Financial Aid Policies & Appeals 

Financial aid may be revised when classes are dropped, not attended, or when non-participation is reported by professors. 

This information is for the fall and spring semesters only. Different timeframes and processes are in place for summer. 

Weeks 1-6 

Several factors may lead to a review of financial aid eligibility within the first six weeks of the semester. If necessary, financial aid eligibility may be revised and result in a bill that the student is responsible for paying. Please review the Initial Course Participation policy so you are aware of the potential impact a change in enrollment may have on your financial aid eligibility.

What is the Pell Recalculation Date? 

Eligibility for financial aid at Purdue University is based on the number of credit hours you are enrolled and attending/participating in at the end of the sixth week of classes for the fall and spring terms (the last day of the first week of the 3^rd module for summer), defined as the Pell Recalculation Date. Financial aid may be adjusted if your enrollment on the Pell Recalculation Date differs from the enrollment initially used to determine your financial aid eligibility. 

What does this mean? 

Financial aid eligibility is determined based on the level of enrollment. Certain types of financial aid require full-time enrollment to maintain eligibility; other types of financial aid only require half-time enrollment. If you receive financial aid that is based on full-time enrollment and have reduced your credit hours as of the Pell Recalculation Date, an award may be canceled, and you may be billed for lost aid. 

Please note: Pell awards are required to be adjusted per-credit-hour for any enrollment under 12 credits (full-time enrollment).

Example 

You enrolled in 12 credit hours (full-time status) at the beginning of the semester and received financial aid based on full-time enrollment. You later dropped or withdrew from a 3-credit-hour course. At the Pell Recalculation Date, your actual enrollment is 9 credit hours (three-quarter-time status). Your financial aid eligibility will be recalculated to reflect three-quarter-time enrollment. 

What can you do? 

If you anticipate a change in enrollment, please contact our office to determine how this change will impact your financial aid. 

For federal, state of Indiana, and Purdue need-based aid eligibility, a student must be a U.S. citizen or “eligible” non-citizen. 

For a non-citizen to be eligible for financial aid consideration, the student must possess a valid Alien Registration Card I-551 or I-151, be classified as a conditional permanent resident with a valid I-151C Registration Card, or have a passport or I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) showing one of the following designations: 

• Refugee 
• Asylum Granted 
• Indefinite parole and/or Humanitarian Parole 
• Cuban-Haitian Entrant 

If you have any questions concerning your citizenship status, you should contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Title IV (Federal) funds are awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV funds that the student was originally scheduled to receive. If a student has received Title IV financial aid, a refund must be calculated under the Federal Return of Title IV Funds policy. The refunds are based on the number of days attended for the semester, divided by the total number of days in the semester (minus any scheduled breaks of at least five days in length). Funds are deposited back to the financial aid accounts in accordance with federal regulations. If financial aid funds have been earned and not yet received, the student will be contacted by the Office of the Bursar. 

Further information about refunds and return of Title IV financial aid funds is located at the Office of the Bursar.  

University withdrawal procedures are located at the Office of the Dean of Students.  

Contact your residence hall manager or University Residences Administration for information about refunds of University housing payments.

Withdrawal Details 

Official Withdrawal 

Please visit the Bursar’s website for more information on withdrawals.  

A student is officially withdrawn on: 

• The date the student provided official notification of intent to withdraw, in writing or orally. 
• The date the student began the withdrawal process with the Office of the Dean of Students. 

A student can rescind the notification in writing to the Office of the Dean of Students and continue the program. If the student subsequently drops, the student’s withdrawal date is the original date of notification of intent to withdraw. 

For withdrawals processed prior to the end of the fourth week of classes for fall or spring terms or the equivalent dates for summer sessions, the grade of W is recorded for each course in which a withdrawn student was enrolled. After the fourth week of classes for fall or spring terms or the equivalent dates for summer sessions, a withdrawn student receives grades of “W” only for those courses in which there were passing grades at the time of withdrawal; otherwise, the grade “WF” is recorded. 

Students called to active military service during a term in which they are enrolled may be entitled to a refund of tuition and fees if they withdraw or the student may be entitled to receive a final grade or incomplete grade in courses. Students should contact the Office of the Dean of Students to determine their options. 

A student is considered a withdraw from classes offered in a session of enrollment when the student ceases attendance at any point prior to completing the period of enrollment unless the school obtains confirmation from the student at the time of withdrawal that they will attend a session that begins later in the same period of enrollment. This confirmation must be obtained at the time of the withdrawal even if the student has registered for subsequent courses. 

