Financial Aid Office.
If you believe you fall into one of these situations, or something similar, please reach out to the Financial Aid Office for more information on the process.
Special Circumstances
Special Circumstances refer to the financial situations (loss of a job, etc.) that justify an aid administrator adjusting data elements in the Estimated Family Contribution calculation.
Examples:
- Changes to family income, assets, etc., greater than 20%
- Recent unemployment
- Dislocated worker
- Housing changes due to homelessness
Unusual Circumstances
Unusual Circumstances refer to the conditions that justify an aid administrator making an adjustment to a student’s dependency status based on a unique situation.
Examples:
- Human trafficking
- Refugee or asylee status
- Parental abandonment, incarceration, etc.
- Contact with parents poses risks
Cost of Attendance Adjustments
We may be able to increase your budget—and your financial aid eligibility—if you incur expenses during the academic year that are higher than your standard financial aid budget. This is called a Cost of Attendance (COA) Adjustment.
Examples often considered for COA Adjustment include:
- The cost of purchasing a computer.
- The cost of special books, supplies, course materials, and equipment.
- The cost of obtaining a license, certification, or first professional credential.
- The cost of childcare expenses.
- The cost of uninsured medical, dental, or optical expenses.
- The cost of transportation.
If you believe you fall into one of these situations, or something similar, please reach out to the Financial Aid Office for more information on the process.