Special Circumstance Appeal
Please Note: The CSS Profile is no longer required for students entering Baylor beginning in Fall 2027. Students whose first term is Spring or Summer 2027 must still submit the 2026-2027 CSS Profile, as that financial aid application covers the entire 2026-2027 academic aid year.
The FAFSA and CSS Profile help us evaluate your and your family’s ability to pay for your education; however, there are some specific situations that may result in an inaccurate assessment of this ability.
To review these situations, we use the special circumstance appeal, which allows you and your family to document your individual financial situation. Our committee will then determine if we are able to provide additional financial aid.
If you are facing one of the situations listed below, please consider submitting a special circumstance appeal.
Keep in Mind:
- Appeals are typically reviewed within 3-4 weeks after submission. During busy processing times (such as the summer), it may take longer for your appeal to be evaluated.
- If the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculated from the FAFSA and CSS Profile are zero, you are not eligible to complete an appeal as you are currently receiving the maximum amounts of federal, state, and institutional aid for which you are qualified. You can find your EFC on your Student Aid Report (SAR) from your FAFSA and/or your EFNAR from the CSS Profile.
- Only undergraduate students are eligible to apply.
- This review does not guarantee that any additional funds will be available. Revised financial aid is based upon any available funding.
- You must have received a financial aid offer and have completed all unsatisfied requirements in BearWeb.
- If you were previously selected for verification, you need to complete that process before your special circumstance appeal can be reviewed.
- You must be enrolled at least half-time during the semester that the review is completed in order for any revised aid to be disbursed.
Situations that may qualify for review:
- Loss or change of employment (reductions of income must be at least $2,000 and reflect at least a 20% decrease in total income from the previous year's tax return)
- Loss or change in amount of Social Security or other benefits
- Divorce or separation of parents
- Death of parent(s)
- Unusual medical expenses (not covered by insurance)
- One-time taxable income used for life-changing events (e.g. IRA, pension distribution, back-year Social Security payments)
- Unusual or unexpected expenses (Private School (K-12) Tuition for siblings)
Situations that do NOT merit appeal include, but are not limited to:
- Standard living expenses (e.g. utilities, credit card payments, children’s allowances, etc.)
- Mortgage payments
- Car payments
- Credit card or other personal debts
- Vacation expenses
- All other discretionary expenses
How to Submit Your Appeal:
If you have any questions about your personal situation, you may contact Baylor One Stop by calling (254) 710-2611 to discuss your situation. To submit your Special Circumstance Appeal, use the link provided below. Once all requested documentation has been received, your appeal will be reviewed by the Appeal Committee and you will be contacted, as soon as possible, but no later than 60 days from the final submission of required documentation, with the outcome of your appeal.
- Special Circumstances Appeal Form
- Incoming prospective students entering in a future term: You may submit a Special Circumstance Appeal once admitted to the University, and have received a final financial aid offer, with all outstanding verification requirements resolved, for consideration. Appeals submitted prior to 1 month before the deposit deadlines will be reviewed and responded to prior to the published deposit deadline.
- Returning students and any incoming student appeals that are submitted after 1 month before the deposit deadline will be reviewed in the order in which they were received. Turnaround times may be up to 4 weeks, and in peak times up to 60 days. You will be notified once your appeal has been reviewed and a decision reached through BearWeb or email communication. Please ensure all relevant documentation requested through the appeal submission process is accurate and complete to avoid delays.
- Please note, while there is not an imposed deadline for requesting a special circumstance review, it is necessary for students to be actively enrolled at the time the appeal is received and processed. Therefore, students must submit appeals in a timely manner allowing for complete processing and eligible adjustments of data while the student is attending and enrolled.