Appeal Section

Q. May I appeal the award offer?
LMU’s appeal process allows you to request a revision of your financial aid award. However, due to funding limitations, we can only consider appeals for very specific circumstances. For example, you may appeal your financial aid award when there is a change in your family situation, such as a divorce, a death, or a change in employment or income status. Additional information and an appeal form are available for download on the Forms section – Appeals. There is no guarantee that an appeal will result in additional funding.

Q. If there have been changes in my parents' circumstances such as a significant reduction in income, changes in health, or other extenuating circumstances since we filed the CSS PROFILE and FAFSA, can LMU take this into consideration?  If your parents’ circumstances have changed, you should submit an appeal. 

Q. What if our family circumstances do not fit any of the reasons for a revision, but the parent or student contribution is too high for my family to meet?
If your family circumstances do not match any of the stated reasons to file an appeal, you may still appeal by submitting an explanation of your family situation, along with supporting documentation.  In order to consider your appeal, we must have a complete and signed copy of your and your parents’ 2007 tax returns.  If you have not yet submitted these documents, include them with your appeal. 
 
We will the review your appeal and aid application to make sure you have been considered for all possible sources of financial aid.   We will notify you if we are able to offer you additional financial aid and/or provide options available to your family to help meet your expected family contribution.  

Q. Can I be considered an Independent Student?
You are considered an independent student and parent information is not required on your financial aid application if:
    1. You are 24 years or older
    2. You are married
    3. You are a graduate student
    4. You have a child that received more than 50% of their support from you
    5. You have other dependents that live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you
    6. Both of your parents are deceased, or you are or were a ward of the court until age 18
    7. You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces

If you cannot answer yes to any of the above questions, you are a dependent student and you must provide parent information on your financial aid applications.  However, if there are special circumstances in your family, you may submit an appeal to the Financial Aid Office requesting a dependency override.  

Q. What if I don’t answer yes to the Independent Status questions, but I still feel I am independent? If you there are special circumstances in your family, you may submit an appeal to the Financial Aid Office requesting a dependency override.  

Your appeal must show that your relationship with your parents is such that it would be impossible or unreasonable for them to assist you in applying for financial aid.

A dependency override will not be approved simply because your parents are unwilling or unable to assist you with your college expenses.

Examples of cases where a dependency override would be considered are:
• Child abuse
• The location of the parent or parents is unknown
• The student has been removed from the family home by the state 

To appeal for a dependency override you must submit the following:

• A signed and dated statement (approximately 1 page) detailing your current relationship with your parents.  Include who claimed you in the prior year tax returns and your last contact with your parents.
• Three Dependency Override Letters of Support.  These letters should be from an adult familiar with your case. A relative or family friend can provide letters of support but at least one letter should be from a professional familiar with your case such as a social worker, therapist, teacher, professor or pastor.
• Any other documents that support your appeal, e.g. police reports etc…
  If you appeal is approved, you may be considered independent for federal sources of financial aid.  In some cases you may be also be considered independent for federal and LMU funded sources of financial aid.