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Eligibility Reconsideration

NC State University understands that students and their families may at times experience unique situations and, as much as possible, the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid is here to help. Under certain circumstances, and with appropriate documentation, our staff can evaluate your unique situation to determine if adjustments to your FAFSA are possible. There are two categories of unique situations: special and unusual circumstances.

Special Circumstances

Special circumstances are financial situations that support a change to the cost of attendance or Student Aid Index (SAI). Examples include:

  • Loss or change of employment status, income or assets
  • Divorce/separation or death of a parent/spouse
  • Disability
  • Unusually high medical or disability-related expenses not covered by insurance
  • Child care expenses
  • Other changes or adjustments that impact the student’s cost or ability to pay for college

Unusual Circumstances

Unusual circumstances are conditions that support a change to a student’s dependency status based on a unique situation. Examples include:

  • Parental abandonment, estrangement, or parental incarceration
  • Abusive or threatening home environment
  • Human trafficking
  • Other extenuating circumstances that prevent a student from contacting living parents.

Please note that unusual circumstances do not include:

  • Parents refusal to contribute to student’s education
  • Parents refusal to provide information for the FAFSA or verification
  • Parents do not claim the student for income tax purposes, or that the student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.

Note: The reconsideration process requires the collection of documentation to confirm the accuracy of financial information initially reported on the FAFSA and support the unique situation experienced. The reconsideration process generally takes 3-4 weeks and does not guarantee an adjustment to the financial aid offer. If you would like to discuss your unique situation with a member of our team, please contact us at financialaid@ncsu.edu.