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.

We cannot consider appeals for the follow reasons:

  • 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 2021-2022 FAFSA has died. Contact our office and provide the date of death and both parents' 2019 W-2 forms.

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 2021-2022 FAFSA has died. Contact our office and provide the date of death and 2019 W-2 forms for both the student and spouse.

 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. If you are commuting to campus 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. 
  • 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, complete the Health PDF icon Health Insurance Premium form.
  • 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:

  • 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.