Professional Judgments
In the event unusual situations or circumstances impact your federal student aid eligibility, federal regulations give a financial aid administrator discretion, or “professional judgment,” to make adjustments to the data elements on the FAFSA form that impact your SAI, or Student Aid Index (also known as EFC for 2023–2024). This measure gives us a more accurate assessment of your family's ability to contribute to the cost of education.
These Professional Judgment requests must be approved by the Professional Judgment Committee and are conducted on a case-by-case basis.
Please Note: Not all Professional Judgment requests will result in a change to a student’s financial aid package. The decision of the Financial Aid office is final, and cannot be appealed to the Department of Education.
Professional Judgment Process
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Submit a Professional Judgment Request
The first step of the process is to determine if you should submit a Professional Judgment request.
Examples of What Cannot be Considered in a Professional Judgment
- High debt-to-income ratios
- Parent’s refusal to contribute to education
- Credit card debt
2024–2025 Professional Judgment Forms
There may be multiple kinds of situations within this category. This may include job loss (at least 3 months must have elapsed prior to making any determination of current income), job change that results in lower pay, or retirement of a parent.
REQUIRED Documentation
These are the documents you will be required to submit with the request form:
Job Loss or Job Change
If job loss in 2022:
- 2023 tax return
- W2(s) for both parents or student
- Proof you are no longer working at your previous employer (letter from or to employer/final paystub/etc.)
If job loss in 2023 or 2024:
- 2023 tax return
- 2023 W2(s) for both parents or student
- Any current income received (unemployment, paystubs, pension, retirement, social security, work for other spouse) covering at least 60 days for both parents or student
- Proof you are no longer working at your previous employer (letter from or to employer/final paystub/etc.)
Retirement
If retired in 2022:
- 2023 tax return
- W2(s) for both parents or student
- Proof of retirement
If retired in 2023 or 2024:
- Any current income received (pension, retirement, social security, work for other spouse) covering at least 30 days for both parents or student
- 2022 tax return
- Proof of retirement
Other documentation showing the reason and amount of change of income may be required. This may include but is not limited to documents such as 1040 tax returns, W2s, 60 days of paystubs, unemployment receipts, other income or benefits received, termination notice, letter of resignation, attestation of reason for leaving employment, etc.
2024-25 Professional Judgment - Reduction of Financial Resources Request
This change takes effect for the 2024–2025 FAFSA and school year forward.
To be considered, the total net price of all additional students in college, excluding the student for which the Professional Judgment is being made, must meet or exceed 10% of the family’s AGI.
To determine net price, the following calculation will be used: Net Price = Cost of Attendance – Gift Aid.
REQUIRED Documentation
These are the documents you will be required to submit with the request form:
- Financial Aid Offer Letter for the same year the George Fox student is enrolled and seeking a Professional Judgment
- FAFSA Submission Summary for each student for the same year the George Fox student is enrolled and seeking a Professional Judgment
2024-25 Professional Judgment - Multiple Students in College Request
There may be multiple kinds of situations within this category.
Payments Reflected on the FAFSA Year Tax Return
- To be considered, the one-time payment must have been received in 2021 for the 2023–2024 school year, or in 2022 for the 2024–2025 school year.
- Examples include but are not limited to IRA rollovers, retirement withdrawal, bonus received, sale of property, inheritance received, etc.
Payments Reflected in Cash/Savings/Investment Net Worth
- To be considered, the one-time payment must have been reported as cash/savings/investment net worth on the FAFSA.
- Examples include but are not limited to inheritance received, sale of property, cash remaining from bonus received, etc.
REQUIRED Documentation
These are the documents you will be required to submit with the request form:
- Documentation showing one-time income source as well as documentation showing that the funds are not accessible or are no longer available, as applicable.
2024-25 Professional Judgment - One Time Payment Received Request
To be considered, students must be legally married after they have already completed the FAFSA.
REQUIRED Documentation
These are the documents you will be required to submit with the request form:
- A copy of signed marriage license
- Students and their spouse must submit as applicable:
- Signed 1040 tax returns with Schedules 1, 2, and 3
- W2(s)
- Verification of Non-Filing
2024-25 Professional Judgment - Special Circumstances Request
To be considered, the total net price of all students in private elementary through high school must meet or exceed 10% of the family’s AGI in 2021 or 2022 for the 2023–2024 school year, or in 2022 or 2023 for the 2024–2025 school year.
The student in private education must be a sibling of the George Fox student and enrolled for the same academic year as their sibling.
REQUIRED Documentation
These are the documents you will be required to submit with the request form:
- Families must submit a tuition statement on school letterhead (or an email directly from the school) stating the names of the enrolled students and tuition due for the academic year, including any scholarships and discounts, for the same year the George Fox student is enrolled and seeking a Professional Judgment.
2024-25 Professional Judgment - Elementary/Secondary Educational Expenses Request
To be considered, you must have reported medical expenses on the Schedule A portion of your 1040 tax return on the 2021 or 2022 tax return for the 2023–2024 school year, or on the 2022 or 2023 tax return for the 2024–2025 school year. Out-of-pocket expenses must exceed 11% of the calculated Income Protection Allowance (IPA) on your FAFSA. Ask your Financial Aid Counselor for that value.
REQUIRED Documentation
These are the documents you will be required to submit with the request form:
2023–2024 School Year- 2021 Schedule A
OR - 2022 Schedule A and signed 1040 including Schedules 1, 2, and 3 if used
- 2022 Schedule A
OR - 2023 Schedule A and signed 1040 including Schedules 1, 2, and 3 if used
REQUIRED Documentation
These are the documents you will be required to submit with the request form:
Divorce
- Court documentation showing divorce date OR letter from lawyer showing that divorce is in progress
Separation
- Documentation of legal separation OR utility bills at separate addresses in each spouse’s name
- Copy of Death Certificate OR memorial program OR obituary
2024-25 Professional Judgment - Special Circumstances Request
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Complete Verification (if selected)
If you are selected for Verification, you are required to complete the Verification before the Financial Aid office can complete the Professional Judgment. Please check your my.georgefox.edu task tile to find out which documents are required to complete Verification. -
Wait for Review of Your Request
After reviewing the request, your Financial Aid Counselor will reach out regarding the decision of the Professional Judgment. Please allow up to two weeks for the review process. Sometimes the committee will need more information or additional documents to get a better understanding of the situation.