/Institutions/Drake-State-Community-and-Technical-College/json/2025-2026/Student-Handbook-local.json

/Institutions/Drake-State-Community-and-Technical-College/json/2025-2026/Student-Handbook.json

Special Circumstances/Unusual Circumstances

Financial aid eligibility is generally based on income from the prior year. However, students may request a review of their financial aid if they experience special or unusual circumstances that affect their ability to pay for college.

Special circumstances refer to significant changes in a family’s financial situation, such as the death of a parent or spouse, separation or divorce, loss of income, or expenses due to a natural disaster. In these cases, the Financial Aid Office may use current-year income to reassess eligibility.

Unusual circumstances involve changes in a student’s dependency status, such as when a student cannot provide parental information due to abandonment, abuse, or other serious situations.

Students experiencing either type of circumstance should contact the Financial Aid Department to discuss options and begin the review process. Proper documentation will be required to determine whether adjustments can be made to the student’s financial aid eligibility.