Request for Re-Evaluation
Sacred Heart University is committed to providing students with the best possible financial assistance award, based on institutional policies, federal and state funding and the availability of University resources. We recognize that students may experience special circumstances that impact their financial situation. In such cases, students may submit an appeal for a re-evaluation of their financial aid eligibility.
Federal regulations and university policies require that these special circumstances fall within specific parameters and be supported by thorough documentation. Each appeal is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please note that Sacred Heart University does not negotiate financial aid offers and will not consider appeals based solely on disagreement with financial aid policies.
To ensure your appeal receives a complete and timely review by Student Financial Assistance, please follow all provided instructions carefully.
Re-Evaluation Options
Student Financial Assistance understands that there may be special circumstances not indicated on the FAFSA that can have an impact on a family in many different ways.
In some cases, circumstances may arise after you have submitted your FAFSA that could significantly impact your financial situation. If these changes meet specific federal and institutional criteria, Student Financial Assistance (SFA) may be able to make adjustments to your FAFSA on your behalf through a process known as Professional Judgment. Before submitting a re-evaluation request, please review the qualifying circumstances below to determine your eligibility.
- Divorce or separation
- Loss of income due to involuntary loss of employment
- Loss of income due to illness or disability
- Major repairs after a natural disaster
- Death of a parent or spouse
- High medical costs not covered by insurance
Please note high mortgage costs, credit card/consumer debt, and other discretionary expenses will not be considered in our re-evaluation of financial aid eligibility.
Download the form below if the reason for your appeal meets the aforementioned criteria for special circumstances.
2026-2027 Re Evaluation Request Special Circumstances/Professional Judgment
2025-2026 Re Evaluation Request Special Circumstances/Professional Judgment
Unmarried students who are under the age of 24 are required to provide parental data on the FAFSA. They are referred to as dependent students. However, dependent students with “unusual and unavoidable circumstances,” may appeal to the Office of Student Financial Assistance for a dependency override. A dependency override would allow the student to be considered an independent student (for financial aid purposes only) and exempt the student from providing parental data on his/her FAFSA.
Review your eligibility to submit a Dependency Override Request based on the unusual/personal circumstances below:
- Dysfunctional family situation
- Custodial Parent has passed away and you do not have any contact with the other birth/adoptive parent
- Your court appointed legal guardian is not your birth/adoptive parent
- Under 24 and divorced with no dependents
Please note, according to the U.S. Department of Education regulation HEA Sec 480(d) (7) the following circumstances do not qualify:
- Parents refuse to contribute to the student’s education.
- Parents are unwilling to provide information on the application or for verification.
- Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.
Download the form below if the reason for your appeal meets the aforementioned criteria for unusual circumstances.
Sacred Heart University understands that students may receive varying financial aid packages from other institutions; however, we do not negotiate financial assistance offers and will not consider appeals based solely on disagreement with our financial aid policies. While we do not match financial aid packages from other schools, the University is willing to review aid offers from comparable institutions as part of a merit appeal for incoming students. This process allows us to re-evaluate a student’s eligibility for additional institutional aid based on academic achievement and other relevant factors.
If you are an incoming student to Sacred Heart University, you may download and submit the form below to request a merit-based re-evaluation of your financial aid package.
Filing the Appeal
Step 1
Reach out to your counselor in Student Financial Assistance to discuss your situation and determine which appeal best suits your needs.
Step 2
Submit the appropriate appeal form and all required documentation to Student Financial Assistance.
Returning Upperclassmen: You may be asked to submit the CSS Profile when requesting a re-evaluation for additional institutional aid.
Step 3
All submitted documentation becomes the property of Student Financial Assistance and will not be returned. Photocopies are accepted, but you may be asked to provide original documentation at a later time.
Awaiting the Decision
We ask that you please be patient while awaiting the outcome of your appeal as it is our goal to conduct a thorough review of each appeal that is submitted for consideration. Once a decision has been made you will be notified via email and SHUAwards. No changes will be made to the financial aid package until all applicable documents are received and verification of the original application has been completed.
Submission of a request for re-evaluation neither guarantees an adjustment to a student's award, nor prevents the accrual of late fees on any unpaid student account balance. You are responsible for payment of your Sacred Heart University bill while the appeal is pending. Proceed with loan applications in the interim; we can always reduce the amount of the loan you are borrowing if your appeal is approved.
All financial aid awards are, by nature, personal and highly confidential. It is not only inappropriate, but against Sacred Heart University policies to discuss or disclose your financial aid award with others or through the use of social media. By filing an appeal, and signing the certification on either form, you are hereby agreeing to these guidelines.