Please Note: The 2024-2025 Changes in Financial Circumstances or Expenses survey and appeal form will become available in March 2024. 

The University of Iowa Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) recognizes that families can experience changes or have additional expenses that are not reflected on the FAFSA.  This could affect the family's ability to contribute to the student's college education and/or could increase the student's estimated cost of attendance.

The U.S. Department of Education regulations allow financial aid offices to determine which circumstances warrant further review. To ensure fairness and compliance with the federal financial aid regulations, special and/or unusual circumstances can be considered on a case-by-case basis and there are limits as to what can be considered.

The situations below, while not all-inclusive, indicate what types of circumstances we can consider after FAFSA is filed.

  • financial hardship or change in income
  • parent or independent student divorce or separation
  • death of a parent (for dependent students)
  • death of a spouse (for independent students)
  • childcare expenses
  • medical expenses
  • unemployment
  • additional expenses related to cost of attendance

The situations below, while not all-inclusive, indicate what types of circumstances we cannot consider.

  • high consumer debt, including credit cards
  • home mortgage expenses
  • car payments
  • private school expenses (including tuition)
  • changes in seasonal employment
  • parent in college