Request for Financial Aid Review

The Office of Student Financial Aid recognizes that the Financial Aid process does not always reflect the unique circumstances of each family. As a result, we offer you the ability to provide us with this information. Students seeking a request for review must schedule a meeting with a financial aid representative through SSC. 

SSC

A Request for Financial Aid Award Review will be taken into consideration under the following special circumstances:

  • Loss/reduction of work income (at least four weeks).
  • Loss of employment or loss of untaxed income or benefit
  • Household has unusually high un-reimbursed paid medical and/or dental expenses
  • Legal separation or divorce since submitting your financial aid application
  • Death of parent after filing your financial aid application
  • Any information or changes affecting the family's financial situation

A committee within the Office of Student Financial Aid will review your request. Decisions are based on the documentation provided and the guidelines established by Stetson University and federal/state regulations. All decisions of the committee are final. 

Your request will not be reviewed until we receive all of the required documentation. Please note that no additional institutional need-based aid will be considered if the student has not accepted need-based self-help (i.e. Federal Direct Subsidized Student Loan). 

After submission, allow up to ten business days for our office to review and evaluate your request. Any additional document requests may delay the decision process. 

A request for financial aid review may be requested at any time resulting from a change in family circumstances.

Dependency Override

The Office of Student Financial Aid recognizes that family circumstances can change and in certain circumstances, students may have unique circumstances with their parent(s). Please watch this video before submitting your dependency override application which contains information about the ability or inability to provide parental information on your FAFSA. 

Dependent students with unusual circumstances may appeal to the Office of Financial Aid 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.

Dependency Override Policy

The Office of Student Financial Aid may consider a dependency override for otherwise dependent students with unusual and documentable circumstances. Conditions that qualify for a dependency override include students who cannot rely on parental support from either parent because each parent meets one of the following criteria:

  • Parent is deceased.
  • Parent is incarcerated.
  • Unusual parental circumstances (e.g., parent’s whereabouts are unknown, abusive family environment, abandonment by parent, etc.).

Conditions that do not qualify for a dependency override include:

  • Parents refuse to contribute to the student’s education.
  • Parents' unwillingness to provide information on the FAFSA or for FAFSA verification (however, please discuss this with a member of the Financial Aid team!)
  • Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
  • Student demonstrates total financial self-sufficiency.

Dependency Override Process

Students must complete and return the Dependency Override Certification application or Dependency Override Re-certification application. Applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and all information will be kept confidential. The submission of an appeal does not guarantee appeal approval.Upon receipt of a Dependency Override Certification or Re-certification application and supporting documentation, the Office of Student Financial Aid will review the student’s circumstances and documentation. Beginning in 2024-2025, students with unusual circumstances that have an approved dependency override appeal will be deemed an independent student for the remainder of their undergraduate studies at Stetson University. Please note that Stetson’s decision to approve a dependency override does not transfer nor carry over to any other institution.The Office of Student Financial Aid Dependency Override Committee will notify students via their Stetson University e-mail account regarding the results of the review. All committee decisions are final. Students who have their appeal approved will be required to complete the FAFSA verification process, and additional documentation may be requested.

Supporting Documentation

Students are required to submit supporting documentation with their appeal. The supporting documentation will vary depending on the student’s unusual circumstances. Students must provide documentation for each parent, as applicable.

Questions?

If you have questions about your particular circumstances, please make an appointment via SSC.

Form

If you meet the qualifications in the video and listed on this page, you may complete the Dependency Override Application.