If your financial situation has changed since you filed your 2021 tax return or your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) no longer reflects your current circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for additional need-based financial aid using a process known as Professional Judgment.

Professional Judgment refers to New York Institute of Technology's authority to make adjustments, on a case-by-case basis, to information reported on the FAFSA so that the Department of Education can recalculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is what New York Tech uses to determine if a student is eligible for need-based financial aid.

Please note that a request for consideration of a special/unusual circumstance does not guarantee approval. In addition, even if approved, a recalculation of FAFSA data does not always result in increased aid eligibility for the student.

The Professional Judgment process is extensive and requires a thorough review by the Office of Financial Aid to determine what, if any changes, may be appropriate based on your FAFSA.

Special/unusual circumstances include (but are not limited to):

• Loss/change of employment
• Death of a parent/spouse
• Divorce/separation
• Dependent student marries after the FAFSA was filed
• Declared state of emergency/natural disaster (COVID-19, tornadoes, etc.)
• Unusually high medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance
• Unusually high childcare or dependent care expenses

Situations that are not considered special circumstances:

• Vacation expenses
• Tithing expenses
• Standard living expenses (e.g., utilities, credit card expenses, children's allowances, etc.)
• Mortgage payments
• Car payments
• Credit card or other personal debt problems

How to Submit Requests for Re-evaluation

If you believe you qualify for Professional Judgment, please submit the appropriate Request for Re-evaluation Form for a Dependent or Independent Student.

The application and supporting documents will be reviewed to determine if all required documentation has been submitted. If additional documentation is required, the student will be notified.

The Office of Financial Aid will determine if a student's Professional Judgment request meets the criteria to make FAFSA adjustments.

• If approved, appropriate changes will be made to the student's FAFSA and submitted to the Department of Education. The Department of Education will then recalculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and the student's eligibility for need-based aid. The student will receive a revised Financial Assistance Plan.
• If denied, the student will be notified by email.

The Office of Financial Aid reserves the right to deny any appeals that would not increase a student's eligibility for aid. Its decision is final and cannot be appealed to the Department of Education.

The Professional Judgment process is not for New York State Higher Education Services Corporation Tuition Assistance Program (NYS HESC TAP) grants. Please contact NYS directly at hesc.ny.gov or by scheduling a call with a HESC representative if you have special circumstances or considerations.

How to Appeal Your Dependency Status

Your dependency status is determined by the Department of Education when you complete the FAFSA. If you are considered "dependent," your financial aid eligibility is based on your and your parents' income and assets. Under very limited circumstances you may be able to appeal your dependent status.

Unusual/special circumstances may include (but are not limited to):

• Abusive home environment
• Abandonment
• Student is homeless
• Student is unaccompanied
• Parent death after FAFSA was completed

The following situations do not, by themselves, qualify as unusual circumstances in order to grant an appeal:

• Parents refuse to contribute to the student's education
• Parents are unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA or for verification
• Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes
• Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency
• Student and parents "don't get along"
• Student is a single parent or pregnant

Questions? Contact Us

If you believe you qualify for a Dependency Status Appeal, please contact the Financial Aid office at finaid@nyit.edu or 516.686.7680 to speak with an advisor.