Changes in Financial Circumstances or Expenses

If there was a significant change from the information on the FAFSA or you have experienced additional expenses, we may be able to reevaluate your financial aid. The University of Iowa does not negotiate financial aid or match offers from other schools. Below are the circumstances that are eligible for review.

Change in Income Appeal

If you, your parent(s)/guardian(s), or spouse have faced financial hardship since you filed your FAFSA, you may be able to submit a Change in Income Appeal.

Complete this online form to tell us more about your circumstances and our office will follow up with more information. Submissions of this form does not guarantee an increase or adjustment to financial aid and additional documentation will be required before an adjustment can be made.

The following additional expenses are rarely able to be considered:

  • Private school tuition
  • Debt such as mortgages, consumer debt, bankruptcy, or parent's student loans

Other Circumstances

The following are situations that we will consider for dependent students (required to provide parental information on the FAFSA):

  • Parent Divorce or Separation: If your parents whose information was provided on the FAFSA have gotten divorced or separated since the FAFSA was filed, contact our office.
     
  • Death of a Parent: A parent whose income was used on the 2023-2024 FAFSA has died. Contact our office and provide the date of death and both parents' 2021 W-2 forms.
     
  • Childcare Expenses: A parent has unreimbursed childcare expenses in 2021 and those expenses will continue in 2023. Contact our office about this option.
     
  • Medical Expenses: If your parents paid over $2,000 in medical expenses in 2021 that were not covered by insurance, we may be able to adjust your FAFSA. Please complete this online form to tell us more about your circumstances and our office will follow up with more information. Submissions of this form does not guarantee an increase or adjustment to financial aid and additional documentation will be required before an adjustment can be made.
     
  • Unemployment in 2021: If your parent received unemployment benefits in 2021 that were included in the income on the FAFSA, contact our office.

The following are situations that we will consider for independent students (not required to provide parental information on the FAFSA):

  • Student Divorce or Separation: If you have gotten divorced or separated since the FAFSA was filed, contact our office. 
     
  • Death of a Spouse: The student's spouse whose income was provided on the 2023-2024 FAFSA has died. Contact our office and provide the date of death and 2021 W-2 forms for both the student and spouse.
     
  • Unemployment in 2021: If you received unemployment benefits in 2021 that were included in the income on the FAFSA, contact our office.

 Appeal for Additional Expenses

You may be eligible for additional financial aid if you can show expenses greater than your estimated cost of attendance. These adjustments can cause an increase in your cost of attendance which often results in additional loan eligibility (typically the PLUS loan). Below are adjustments we can consider for all students:

  • Computer Purchase: You are allowed one computer adjustment as an undergraduate and one computer adjustment as a graduate or professional student. Contact our office about this option.
     
  • Additional Books and Supplies for Required Coursework: Books and supplies have already been included in your cost of attendance. Additional books and supplies can be considered if the total exceeds the amount already in your cost of attendance. Submit proof of purchase and a signed statement from the professor or a syllabus indicating the expenses are required.
     
  • Additional Course Fees: Course fees that aren’t already included in your cost of attendance can be considered. Typically, we will only increase cost of attendance for fees of $100 or more. Contact us about this option.
     
  • Transportation Adjustment: Transportation has already been included in your cost of attendance. However, if you are commuting to campus, between residences, and/or places of work and live more than 30 miles away, or have other education-related transportation expenses, an additional amount for transportation can be considered. Contact us about this option.
     
  • Trip Home: You may increase your cost for transportation for trips from home to campus if your cost exceeds the standard amount already included in your cost of attendance. Contact us about this option.
     
  • Health Insurance Premiums: If you are not covered by your parent's health insurance plan and have other health insurance that you are paying for. Contact us about this option.
     
  • Professional Conference Expenses: Expenses to attend a professional conference can be considered if the conference is related to your education. Submit relevant receipts and a signed statement from a professor stating that the conference is related to your education.

For independent students (not required to report parental information on the FAFSA), we can also consider:

  • Childcare Expenses: Your financial aid (often loans) my be able to be increased to help cover childcare expenses. Contact us about this option.
     
  • Dependent Child Expenses: If you have dependent children and fall below a certain income threshold, we may be able to add costs for their food and housing. Contact our office about this option.