If a student receives Title IV grant or loan assistance and does not begin attendance in a period of enrollment, the student is ineligible for any Title IV aid. 

Upon receipt of the official withdrawal information, Purdue will complete the following: 

• DFA verifies the student’s attendance through the official withdrawal form. 
• The Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation is performed to determine the number of Federal funds the student has earned and the amount of unearned Federal funds for which the school and the student are responsible to return (if any). Calculations are completed using the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) Return of Title IV, HEA Funds Worksheets, student’s attendance, and withdrawal date, and are based upon the period of enrollment. 
• DFA will return the amount of any unearned portion of the Title IV funds for which the school and the student are responsible within 45 days of the date the official notice of withdrawal was provided. 
• DFA will provide the student with a letter explaining any returns that have been made to the Title IV, HEA Federal programs on the student’s behalf as a result of exiting the program. 
• If a student’s scheduled attendance is more than 60% of the period of enrollment, he/she is considered to have earned 100% of the Federal funds received for the period of enrollment. In this case, no funds need to be returned and no letter will be sent from DFA.

Unofficial Withdrawal 

Unofficial withdrawals encompass all other withdrawals where official notification is not provided to Purdue. If a student does not officially withdraw and subsequently fails to earn a passing grade in at least one course offered over an entire period, the institution must assume, for Title IV, HEA purposes, the student has unofficially withdrawn, unless the institution can document that the student completed the enrollment period. If a student receives Title IV grant or loan assistance and does not begin attendance in a period of enrollment, the student is ineligible for any Title IV aid. 

When a recipient of Title IV grant or loan assistance unofficially withdraws from an institution, after having begun class attendance during a period of enrollment, the institution must determine the amount of Title IV grant or loan assistance that the student earned up to the date of withdrawal. For these unofficial withdrawals, the withdrawal date is the midpoint of the period of enrollment or the last date of an academically related activity in which the student participated as provided by the professor of record. 

Once grades are final for a term, the following procedures will take place: 

• Financial Aid will determine which students did not officially withdraw and failed to earn a passing grade in at least one course offered over an entire period. 
• Financial Aid will attempt to notify students of their unofficial withdrawal status. 
• Determine and record the student’s last date of attendance as the withdrawal date. The withdrawal date is the midpoint of the period of enrollment or the last date of an academically related activity in which the student participated as provided by the professor of record. 
• The Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation is performed to determine the number of Federal funds the student has earned if any, and the amount of unearned Federal funds for which the school and the student are responsible to return if any. Calculations are completed using the ED’s Return of Title IV Funds Worksheets, the student’s withdrawal date, and are based upon the period of enrollment. 
• DFA will return the amount of any unearned portion of the Title IV funds for which the school and the student are responsible within 45 calendar days of the date the official notice of withdrawal was provided. 
• DFA will provide the student with a notification explaining any returns that have been made to the Title IV, HEA Federal programs on the student’s behalf as a result of exiting the program. If a student’s scheduled attendance is more than 60% of the period of enrollment, he/she is considered to have earned 100% of the Federal funds received for the period of enrollment. In this case, no funds need to be returned and no letter will be sent from Financial Aid.  

Order of Return of Unearned Aid 

1. Direct Unsubsidized Loan 

2. Direct Subsidized Loan 

3. Direct Parent/Graduate PLUS Loan 

4. Federal Pell Grant 

5. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant 

6. TEACH Grant 

7. IASG (Iraq Afghanistan Service Grant) 

Post-Withdrawal Disbursement Conditions 

If a student has accepted Title IV, HEA financial aid by the date of the withdrawal, but the financial aid has not been disbursed, the student may be eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement. If the amount disbursed to the student is less than the amount the student earned, and for which the student is otherwise eligible, he or she is eligible to receive a post-withdrawal disbursement for the earned aid that was not received. 

Under these circumstances, an R2T4 calculation must be performed to determine whether the student is eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement. Purdue must make this determination within 30 calendar days after the student withdraws. 

The following conditions apply when processing a post-withdrawal disbursement: 

• A student may not owe a prior year balance or fail to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress according to Purdue and federal policy. 
• A student must have accepted aid by the date of the withdrawal. 
• If, before the student’s withdrawal date a loan offer has been accepted, the loan must also have been originated by Purdue. 
• If the student is eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement of a loan, Purdue must send notification of post-withdrawal disbursement eligibility to students within 30 calendar days after the student withdraws. Students will be given a minimum of 14 calendar days to respond to the post-withdrawal disbursement offer. For students who provide notification back to Purdue that they want the loan funds prior to the post-withdrawal disbursement deadline, we will disburse the loan.

