The Department of Education gives financial aid administrators the ability to consider a family's special circumstances in determining financial aid eligibility. 

If special circumstances affect your parents' or your ability to contribute toward educational expenses, please complete the appropriate form and submit it to the Financial Aid Office. If you are unsure as to whether your circumstances may change your financial aid, we encourage you to visit with one of our financial aid counselors prior to completing the paperwork.  Each form contains several of the most common special circumstances along with the documentation requirements to process each request. Most  requests require submission of Federal Tax Return Transcripts or signed federal tax returns and a letter explaining the circumstance. The Department of Education and Luther College require you to submit proper documentation for your circumstances. Read the instructions carefully to ensure that proper documentation is submitted with your appeal. 

In order to receive consideration for special circumstances, we must first have a FAFSA on file for you.  If you are not eligible to file a FAFSA, please contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss your situation.

All appeals are reviewed in accordance with guidance from the Department of Education and college policy. Changes in financial aid packages are awarded based on the availability of funds. Students are expected to utilize full federal loan eligibility prior to being considered for receiving additional Luther grant assistance based on an appeal.

To report circumstances that should be considered in the 2022-23 academic year, please use one of the following forms:

2022-23 Dependent Student Special Circumstance Form

2022-23 Independent Student Special Circumstance Form

We will consider Special Circumstances for the 2022-23 academic year up until March 1, 2023.  We require any document sent electronically be sent as a pdf file. Copies can also be sent via postal mail or hand-delivered to the financial aid office. Your local library may also offer printing and scanning services.  Click here for instructions on how to scan a document with your phone.

Document Upload

Upload your completed documents securely to the Financial Aid Office (the student's 7-digit Luther ID will be needed to upload documents).  We require any document sent electronically be sent as a pdf file. Copies can also be sent via postal mail or hand-delivered to the financial aid office. Your local library may also offer printing and scanning services. Click here for instructions on how to scan a document with your phone.