2026-2027 Professional Judgment Request

1) Special Circumstance: Adjustments to the Student Aid Index

The Office of Financial Aid may recalculate the Student Aid Index (SAI) for educational expenses if the student (or parent, if dependent, or spouse, if married) can provide documentation that there has been a change in financial circumstances due to the reasons listed below:

1. Loss or significant change in parent's income and/or dependent student's income - proof of 2024 income and one of the following is required: actual/projected 2025 calendar year income, 2026 projected calendar year income, or expected academic year 2026-2027 income. If there is a loss of income, proof of income loss is required. Remember to include both parents' incomes if both parents are included in the household on the 2026-2027 FAFSA.

2. Loss or significant change in income for independent students and spouse, if married -proof of 2024 income and one of the following is required: actual/projected 2025 calendar year income, 2026 projected calendar year income, or expected academic year 2026-2027 income. If there is a loss of income, proof of income loss is required. If married, remember to include both the student's and spouse's income for 2024.

3. Elementary/secondary tuition for dependent students - a letter is required from each school on official letterhead with tuition for either 2024, 2025, or the 2026-2027 academic year.

4. Excessive medical and dental expenses - proof of actual medical payments after insurance has paid that are in excess of the amount included in the Federal Methodology Formula (11% of the Income Protection Allowance, as defined by federal regulations) is required. Expenses prior to tax year 2024 or expenses to be paid in future tax years are not allowable. Please submit your complete tax return along with schedule A, if applicable.

5. Roth IRA Conversion - a copy of the income tax return showing distribution of IRA funds and proof that standard IRA was converted to Roth IRA is required.

2) Special Circumstance: Adjustments to Cost of Attendance Budget

The Office of Financial Aid, in accordance with federal regulations, establishes a standard student budget for all financial aid recipients based on expected tuition and other fees due the university, university housing costs (or average housing costs for students living off-campus) average book and supply expenses, loan fees, student health insurance costs, and average transportation costs for commuting students and students living out of area. No adjustments will be made to the allotted amounts for housing expenses. However, adjustments may be made for the following documented circumstances:

1. Childcare or dependent care costs for dependent children - A dependent care allowance for dependent children may be allowable in the student's cost of attendance if the service is provided by an HRS-approved childcare center, an agency-approved au pair, or a non-HRS approved childcare provider who is not an immediate family member. The amount of the allowance is based on the number and age of the student's dependents and should not exceed the reasonable cost in the community for the type of care provided. See chart below. The amounts may be prorated for less than 12 months and adjusted on a per-child basis, as applicable. 

   Students must provide a completed 2026-2027 Professional Judgment Child Care Statement or a notarized statement from a childcare provider/au pair agency. All statements must include the name of each child, age of each child, and the amount of cost per week for each child. Adjustments to the budget will NOT be made for childcare provided by an immediate family member.

   Age of child	Maximum Amount per 12 Months
   Up to 1 year	$14,820
   1 up to 2 years	$14,591
   2 up to 3 years	$14,266
   3 up to 4 years	$13,942
   4 up to 5 years	$11,915
   6 up to 12 years	$3,623

2. Excessive child care costs for dependent children - Excessive childcare costs for dependent children may be allowable for professional judgment if the service is provided by an HRS-approved childcare center, an agency-approved au pair, or a non-HRS approved childcare provider who is not an immediate family member, and the childcare costs exceed the amounts listed above. The amounts may be prorated for less than 12 months and adjusted on a per-child basis, as applicable. 

   Students must provide a completed 2026-2027 Professional Judgment Child Care Statement or a notarized statement from a childcare provider/au pair agency as well as a letter explaining why a child care provider was chosen who exceeds the average costs indicated above. All statements must include the name of each child, age of each child, and the amount of cost per week for each child. Adjustments to the budget will NOT be made for childcare provided by an immediate family member.
   
