Special Circumstances Regarding Your Aid

Emory understands that students may experience changes in their finances or academic plans that may not be reflected in their most recent financial aid application materials. We are here to help you navigate any of these unexpected circumstances you may experience and ensure you feel confident in your ability to continue your studies with the financial support you need.

Changes in Your Finances

If you experience a substantial change in your financial resources – including loss of employment, natural disaster, death of a parent, extraordinary medical expenses, or unexpected tuition expenses – you can complete and submit a Special Circumstance Appeal Form, along with any supporting documents. A financial aid committee will review your submission materials, your eligibility, and available funds to determine whether the Office of Financial Aid can adjust your package.

Your completed Appeal Packet should be submitted by email, USPS, or fax (fax is the preferred method) and include:

  • A completed Special Circumstance Appeal Form
  • Any supporting documents you believe are relevant to explain your situation
  • Any supplemental or new tax documentation, if not already submitted to IDOC, such as:
    • Completed tax returns for all businesses (forms 1065, 1120-S, 1120, K-1s, and the itemized list for "other deductions")
    • A signed amended tax return form 1040x
    • IRS tax data through FAFSA Data Retrieval Tool or as a tax transcript (optional, unless otherwise required)

You may be asked to provide additional information after your initial completed Appeal Packet is submitted. The timeliness, completeness, and accuracy of your packet will impact the outcome of your appeal.

Submitting a special circumstance appeal does not automatically ensure your request will be approved. If your appeal is approved, you could receive an increase in institutional grants, institutional loans, or a combination of both.

2022-2023 Appeal Dates

 

Submission Deadline

Response Date

2022-2023 Final Appeal Date

January 13, 2023

January 27, 2023

2023-2024 Appeal Dates

Submission Deadline

Response Date

Admitted Early Decision I

January 6, 2023

January 13, 2023

Admitted Early Decision II

February 17, 2023

February 24, 2023

Admitted Regular Decision

March 31, 2023

April  7, 2023

Admitted Regular Decision

April 14, 2023

April 21, 2023

Admitted Regular Decision

April 21, 2023

April 28, 2023

Admitted Transfers

May 12, 2023

May 19, 2023

Returning Students

July 14, 2023

July 28, 2023

Returning Students

July 28, 2023

August  11, 2023

Returning Students

August 16, 2023

August 25, 2023

Returning Students

September 1, 2023

September 13, 2023

Final Fall Appeal Date

September 14, 2023

September 22, 2023

Appeals submitted after a submission deadline will be considered and responded to at the next scheduled dates.

Although Emory understands that many factors can impact a student’s financial resources, because of the limited nature of resources and a commitment to provide fair consideration of the financial circumstances of all our students, we will not consider appeal requests based on the following events or conditions:

  • Financial support of grandparents, siblings older than 23, and non-immediate family members
  • Consumer debt, such as credit cards or educational loan debt
  • Job loss of less than 3 months
  • Investments held for others
  • Requests to exclude retirement assets not invested in a traditional retirement account
  • Student merit or achievements
  • Aid or scholarships awarded by other institutions
  • Unwillingness to contribute to educational expenses
  • Inability to pay the calculated student contribution from current income

Please note: It is our expectation that students will use all resources available to them to finance their expected student contribution, including current salary, savings, investments, student loans, and the Emory Payment Plan, if necessary.

Withdrawing from Emory

At the end of the Add/Drop/Swap period each term, a student may completely withdraw from Emory with permission from the appropriate school deal and clearance from the Student Accounts and Billing Office and the Office of Financial Aid.

Financial aid packages are offered under the assumption the recipient will remain enrolled through the completion of the term. Anyone who receives financial aid and withdraws completely before the end of the term may be eligible for only a percentage of the funds initially offered.

Return of Federal Aid

Enrolled Days divided by Days in the Enrollment Period equals the Percent of Title IV Earned By Student

Any federal funds received but not earned must be returned to the funding program(s) in the following order:

  • Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
  • Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
  • Federal Direct PlUS Loan
  • Federal Pell Grant
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
  • Other Federal Title IV Aid Programs
  • The Student

Once a student has completed 60% enrollment for the term, they have earned 100% of the federal aid offered. If a student withdraws after this point, they will not be required to return federal Title IV funds.

Return of Institutional Aid

Each school at Emory maintains its own policies regarding the return of institutional funds upon withdrawal. We encourage you to contact the Office of Financial Aid before you are fully withdrawn to understand how this action will affect your eligibility for institutional aid and your student account balance.