The Department of Education gives financial aid administrators the ability to consider a family's special circumstances in determining a student's financial need. Special circumstances may have occurred since you filed the FAFSA or they might be circumstances that were not accounted for on the FASFA. All special circumstance requests are reviewed in accordance with guidance from the Department of Education and Lawrence University policy. Changes in financial aid packages are based on the availabilty of funds.
Below is a list of special circumstances that typically qualify a student to submit the Lawrence University Special Circumstances Form. When completing the form, it is important to provide specific dollar amounts as well as a detailed explanation of the circumstances. Supporting documenation is required for all special circumstance requests.
- Reduction in parent income
- One-time income
- Reduction in child support
- High medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance, HSA, FSA, or HRAs
- Elementary or secondary school tuition expenses
- Parent enrolled at least half-time in an eligible degree program
- Death, divorce, or separation
- Elderly care expenses
- Child care costs
- Additional costs incurred as a result of a student's disability
Below is a list of circumstances that are not eligible for consideration.
- Costs associated with life-style choices such as mortgage payments, car payments, vacations, etc
- Consumer indebtedness, including credit card debt
- Parent unwilling to contribute to the student's education
- Weddings
- Requests to convert loans or student employment funds into additional grant or scholarship funds
- Changes in seasonal employment
- Yearly fluctuations in income (due to changes in overtime, bonuses, etc.)
