Financial Aid Appeals

When completing a FAFSA application, income information is requested from two years prior. Sometimes a family's financial situation has changed substantially from the tax year being considered on the FAFSA application. Other times, a unique circumstance exists and a student, while considered a dependent student on the FAFSA, may actually be an independent student. There are processes to appeal your FAFSA information.

Income Adjustment Appeal

The Office of Financial Aid at Rowan University recognizes that situations occur which may affect a student’s eligibility for federal need-based financial aid. Through the use of professional judgment, financial aid administrators have the authority to make adjustments on a case-by-case basis to a student’s FAFSA provided that supporting documentation has been submitted to our office. Some examples of situations which may qualify for an adjustment include: loss or reduction in income; private secondary education tuition payments; unemployment; disability.

Dependency Status Appeal

The federal student aid programs are based on the concept that it is primarily your and your family’s responsibility to pay for your education. And because a dependent student is assumed to have the support of parents, the parents’ information has to be assessed along with the student’s, in order to get a full picture of the family’s financial strength. If you're a dependent student, it doesn't mean your parents are required to pay anything toward your education; this is just a way of looking at everyone in a consistent manner.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

In order to receive financial aid, students must meet the minimum standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid purposes are different from the academic requirements of the University.

Did you complete a FERPA?

The FERPA Act of 1974 protects the privacy of individual students by placing restrictions on the disclosure of information. The FERPA Waiver Form (when completed and submitted by the enrolled student) gives Rowan University written permission to release/share information with parents. If you wish to give us permission to share details of your financial aid account with a parent, you must submit a FERPA Waiver directly to the Registrars's Office.