On occasion, unusual circumstances may occur within a student’s family that may warrant reevaluation of a student's financial aid eligibility. If you have an unusual circumstance, you may be eligible to request a review of those circumstances. Some examples may include the following:
- Inability to obtain parental information
- Homeless youth or at risk of being homeless and self-supporting
- Estrangement or abandonment by parent
- Reduction or loss of income or benefit
- Elementary or secondary school tuition
- Medical, dental, optical or nursing home expenses not covered by insurance
- High child care costs
- Other changes in the family's income or assets
- Change in marital status
- Death of a parent or spouse
- Lump Sum payment
Please Note:
- An appointment with a Financial Aid Advisor is required
- All supporting documentation must be submitted with request
- Student must submit statement explaining their unusual circumstances
- Submission of a request does not guarantee approval
Services provided by the CARE Team and the DEN are available for students to access.
Advising Request Form
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a tool used to estimate a student and family's ability to pay (Expected Family Contribution - EFC) for educational expenses by using prior year income. On occasion, unusual circumstances occur that may warrant reevaluation of a student's financial aid eligibility. On a case-by-case basis, these special circumstances may be changes that have occurred in your family situation since you filed the FAFSA, or unusual family circumstances not accounted for on the FAFSA.
If you have a special circumstance, you may be eligible to apply for a Request for Special Circumstances. Some examples of a special circumstance may include the following:
- Reduction or Loss of income or benefit
- Elementary or Secondary school tuition
- Medical, dental or nursing home expenses not covered by insurance
- High childcare costs
- Being homeless or a dislocated worker
- Other changes in the family's income or assets
- Change in marital status
- Loss of untaxable income or benefit
- Death of a parent or spouse
- Lump Sum payment
Request for review of special circumstances requires an appointment with a Financial Aid Advisor. You may contact our office (phone, email or in person) to meet with a financial aid representative during our Advisor of the Day walk-in hours or complete the Advising Request Form below for consideration.
Note: CSUSB continues to assess the situation surrounding COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and the impact on our students. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is considering the assistance students may need. Please indicate on the Advising Request form if you are experiencing a hardship due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus).