Professional Judgment
Because the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) uses prior-prior year tax information, certain types of changes to a family's financial situation can be taken into consideration through the Professional Judgment Process.
Fall 2025, Spring 2026 and Summer 2026 Professional Judgment Forms
Use the links below to access the appropriate Professional Judgment form for your circumstances. Forms must be initiated by the student. The student will be prompted to add other individuals (parent or spouse) if needed.
Professional Judgment Appeal Examples for 2025-2026 Aid Year
Listed below are examples of circumstances for which a professional judgment may be considered at Tennessee Tech University. Other circumstances may be considered, if warranted, on a case-by-case basis. Each example below lists documentation that MAY BE required. The 2025-2026 Professional Judgment Appeal Form requesting a re-evaluation and the reason for the request should be completed and submitted for review to determine documentation needed.
- A parent/student/(or spouse) whose income was less in 2024
- SIGNED copy of parents’ & student’s 2023 and/or 2024 Tax Return with schedules and copies of all W2 forms, 1099s, etc. (or a complete 2023 Tax Return Transcript from the IRS)
- Completed and signed 2025-2026 Verification Worksheet
- The death of a parent during calendar year 2023, 2024 or after student has filed the
2025-2026 FAFSA.
- Copy of death certificate or obituary listing student’s name and relationship.
- A SIGNED copy of the 2023 and /or 2024 Tax Return including the deceased’s information with schedules and copies of all W2s, 1099s, etc. (or a complete 2024 Tax Return Transcript from the IRS)
- Completed and signed 2025-2026 Verification Worksheet
- A student/parent/(or spouse) had income in 2023 (Child support, alimony, unemployment,
etc.) that is no longer received.
- Statement from student/parent (spouse if applicable) stating what income has ceased, when it ceased, the amount no longer received and why
- Verification from the source of the untaxed income documenting the date on which it ceased and the amount received in 2023, if available
- NOTE: A SIGNED copy of parents’ & student’s (spouse’s if applicable) 2023 Tax Return with schedules and copies of all W2 forms (or a complete 2023 Tax Return Transcript from the IRS) may be required along with a completed and signed 2025-2026 Verification Worksheet.
- A parent/student/ (or spouse) became unemployed in 2025 (request could be delayed
until end of year for actual earnings)
- A statement indicating the date on which he/she became unemployed.
- A copy of the letter of separation or lay-off from the company, or notice of company closing, or a copy of unemployment benefit information along with a statement from employer or final check stub showing year-to-date earnings
- Explanation of any income expected to be earned from all sources for the remainder of the 2025 calendar year.
- SIGNED copy of parents’ & student’s 2023 Tax Return with schedules and copies of all W2 forms, 1099s, etc. (or a complete 2023 Tax Return Transcript from the IRS) along with a completed and signed 2025-2026 Verification Worksheet.
- Unusual necessary medical/dental out-of-pocket, non-reimbursed, expenses for calendar
year 2023 or 2024
- SIGNED copy of parents’ & student’s 2023 and/or Tax Return with schedules and copies of all W2 forms (or a complete 2023 Tax Return Transcript from the IRS) along with a completed and signed 2025-2026 Verification Worksheet
- A statement that summarizes the total amount of out-of-pocket, non-reimbursed expenses for the 2023 or 2024 calendar year, and the person in the household who incurred the expenses (this should not include insurance premiums or travel). Your summary must be specific, as we will not calculate expenses and assume what was or was not non-reimbursed.
- Examples of documentation that may be requested: Receipts showing amounts paid with statement from insurance company showing that expenses were not reimbursed / Statement from pharmacy showing pharmaceuticals paid for by student/parent not covered by insurance / Statement from physician showing out-of-pocket payments, i.e. co-pays.
- Disability of student/spouse/parent not reflected on the FAFSA
- Medical documentation of disability and any benefits received as a result of disability.
- Statement from employer or final check stub showing earnings for the current year until student/spouse/parent became disabled.
- Unemployment compensation documentation of amounts and duration of payment(s).
- Income from all sources taxed and untaxed for the current calendar year.
- SIGNED copy of applicable 2023 and/or 2024 Tax Return with schedules and all W2 forms, 1099s, etc. (or a complete 2023 Tax Return Transcript from the IRS) along with a completed and signed 2025-2026 Verification Worksheet.
Dependency Override
Student must communicate with the Financial Aid Office for assistance with a Dependency Override request.
Circumstances Not Given Consideration
The Department of Education has identified conditions that, individually or in combination with one another, DO NOT QUALIFY AS UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, or do not merit a change in dependency status. Those conditions are as follows:
- Parent(s) refusing to contribute to the student’s education
- Parent(s) unwilling to provide information necessary to complete the FAFSA and/or verification process
- Parent(s) not claiming the student as a dependent for income tax purposes
- Student demonstrating total self-sufficiency and/or not living with their parent(s)
However, if you could not answer YES to one of the 13 dependency questions provided on the FAFSA but you feel you meet the criteria stated below, you may contact our office and request the appropriate paperwork necessary to be considered for a Dependency Override.
Circumstances Given Consideration (With Supporting Documentation)
- A student’s voluntary or involuntary removal from the parents’ home due to an extreme situation that threatened the student’s health and/or safety and due to these conditions, parent support was terminated.
- Incapacity of parent(s) such as incarceration, mental or physical illness or the inability of the applicant to locate the parent(s).
- Other extenuating circumstances that can be sufficiently documented.