A student will be denied eligibility for financial aid if he/she is in default on any federal student loan or owes a refund on a federal grant program. 

A student in default is defined as a student borrower who is 270 or more days past due in repaying a Federal student loan. Such a borrower is not eligible to receive additional Title IV federal student aid funds unless the borrower has made satisfactory arrangements with the holder of the loan to repay the loan. 

An overpayment exists whenever a student receives aid that exceeds his or her eligibility for a Title IV federal student aid program. Overpayments can be caused by incorrect reporting of information on the FAFSA, miscalculating the cost of attendance, miscalculation of the Estimated Family Contribution by a school, paying ineligible students, and paying aid in excess of grant or loan maximums. In general, a student is liable for any Title IV federal student aid fund overpayment made to him or her. A student who receives an overpayment of a Title IV program loan, or a Title IV program grant may re-establish eligibility for Title IV program assistance by repaying the excess amount, or by planning with the holder of the overpayment debt to pay the excess amount. 

Student Identity Confirmation in Person

The preferred method for confirming student identity is the student’s personal presentation of a valid Purdue University Identification card, driver’s license, or passport (picture ID).

Student Identity Confirmation on the Telephone

Over the phone, student identity will be verified by asking a series of questions: full name, date of birth, and student identification number. To preserve the privacy of student records, DFA reserves the right to deny telephone service to a caller if the identity of the caller cannot be confirmed or is in doubt.

Student Identity Confirmation through Email

Students seeking information specific to their account through email must inquire through their purdue.edu email account and include their name and Purdue University ID number.

Dependent Student Custodial Parent Confirmation through Email

Parents of dependent students seeking information specific to their child’s account through email must inquire through the parent email account that they provided on the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and include their name, the student’s name, and the student’s Purdue University ID number.

Dependent Student Custodial Parent Confirmation on the Telephone

Custodial parent identity will be verified by asking a series of questions: full name of student and parent, student identification number, and parent date of birth as reported on the FAFSA. To preserve the privacy of student records, DFA reserves the right to deny telephone service to a caller if the identity of the caller cannot be confirmed or is in doubt.

Dependent Student Custodial Parent Confirmation in Person

Custodial parent identity will be verified by asking a series of questions including but not limited to the full name of the student and parent, student identification number, and parent’s date of birth as reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Independent Student Parents on the Telephone or in Person

No student-specific financial aid information will be released to the spouse or parents of students considered independent for financial aid purposes, including parents that are required to provide information on the FAFSA for Health Professions Loan Program purposes. Students that want to share their financial aid status and eligibility information with unauthorized individuals are encouraged to call or come in with that individual or forward copies of financial aid information available on their myPurdue account. DFA does not provide a blanket release form authorizing the release of information to unauthorized individuals. Students can request a single release to authorize DFA in order to complete applications for private scholarships or government benefits. The Office of the Bursar allows a student to authorize a user to view bills and make payments. Learn more about authorized user access in myPurdue.

Overview 

Dependency status determines whose information must be reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. A dependent student will report student and parent information, even if they do not live with their parents. An independent student will report student and, if married, spouse information.

A student is independent for FAFSA purposes when their Personal Circumstances indicate any of the following:

• Age 24 (or will be during the application’s award year)
• Married prior to completing the application
• Enrolled (or will be) in a graduate or professional program
• Currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training
• Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces 
• Have children or other people who receive more than half of their support from the student now and during the application’s award year 
• At any time since age 13, the student is orphaned (no living biological or adoptive parent)
• At any time since age 13, the student was a ward of the court
• At any time since age 13, the student was in foster care
• The student is a legally emancipated minor as determined by a court in their state of legal residence
• The student is or was in a legal guardianship with someone other than their parent or stepparent, as determined by a court in their state of residence

Additional verification or documentation of independent status may be required by the financial aid office.

Not living with parents or not being claimed by them on tax forms does not make a student independent for purposes of applying for federal student aid.

Provisionally Independent

Students who indicate that they have other circumstances or unusual circumstances on the FAFSA will be considered provisionally independent. This is not a final determination of dependency status. Students must participate in a homeless youth determination interview or complete the Dependency Status Appeal (DSA) process for a final determination of dependency.

