Professional Judgement

Eligibility for financial aid is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which currently uses financial information from two years prior to estimate a family’s ability to pay for educational expenses.  The Office of Financial Aid recognizes households can experience changes in income or other circumstances that are not reflected in their information from two years prior.  When these situations occur, it is possible to re-evaluate a student’s aid eligibility based on their current circumstances through the Professional Judgment (PJ) process. All PJ applications are REQUIRED to have a detailed letter of explanation and supporting documentation. A Professional Judgment cannot be processed for changes until verification is complete. Please check your aid status on your myCCC Student Self Service Portal.

There must be a significant change to the household finances to be considered for a Professional Judgment. Students will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Items that may be needed for Professional Judgment cases:

-notarized detailed letter of explanation

-lease/rental agreement/mortgage deed

-utility bills

-W2s, multiple year tax documents

-divorce decree

-unemployment documentation

To be considered for a Professional Judgment, please complete and submit the form with supporting documentation. If additional documentation is needed, please email to financialaid@sdtlsw.com.