Special Circumstances

PLU understands that students and families might be facing special circumstances that are not reflected on the FAFSA. Examples of special circumstances include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Job loss
  • Reduction of income
  • Loss of income due to death, divorce, or separation
  • Medical expenses
  • Support provided to family members not reflected on the FAFSA
  • Private K-12 expenses
  • College expenses for student’s sibling(s)

If you are facing special circumstances and wish to be considered for additional need-based aid, please complete and submit the appropriate form below with supporting documentation. All documentation should be uploaded to our secure portal. While all requests will be considered, not all requests will result in additional aid.

Unusual Circumstances

A student with unusual circumstances is defined as a student for whom a financial aid administrator makes a documented determination of independence by reason of unusual circumstances and in which the student is unable to contact a parent or where contact with parents poses a risk to such student, which includes, but is not limited to, circumstances of:

• human trafficking, as described in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.);
• legally granted refugee or asylum status;
• parental abandonment or estrangement; or
• student or parental incarceration.

In such cases a dependency override might be warranted based upon the student’s individual circumstances. These conditions would also not disqualify a student from being a homeless unaccompanied youth or self-supporting and at risk of homelessness.

If you believe you are facing unusual circumstances and wish to be considered an independent student for financial aid purposes, please complete the appropriate form below and follow the instructions carefully. All documentation should be uploaded to our secure portal. While all requests will be considered, not all requests will result in independent status.