Special Circumstances Regarding Your Aid

Emory understands that students may experience changes in their financial situation and/or living conditions that may not be reflected in their most recent financial 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.

If you experience a substantial change in your financial resources – such as loss of employment, natural disaster, death of a parent, extraordinary medical expenses, or unexpected tuition expenses please meet with a Financial Aid Advisor. If you experience changes concerning your living conditions that impact your dependency status – such as human trafficking, refugee or asylee status, parental abandonment, or incarceration - you can complete and submit an Unusual Circumstances Appeal Form and submit it along with any supporting documents. A financial aid committee will review your submission materials and eligibility.

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

  • A completed Unusual 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.

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.