How to appeal a decision that affects your financial aid
There are several reasons you might want to file an appeal:
If you’ve had a big change in income since you filed your FAFSA
If you can document expenses greater than your estimated cost of attendance
If you’re classified as a dependent on your FAFSA but you feel you should be classified as independent
If we determine you are not making satisfactory academic progress
If you are seeking financial aid while taking preparatory coursework to gain admission to an IU Bloomington graduate program
If you choose to file an appeal for any of these reasons, please do so at least 30 days before the end of the term. You should receive a decision within 15 business days after you submit your appeal, though it may take longer during busy times of the year.
*Please note that appeals can no longer be processed after the term has ended or if you withdraw from the term.
Each type of appeal requires a different form. Read the form carefully and be sure to submit all signatures, explanations, and documentation required. You may submit forms in person at Student Central or scan and upload your documentation through our secure contact form.
Learn more about each type of appeal on this page.
Academic progress appeal
At least once a year, we will determine if you are making satisfactory academic progress (SAP) based on whether you are meeting specific requirements. If it is determined that you have not made SAP, you can appeal. Check out this video and the steps below to understand the appeal process.
Description of the video:
[Upbeat music plays.]
[Video: The IU logo appears at the top of a red screen.]
[Words appear: The Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal process.]
[Video: The words and logo slide off screen. A graphics of a stack of papers with an A plus written on it appears.]
Narrator: Each year, IU reviews your grades.
[Video: The graphic moves left, and the words Satisfactory Academic Progress SAP appear to the right.]
Narrator: To keep your financial aid, you must make Satisfactory Academic Progress, or SAP.
[Video: The words and graphic fall off the screen. A graphic of dollar bills appears, then a circle with a diagonal line through it floats onto the screen and on top of the dollar bills.]
Narrator: If you're not meeting SAP, your aid may be canceled—but you have the chance to appeal.
[Video: The graphic dissolves. The words Here’s how the appeal process works appear.]
Narrator: Here's how the appeal process works.
[Video: The words slide off screen. A graphic of a laptop computer appears, with the Student Central contact form showing on the screen.]
Narrator: Use Student Central's secure contact form to tell us why you were unable to meet SAP and what will change to enable your success.
[Video: The laptop graphic moves left, and words appear to the right that read appeals should be submitted as early in the semester as possible.]
Narrator: Be sure to select the Satisfactory Academic Progress topic when submitting your appeal.
[Video: The graphic and words slide off screen. A graphic of a calendar appears, with fifteen of the date squares marked red. The words ten to fifteen days appear to the right of the graphic.]
Narrator: We will review your appeal in ten to fifteen business days.
[Video: The words and graphic slide off screen. A green dot with a check mark slide onto the screen. The words you will receive a contract and requirements slide under the graphic.]
Narrator: If your appeal is approved, you will receive a contract and requirements.
[Video: The words and graphic slide off screen. A red dot with an x slide onto the screen. The words you can re-appeal with new information slide under the graphic.]
Narrator: If your appeal is denied, you will have the option to re-appeal with new information.
[Video: The words and graphic slide off screen.]
[Words appear: Learn more about how to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress at go dot I u dot e d u slash s a p.]
Narrator: Learn more about how to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress at go dot I u dot e d u slash S A P.
[Video: The words slide off screen. The IU logo appears with the words Indiana University below, then a website address of student central dot Indiana dot e d u.]
[End of transcript.]
Indicate if your appeal is for the summer or academic year.
Explain what happened: Why were you unable to maintain satisfactory academic progress? Be as detailed as possible and address any extenuating circumstances that occurred during each term in which you had difficulties; it may be helpful to reference your transcript while explaining each term’s circumstances. Extenuating circumstances may include: illness/hospitalization, death of a family member, or other circumstances beyond the student's control.
Explain what has changed: What has changed or what will you do differently to achieve and maintain satisfactory academic progress? Be as detailed as possible and address any particular courses or situations that have been problematic for you and your strategies for success.
Include any documentation that helps illustrate the difficulties you encountered or your strategies for success. Documentation may include, but is not limited to:
Medical files
Statements from medical professionals
Death certificates or obituaries for family members
Statements from third parties who are aware of mitigating circumstances
Select Satisfactory Academic Progress in the Topic field.
Provide your appeal statement either in the Comments section or attached as a separate file.
Attach any supporting documentation.
