Cleary university

Unable to Provide Parent Data

Students can indicate on the FAFSA form that they believe they have unusual circumstances that prevent them from providing parental data. If the student completes the screening steps and does not include parental data, they will receive a provisional status as an independent student and a provisional SAI calculation. The record will be rejected, pending further action from the student’s Financial Aid Advisor. The advisor will review the students situation and determine if the student :

  • Is unaccompanied and homeless;
  • Merits a dependency override;
  • Must instead provide parental data; or
  • Should be permitted to borrow only unsubsidized loans because they can document that their parents have refused to support them or to provide parental information on the student’s FAFSA.

Unusual Circumstances

Unusual circumstances are conditions that support a change to a student’s dependency status based on a unique situation. The FAFSA will determine your dependency status based on a number of questions. If you answer ‘no’ to all of the dependency questions on the FAFSA, you may receive a provisional status as an independent student and a provisional SAI calculation. If there are unusual circumstances where you cannot provide your parents information on the FAFSA (e.g., human trafficking, refugee or asylum status, abuse, neglect, or abandonment) the Financial Aid Office may be able to make you an independent student for financial aid purposes. This would make you eligible for financial aid without parent information or signature. 

See examples below of what may qualify you for an unusual circumstance, but note these examples individually do not automatically qualify you: 

  • Your parents refuse to contribute financially to your education. 
  • Your parents are unwilling to provide their information. 
  • You are financially independent from your parents. 
  • Your parents do not claim you as a dependent on their income taxes

To qualify you will have to submit supporting documentation, please reach out to our Financial Aid Office for more information!

Special Circumstances

If you or your family have experienced a significant change in your financial circumstances our financial aid office may take these special circumstances into account and adjust your FAFSA information.This includes situations that have occurred in your family since you filed the FAFSA or circumstances not accounted for on the FAFSA that may affect your ability to cover costs outside of your financial aid.

See examples below of what may qualify you for a special circumstance, but note these examples individually do not automatically qualify you:

  • Significant changes to your financial situation, such as loss of employment or pay cuts
  • Tuition expenses at an elementary or secondary school
  • High amounts of medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance
  • A family member who recently became unemployed
  • Other changes in income or assets that may affect your eligibility for federal student aid

To qualify you will have to submit supporting documentation, please reach out to our Financial Aid Office for more information!