• Financial Aid home
• Application process
  • Who is eligible
  • How to apply
  • What is next
  • Unusual circumstances
• Awards
• Work-study
• Quick links
• Bronco Express
• Calendar
• Costs, billing payment
• Forms, fact sheets
• Scholarships
• Student information
• Parent information
• Helpful links
• Glossary, terms

• Search Financial Aid

Application Process

Unusual Circumstances

• Appeals Process
• Cost of Attendance Appeals
• Adjustment of Family Contribution
• Dependency Override
• Remember

= term defined in Glossary

Appeals Process

Through the appeal process, a Financial Services Specialist (FSS) can assist you and your parents (or spouse) if you have special circumstances that may affect your financial aid eligibility or the ability to apply for financial aid. The FSS can review your circumstances and through professional judgment will determine if an adjustment to your cost of attendance or the information used on your FAFSA will impact your financial aid eligibility.

For all appeal processes, you will need to submit an appeal form, attach a detailed letter of explanation and all requested supporting documentation, and return the information to the financial aid office as soon as possible. We recommend that you keep copies for your own records. Your completed appeal must be received in our office at least 30 days prior to your last date of enrollment for the current academic year. You will need to allow four (4) to six (6) weeks to process the appeal.

Cost of Attendance Appeals

The cost of attendance (COA), also known as the cost of education or "budget", is an estimation of what it could cost you to go to school for a specific period of enrollment. The COA is calculated using an estimated cost of tuition, fees, room, dining, books, supplies, personal, travel, and loan fees. It is based on your: residency status for tuition purposes (in-state or out-of-state); class level (undergraduate or graduate); housing preference (on-campus, off-campus, or living-at-home); and enrollment status (terms/sessions and average full time, or less than half time enrollment). The estimations are based on averages for each category and are not reflective of actual or projected costs. Actual tuition, fees, and University housing costs are published each year (generally after July 1) and are subject to Board of Trustees approval.

Additional credit hours, fees, dependent care, study abroad or other educational expenses may be added to your COA. Please contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss possible adjustments to your Cost of Attendance and/or financial aid award.

Adjustment of Family Contribution

The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is the amount of money that the family is expected to be able to contribute to the student's education, as determined by the Federal Methodology need analysis formula approved by Congress and is gathered through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The EFC includes the parent contribution and the student contribution, and depends on the student's dependency status, family size, number of family members in school, taxable and nontaxable income, and assets.

If there are unusual financial circumstances as noted below that may affect your ability to pay for your education, you may request an appeal for an adjustment to your family contribution. Please contact the financial aid office at 269-387-6000, or through email at finaid-info@wmich.edu and request an "Adjustment of Family Contribution Appeal". Special circumstances include:

• Recent change in the household due to separation, divorce or death.
• Unusual or excessive medical or dental charges paid but not covered by your insurance.
• Student (your spouse) or parent recently became unemployed.
• Reduction or complete loss of untaxed income such as social security, child support
• Complete loss of unemployment compensation

Dependency Override

A student is considered dependent unless they are at least 24 years old as of January 1 of the upcoming academic year, married, a graduate or professional student, have a legal dependent other than a spouse, are a veteran of the US Armed Forces, or are an orphan or ward of the court (or were a ward of the court until age 18). Dependent students are required to provide their parent's financial information when applying for federal aid on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

If there is an unintentional, involuntary, and uncontrollable break in the relationship between parents and students, you may file a Dependency Override Appeal and request to be considered independent.

You do not qualify for independent status if:

• Your parents are refusing to support your education or provide financial information,
• Your parents have decided to not claim you as an exemption on their tax returns.
• You are living on your own and/or proving self-sufficiency.

Remember...

• There must be a good reason for any adjustment to be made.
• You will need to provide adequate proof for your appeal.
• The decision by the Financial Aid Specialist is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.