Financial Aid Appeals

There are a variety of financial aid appeals you may wish to submit based on varying circumstances. Below you can find descriptions of different appeal processes, forms and contact information. All appeals are reviewed by our appeals committee in the Office of Financial Aid on a case-by-case basis.

FAFSA Income Appeals

The purpose of a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Income Appeal is to review special circumstances not reflected on a student’s current FAFSA. Our appeals committee may elect to adjust the data reported on the FAFSA which may trigger a re-calculation of the FAFSA EFC (expected family contribution) index number. Effective for 2024-25 the FAFSA EFC is changing to SAI (Student Aid Index). At Regis University, our appeals committee reviews all appeals submitted on a case-by-case basis, and utilizing our professional judgment, we determine if any changes should be made.

Submitting an appeal does not guarantee that we will make changes to the FAFSA and any changes made do not guarantee that you will qualify for additional aid. If changes are made which adjust the EFC, we will review our awarding policy and determine if the new EFC number generates additional aid eligibility.

Federal regulations prohibit our office from modifying the formula or the tables used in the FAFSA EFC calculation. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Education has determined that “unreasonable” judgments include the reduction of EFC based on costs such as vacation expenses, tithing expenses and standard living expenses such as housing, utilities, car payments, credit card expenses and the like.

You must be admitted to Regis University and a current FAFSA must be on file in our office prior to submitting an appeal.

You must submit the FAFSA Income Appeal Form as well as all required supporting documentation to verify the changes you are requesting be made to your FAFSA.

FAFSA On-Time Appeal

All traditional undergraduate students are required to renew their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by March 1 each year in order to qualify for need-based institutional aid, including the Regis Grant and Workstudy, as funding is limited. Traditional undergraduate students are also required to submit any additional requested financial aid documents to the Office of Financial Aid to complete their file by May 1. Failure to complete your FAFSA by March 1 or complete your financial aid file by May 1 may result in a loss or reduction of financial aid.

FAFSA On-Time Appeal process
If you miss the March 1 FAFSA filing deadline or May 1 deadline to complete your financial aid file, you may appeal by submitting the FAFSA On-Time Appeal form. If you miss the March 1 FAFSA filing deadline or May 1 deadline to complete your financial aid file, you may appeal by submitting the FAFSA On-Time Appeal form. In your appeal, please attach a written statement with the reason why you missed the deadline(s) and provide any supporting documentation, when applicable. The Appeals Committee may accept a letter from your parent(s) if applicable, in addition to, but not in lieu of, your personal appeal letter. Submitting an appeal letter does not guarantee that your financial aid will be reinstated. The Appeals Committee reviews appeals on a case-by-case basis. Appeals must be submitted prior to the add/drop date for the start of the semester for which you are enrolled and hoping to have aid reinstated.

Cost of Attendance Appeal

The cost of attendance (COA) is not the bill that you may get from your college; it is the total estimated amount it will cost you to go to college each year. The COA includes direct costs like tuition and fees and on-campus room and board if you are living on-campus. You will see those costs reflected on your bill. Indirect expenses may vary for each student, but there is an allowance provided by the state of Colorado for off-campus housing and food allowance, books, supplies, transportation, loan fees and, if applicable, dependent care. It can also include other expenses like an allowance for the rental or purchase of a personal computer, costs related to a disability or costs for eligible study abroad programs.

Cost of Attendance Appeal Process

You may request an increase to your cost of attendance (COA) if certain indirect costs exceed the allowance provided by the state of Colorado or if certain indirect costs are not already reflected on your COA. You will need to submit the Cost of Attendance Appeal Form and a written statement along with supporting documentation of the indirect costs you wish our office to review to the Office of Financial Aid at RUfinancialaid@regis.edu.

Cost of attendance appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and submission of an appeal does not guarantee that a change will be made to a student’s cost of attendance budget. Changes to the cost of attendance may allow a student or parent (if applicable) to borrow additional loan funds. Cost of Attendance appeals does not generate new or additional grant or scholarship funding.

Appeal circumstances and examples of supporting documentation

Additional books and supplies:
Provide copies of course syllabus and book prices or receipts. We will review books and supplies costs in excess of the amount already included in your budget which varies by student program and enrollment.

Computer purchase:
Attach a dated sales receipt outlining items purchased or a statement estimating the potential purchase ($1,500 maximum purchase allowance).

Dependent child care expenses:
Provide documentation from childcare provider indicating child’s name and payment agreement. We may be able to take into account dependent care expenses incurred while you are attending class or completing class assignments.

FAFSA Dependency Override Appeal

If you are considered a dependent student on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) but feel you have extenuating and unusual circumstances that prevent you from providing parental information on the FAFSA, a Dependency Override Request may be applicable to you.

If you have questions regarding dependency as it relates to the FAFSA, please visit StudentAid.gov to learn more about dependency.

Dependency status appeals are may be reviewed in cases of an abusive family environment or abandonment, incarceration or institutionalization of both parents, or parents lacking the physical or mental capacity to raise a child. Our office is not able to review a dependency override request in cases where parents refuse to complete the FAFSA, parents refuse to contribute financially to your education, parents do not claim you as a dependent for income tax purposes, or you demonstrate total self-sufficiency.

You must complete and submit the Dependency Override Appeal Form to our office along with documentation to support your appeal.

If you appeal and your appeal is not approved, you must provide parental information and a parent signature on your FAFSA before our office can move forward with reviewing your financial aid eligibility.

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