Student Other Circumstances

PLEASE NOTE: Your FAFSA must be received by the Division of Financial Aid (DFA) before we are able to discuss your individual circumstances with you. DFA anticipates beginning to receive 2024-2025 FAFSAs sometime in March.

Students who indicate in FAFSA question 6 that at any time on or after July 1, 2023, they were unaccompanied and either homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless and have a determination by an eligible agency, will be considered independent. An eligible agency includes one of the following:

• A high school or district homeless liaison or designee
• The director or designee of an emergency or transitional shelter, street outreach program, homeless youth drop-in center, or other program serving those experiencing homelessness
• The director or designee of a project supported by a federal TRIO program or a Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant
• A financial aid administrator

Students who are unaccompanied and homeless or at risk of being homeless on the FAFSA that DO NOT have a determination from an eligible agency, will be considered provisionally independent, and can fill out the FAFSA form as an independent student. However, the FAFSA is not complete until the school makes a final dependency status determination.

Please contact a Division of Financial Aid (DFA) call center counselor at (765) 494-5050 to discuss your circumstance and request a homeless youth determination. A financial aid administrator will then contact you to conduct an interview. The homeless youth determination will be made within a reasonable period but no more than 4 weeks after the interview.

Students who are determined to be homeless youth will be independent for financial aid purposes.

Students who are not determined to be homeless youth or who have indicated other circumstances on the FAFSA in error must either:

• Correct FAFSA question 6 student other circumstances to no, provide parent contact information, and send a request for them to add their financial information and signatures to the application or
• Correct FAFSA question 6 student other circumstances to no and answer yes to question 8, apply for a Direct Unsubsidized loan only; additional documentation will be required by the DFA.

Allow two weeks for the corrected FAFSA to be received and processed by our office.

Student Unusual Circumstances

Students may be considered independent if a financial aid administrator determines and documents the student’s independent status based on unusual circumstances. Unusual circumstances are those circumstances, which, in the professional judgment of a financial aid administrator, warrant the student to be considered independent.

Unusual circumstances may include:

• Leaving home due to an abusive or threatening environment.
• Parental abandonment or incarceration, human trafficking, refugee or asylee status.
• Other unique circumstances that justify an adjustment to a student’s dependency status.

Unusual circumstances DO NOT include:

• Parents refuse to contribute to the student’s education.
• Parents will not provide information for the FAFSA or verification.
• Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
• Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.

If a student has unusual circumstances and did not answer “Yes” to question 7 on the FAFSA, they may still appeal dependency status.

Students with unusual circumstances should contact a Division of Financial Aid (DFA) call center counselor at (765) 494-5050 to discuss their unusual circumstance and the dependency status appeal (DSA) process, how to obtain an appeal form, and what documentation to provide based on their circumstances. Once submitted, a determination of dependency status will be made by the DFA Review Committee within 3-4 weeks.

PLEASE NOTE: Your FAFSA must be received by the Division of Financial Aid (DFA) before we are able to discuss your individual circumstances with you. DFA anticipates beginning to receive 2024-2025 FAFSAs sometime in March.

Parents Unwilling to Provide Information

A student cannot be considered independent for financial aid purposes just because their parents refuse to help with the FAFSA process. Completing the FAFSA does not obligate parents to pay anything toward the student’s education. If parent information is not provided on the form, the student’s aid will be limited to unsubsidized Direct Loan only.

Changes to Student Circumstances

All applicants whose dependency status changes must update personal circumstances and the related FAFSA information throughout the award year except when the update is due to the student’s marital status changing.

Purdue will accept marital status updates for dependent students who are married by mid-October for fall-only or academic year enrollment or mid-March for spring-only enrollment. The dependent student whose marital status changed to Married after submitting the FAFSA can update their marital status for consideration. A copy of the marriage license, student and spouse federal tax returns, W-2 forms, and assets information will be required. 

More information on Unusual Circumstances can be found at studentaid.gov (https://studentaid.gov/help/unusual-circumstances)

Federal regulations require that student financial aid recipients commence attendance/participation in coursework to be eligible for federal financial aid. 

Regulations define attendance/participation as follows: 

Academic attendance and attendance at an academically-related activity include, but are not limited to: 

• Physically attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students; 
• Submitting an academic assignment; 
• Taking an exam, an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction; 
• Attending a study group that is assigned by the institution; 
• Participating in an online discussion about academic matters; and 
• Initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course; and 

Do not include activities where a student may be present, but not academically engaged, such as: 

• Living in institutional housing; 
• Participating in the institution’s meal plan; 
• Logging into an online class without active participation; or 
• Participating in academic counseling or advisement. 

