Financial Aid eligibility is determined by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships recognizes that an individual's or family's financial situation can experience significant changes in income or other finances reported on the FAFSA that changes their ability to meet their educational costs. FGCU makes every effort to work with students and families to discuss and evaluate changes in a family’s financial circumstances through the Professional Judgement process.
Eligible Circumstances
Significant changes in your family's financial situation may merit recalculating your financial aid eligibility. If you have questions about whether a particular situation may apply, please contact us.Circumstances we typically consider:
Loss of employment/Reduction of income
Retirement
Loss/Reduction of untaxed income
Separation/Divorce
Death of a parent or spouse
One-Time taxable income distribution
Unreimbursed medical expenses
Natural Disasters
Circumstances we do not consider:
Refusal of a parent to provide financial support
High cost of personal living
Bankruptcy
Credit card/other personal debts
Bonuses, lottery or gambling winnings
Reductions in overtime pay
If your Student Aid Index (SAI) is equal to 0 or a negative number, you are automatically qualified for the maximum in federal aid programs. There are no modifications we can make to your FAFSA that would change your eligibility for additional federal aid. You can find your SAI via your FAFSA Submission Summary which can be accessed by following these steps.
Due to the fluctuating nature of self-employment, sales-based, and commission based pay it can be difficult to accurately estimate what your income will be for the current year. We reserve the right to delay review, until the end of the calendar year, for any appeal where reasonable projections cannot be made. Any aid eligibility changes, however, could apply back to the beginning of the fall term.
To process a request for review, the student must:
- Have the current academic year's FAFSA on file
- Be accepted for Admission and/or a continuing degree seeking student
- Complete the Verification process (if selected)
- Be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards
The Change in Circumstances Appeal will be submitted electronically and requires formal documentation. You can begin the appeal process by selecting the appropriate link below:
Change in Circumstances Appeal (Dependent Student)
Change in Circumstances Appeal (Independent Student)
The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships will review the documentation provided and determine if there can be a recalculation of your original Student Aid Index (SAI). If your request is approved, the information on the FAFSA will be updated and the SAI recalculated. The student’s financial aid award(s) may be adjusted if additional eligibility is determined.
Possible Outcomes:
- No change
- Reduced SAI but no change in financial aid offer
- Reduced SAI and adjustments made to federal loans
- Reduced SAI and adjustments made to gift/grant aid
Please note that submitting an appeal does not guarantee that you will be eligible to receive additional financial aid. While we understand that changes to your financial situation can have an impact on day-to-day expenses, it often may not change your eligibility for federal, state or institutional aid opportunities.
2025-2026 Change in Circumstances Appeal available April 1st
A financial aid advisor will review the documents you submit. If additional documentation is needed, we will notify the student via their Eagle email account. If the additional documents are not received within 30 days, the appeal will be denied.
The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will notify the student of the decision via their Eagle email account. If changes are made to the financial aid offer, the student can view these changes in their Gulfline student portal.
We ask for your patience and understanding while we give your submission our utmost attention during the review process. Please allow approximately three weeks after all documentation are received for a decision to be made. To prevent processing delays, be thorough in answering all questions on the form and provide all required documentation.
| Term | Date |
|---|---|
| Fall | November 15th |
| Spring | March 15th |
| Summer (for new incoming students only) | July 15th |
Who Can I Talk To?
Everyone in the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships is dedicated to helping you and your family navigate the financial aid process. Please contact us to discuss the special circumstances process or any other financial aid questions you may have.