   

3. Travel budget adjustments may be made for students required to travel to off-campus locations to complete course-related work only (i.e., students performing clerkships or rotations). Students must travel more than 50 miles from their home base (online students) or campus (residential and regional campus students) to be considered for a travel budget adjustment. A letter from the program advisor stating that travel is a mandatory component of the program and paid and/or proposed documentation for the related expenses are required. Only reasonable expenses will be considered. Requested amounts may be reduced based on the transportation allocation that is already included in the student's cost of attendance budget.

4. Documented special needs or disability expenses may be considered for expenses incurred related to assistance with educational activities such as tutoring and special equipment which are not covered by an outside agency. Proof of specific special needs or disability from an agency or doctor and documentation of expenses, such as receipts or a statement of services, are required.

5. Study abroad adjustments will be made for approved study abroad programs, including clinical rotations out of area. Increases will be made for up to $2,500 or actual expenses, whichever is less. Students must provide proof from their program offices that they are enrolled in an approved study abroad program and provide proof of expenses, such as receipts. Some cost of attendance budgets already include an allowance for study abroad expenses.

6. Additional tuition and fee adjustments may be made for students who enroll in a larger number of courses than included in the standard financial aid budget. Documentation from the program office that additional courses are part of the program's requirements must be submitted to support such a request.

3) Unusual Circumstance: Financial Aid Dependency Status Overrides

Students who do not meet the federal criteria for independent status may request a professional judgment for an override. Dependency overrides will only be considered on a case-by-case basis in “unusual circumstances,” meaning that it is unreasonable to expect a parental contribution for the student, as stated by the Department of Education in section 480(d)(7) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). This case may include documentation of a student being in a volatile situation and therefore no longer residing or having contact with the parents, parents who cannot be located, or homelessness that is not covered under the provisions of the FAFSA.

You must include a statement describing your circumstances and provide documentation from at least two (2) third-party sources, preferably persons in an official capacity, such as a high school guidance counselor, law enforcement, court official, clergy, or social service representative. Students may need to demonstrate that they are self-sufficient for at least two years by providing income tax returns and either a lease agreement or proof of home ownership. Other documentation may be accepted as determined on a case-by-case basis.

If you have completed a 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and another college or university has approved a dependency override for you, please access your FAFSA at studentaid.gov to add NSU. The NSU school code is 001509. This will allow the financial aid office to receive your updated information from the Department of Education. Alternatively, you may also provide the NSU Office of Financial Aid with the Data Release Number (DRN) from your 2026-2027 FAFSA. If another institution has approved a dependency override, you are not required to complete the Request for Professional Judgment form.

If the NSU financial aid office has previously approved a dependency override for you, you may use this form to notify NSU that your circumstances remain unchanged for the 2026-27 academic year.

4) Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (HEROES) Act

Effective December 12, 2003, the Department of Education approved waivers and modifications of regulatory provisions under the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (HEROES) Act of 2003 to assist students and borrowers who are military personnel and who are activated or reassigned for a period of more than 30 days as a result of a military mobilization.

Students, who are affected as stated above, must provide documentation from the appropriate U.S. Armed Forces office to demonstrate that they have met this criterion.

5) Other

If none of the previous conditions apply to your situation, explain your extenuating circumstances, and provide documentation to substantiate your request.

Conditions that do NOT qualify for consideration of a Professional Judgment include:

• Automobile or household repairs

• Consumer indebtedness (auto loans, credit card payments)

• Additional food purchases beyond budget

• Single room in on-campus housing, or not sharing an apartment, if single

• Medical expenses outside those as defined in 1(d) for SAI adjustment

• Expenses related to graduate school interviews or employment interviews

• Utility and telephone bills

• Living expenses for dependent children

• Course-related travel less than 50 miles. See previous explanation for specific requirements.

• Parents refusing to contribute to the student's education

• Parents unwilling to provide information on the application or for verification

• Parents not claiming the student as a dependent for income tax purposes

• Student demonstrating total self-sufficiency

• Student living away from home