Appeals

If you or your custodial parent(s) have been adversely affected by extraordinary circumstances that have reduced your ability to pay for college expenses and/or if your basic financial aid budget is not reflective of your educational expenses, the UCI Financial Aid Office may review those circumstances in order to consider changes to your available financial aid.

Family Contribution Modifications

The types of changes that could impact your family contribution and warrant review are those that occurred since you submitted the FAFSA/California Dream Application and/or that are not reflected in the tax return or other documents you used to complete the FAFSA/California Dream Application. Any increases in assistance will be limited by the availability of funds and the extent to which the circumstances impact your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) within the federal need analysis formula.

Circumstances that may be considered for family contribution appeals:

• Unemployment or significant changes in earnings
• Out of pocket medical expenses (not covered by health insurance)
• Tuition for special needs private school
• Loss of child support
• Loss of one-time income
• Disability of a parent
• Divorce/legal separation
• Death of a parent or spouse
• Other income reduction that is justified and documented by the family

• Tax return/tax transcript/W2, pay stub
• Letter of employment termination/ benefits eligibility/verification of loss of benefits,
• Divorce/separation agreement,
• Death certificate and/or receipts/billing statements from medical/insurance providers.

To request an appeal, please contact the office by e-mail at http://www.ofas.uci.edu/content/contact/Email.aspx

Basic Financial Aid Cost of Attendance (COA) Modifications

If you are incurring educational expenses that are greater than the standard financial aid budget, you may contact our office to request for a Cost of Attendance increase review. Expenses must be incurred during the current academic year, and you must provide documentation for all requested budget additions. If a COA increase is approved, the difference between your current budget and your increased budget will likely be funded with additional loan eligibility.

Expenses that may be considered for COA appeals include:

• Rent/mortgage and utilities,
• On-campus residence hall fee, transportation,
• Computer purchase,
• Necessary medical/dental/optical expenses,
• Childcare expenses and/or special books and supplies.

You will be asked to complete an on-line request documenting the COA add-on.

You also should expect to justify expenses by providing supporting third-party documentation such as:

• Copy of a signed lease/mortgage/housing contract,
• Copies of receipts/cancelled
• Checks/billing statements and/or an itemized list of approved special books and supplies that are required for a class.

To request an appeal, please call our office at (949) 824-8262 starting in August.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal

If you are notified that you have not met the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements to continue receiving financial aid, you may appeal to continue receiving aid if you were prevented from meeting the requirement due to extenuating circumstances.

Circumstances we do consider:

• Extenuating circumstances may include, but are not limited to, prolonged illness or hospitalization, a death in the family or a change of major required by your academic department.

Circumstances we do not consider:

• Extenuating circumstances generally do not include a voluntary change of major, double majors, or participation in an off-campus program (such as EAP, independent Programs, UCDC). 

Before submitting an appeal, please review the process and your minimum requirements to continue receiving aid:

• Visiting our website at www.ofas.uci.edu -Select 'Log on to MyAid'
• Select the 'Fall 2021 through Summer 2022' academic year
• Select 'My Academic Status' 

When you appeal, you will be asked to indicate the nature of your appeal and to include the reason(s) why you were unable to make academic progress. Also, submit any supporting documentation that would assist in evaluating your extenuating circumstances. This may include, but not be limited to, a statement from your physician or hospital records indicating your or your family member's illness or a death certificate or obituary for a family member. Finally, explain how your situation has changed and would therefore prevent a re-occurrence. To complete an SAP appeal, visit here (PDF).

Other Appeals

Appeals may also be considered for situations such as on-time status, and changes to marital status.

To request an appeal, please contact the office by email.

Funding: The type of funding you are eligible to receive is dependent upon your circumstances and the funds the campus has available. This means you may only be eligible for additional loans.