Appeals

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.

  1. Indicate if your appeal is for the summer or academic year.
  2. Explain what happened: Why were you unable to maintain satisfactory academic progress? Be as detailed as possible and address each term in which you had difficulties; it may be helpful to reference your transcript while explaining each term’s circumstances.
  3. 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.

  1. Access the secure contact form.
  2. Log in using your IU username and passphrase.
  3. Select Satisfactory Academic Progress in the Topic field.
  4. Provide your appeal statement either in the Comments section or attached as a separate file.
  5. Attach any supporting documentation.
    1. 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.

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 and have been for at least 10 consecutive weeks
  • 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

We are not likely to consider appeals for the following reasons:

  • Private school tuition
  • Debt such as mortgages, consumer debt, or bankruptcy

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.

Dependent students

File a dependent student cost of attendance appeal.

Independent students

File an independent student cost of attendance appeal.

Dependency appeal

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 Expected Family Contribution 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 must use the IRS data retrieval tool to import your tax information directly into the FAFSA.

If you’re unable to use the IRS data retrieval tool, you must provide a copy of your federal tax return transcript. (Please be sure to request a tax return transcript, not a tax account transcript.)

If you did not file taxes, you must submit an IRS Verification of Nonfiling Letter.

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, you’ll need to confirm each year that you still meet the conditions for being an independent student. You’ll 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.

Learn more about managing your financial aid

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