Please submit all documentation at least one week prior to the end of the semester for which you are appealing. Appeals submitted during the last week of the semester are not guaranteed to be processed.
If your appeal is approved, you will be placed on a contract that will specify the academic expectations for that semester.
If you have a low GPA, you will be given a target semester GPA.
If you have a completion rate contract, you will need to complete either 75% or 100% of the coursework you attempt that semester.
If you have Too Many Credit Hours, you will have to adhere to the courses listed on your academic plan for that semester.
Your final grades will be reviewed at the end of the semester to determine if you met the terms of the contract.
Change in income appeal
If you’ve faced financial hardship since you filed your FAFSA, you or your parents may be able to submit a change in income appeal. Note that filing an appeal will not necessarily result in an increase in aid. Contact Student Central to discuss your appeal options or to request a change of income appeal form.
You can file an appeal if any of the following apply to you:
You are unemployed
You had a loss of untaxed income that was reported on the FAFSA
You had a loss of unemployment benefits that were reported to the IRS
You became divorced, separated, or widowed since filing the FAFSA
You incurred and paid out-of-pocket medical or dental expenses that exceeded 11 percent of your income protected allowance (IPA)
You had an unexpected and uncontrollable circumstance (for example, damage from a natural disaster) that caused you to take an early distribution from a retirement fund, reported to the IRS
You lost your home and/or vehicle due to a natural disaster
You can file an appeal if any of the following apply to you:
You had a decrease in income
You had a loss of untaxed income that was reported on the FAFSA
You had a loss of unemployment benefits that were reported to the IRS
You are an independent student who became divorced, separated, or widowed since filing your FAFSA
Consortium appeal
If you’re a degree-seeking student at IU Bloomington and would like to receive aid while enrolled at another IU campus, you’ll need to file a consortium appeal.
Cost of attendance appeal
You may be eligible for additional financial aid if you can show expenses greater than your estimated cost of attendance.
All students can file an appeal for additional direct educational expenses, including:
If you’re classified as a dependent on your FAFSA but feel there are reasons you should be considered independent instead, you can file a dependency appeal. (Note that a parent’s inability or unwillingness to pay IU costs is not considered a reason for us to reclassify you as independent.) If you’re reclassified as independent, parental information will be removed from your Student Aid Index calculation.
To be considered for reclassification, you must show that your student-parent relationship is beyond repair or that there is an extenuating circumstance that shows you should be classified as an independent student. You must submit the following documentation:
This letter must explain:
If you received money from either of your parents in the past year, and if so, how much
The last date that you lived with either parent
Why you want to be considered independent, including dates and descriptions of specific incidents that led you to consider yourself independent
What funds, other than financial aid, that you used to support yourself in the last year
This letter can be from a professional such as a high school counselor, therapist, minister, rabbi, social worker, or other professional. The letter must include:
Confirmation of the breakdown or extenuating circumstances in your family
An explanation of their relationship to you and your parents
Their understanding of your family circumstance
This letter should explain why they believe you should be considered independent, including dates and descriptions of specific incidents.
You should submit any other supporting documents, such as police reports or court orders.
You can mail your documentation or bring it in person to Student Central, or use our secure contact form to submit your documentation. Select “Appeals” under “Financial Aid” as the topic of your message.
Previous dependency appeals
If you’re reclassified as independent, and your status continues to be unchanged in the following academic year, you may not be required to reconfirm that you meet the conditions for being an independent student. If additional information is required to verify your status has not changed, you will receive an email in advance of the next academic year with instructions for confirming your ongoing independent status.
You should submit your FAFSA online by April 15, without including parent information. If we determine that you’re still independent, we’ll make sure your FAFSA correctly reflects your classification.
Preparatory coursework appeal
If you have received a bachelor’s degree and are taking preparatory coursework to gain admission to an IU Bloomington graduate program, you may be eligible for financial aid. You and the graduate program you wish to enter must fill out a preparatory coursework appeal to affirm that you will be admitted to the program once your coursework is successfully completed.
Federal Student Aid Estimator
Not sure if an appeal is the right course of action for your situation? You can use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to estimate what federal student aid you might be eligible for based on your specific situation.
The estimator uses the answers from the questions to determine your expected family contribution which is what determines your eligibility for federal aid. That information will help you determine if filing an appeal will be beneficial to your financial aid eligibility. Keep in mind that this is only an estimate and not an actual determination of your federal student aid eligibility.