A determination of academic attendance or attendance at an academically-related activity must be made by the institution; a student’s certification of attendance that is not supported by institutional documentation is not acceptable. 

Purdue instructors are required to report Initial Course Participation (ICP) by the end of the sixth week of classes for federal and institutional types of aid. Reporting for Indiana state-based aid is made by the end of the fourth week of classes. Individuals planning to take eight-week courses during the second half of the semester must be enrolled by the end of the sixth week of the regular semester. Instructor reporting for these courses should be completed by the end of the second week of the course. 

Instructors will document student attendance/participation. If the instructor requires an assignment or test in BrightSpace and the student completes the requirement, attendance/participation will be automatically reported. 

Students can see how an instructor reported attendance by logging into their myPurdue account. Choose the Registration tab and select Initial Course Participation. The student must contact the instructor to resolve any discrepancies. 

Financial aid is based on full-time enrollment (12 credit hours or more for undergraduates; 8 credit hours or more for graduate students), unless the student reports a different level of enrollment to our office. 

Financial aid may be reduced or canceled if the student does not maintain full-time enrollment and attend/participate in these classes by the end of the sixth week of classes for federal and institutional types of aid (Fourth week of classes for Indiana state-based aid).  Reduced or canceled financial aid cannot be reinstated for students who enroll in additional courses after the sixth week of classes. 

For further information about how enrollment and class attendance/participation impacts financial aid eligibility, review the Required Enrollment and Adding/Dropping Classes information. 

Division of Financial Aid: Mission, Vision, Values and Goals 

The mission of the Division of Financial Aid is to support students from recruitment to graduation and to ensure that the delivery of financial aid is accurate, expedient, and provided with integrity. We strive to make a positive difference in those we serve and to facilitate access to a world-class education. 

DFA Vision 

The Division of Financial Aid intends to be the leader in financial aid delivery. Our top priority is to enable student success by supporting affordability efforts at the university. 

Division of Financial Aid: Values and Goals 

The Division of Financial Aid values the simplification of communication while maintaining an atmosphere of open-mindedness and a willingness to adapt to new ideas. We value our employees through recruiting, educating, and sustaining top-notch professionals. Our goals encompass collaboration and efficiency in all we do. We provide and maintain an inclusive environment, as well as mentor students to look at the big picture without losing sight of the details. We do all this while fostering an atmosphere built on teamwork and integrity. 

Policy Governing Student Financial Aid 

As Indiana’s Land-Grant University, Purdue embraces the principle of extending access to higher education to a diverse body of qualified students. Since its founding in 1869, Purdue has grown from a single campus in West Lafayette to a multi-campus university system, thus allowing greater access to an affordable Purdue degree. Each Purdue campus defines access and affordability in relation to its strategic plan. 

The strategic plan of Purdue West Lafayette delineates its vision to achieve pre-eminence among the world-class institutions of higher education. The plan suggests that Purdue “recruit and retain academically talented undergraduate and graduate students with exemplary support for them to achieve success and enhance human and intellectual diversity among students.” Thus, Purdue’s policy that governs student financial aid awards is based on financial need, academic merit, and the need to enhance diversity through these awards. 

The priority for financial aid is given to students with demonstrated financial needs. Through this priority, Purdue ensures that the needs of Indiana residents are addressed based on available student aid funds each year. 

Academically talented students are awarded merit-based financial aid on a competitive basis as they demonstrate their academic achievements. These students may also qualify for need-based aid when eligible, just as needy students may qualify for merit-based aid as well. 

Through the need-based and merit-based aid programs, Purdue also attempts to enhance student diversity to provide an academic environment that is conducive to educating all students about a multicultural workforce and society, and for cultivating civic leaders who are reflective of our diverse society. Purdue extends and expands opportunities for higher education to a wide range of populations in Indiana and the nation through aid programs. 

Purdue optimizes the use of various sources of student financial aid including federal and state aid funds, institutional scholarships and grants, student employment, loan programs, and privately funded grants based on donor intent. Eligible students are awarded financial aid packages that include funds from one or more of these sources. Based on the extent of aid funds available each year, Purdue distributed these funds to cover as much of the educational costs to eligible students as possible. 

Purdue’s long-term goal in student financial aid is to systematically reduce the various levels of dependency on students’ loans in the aid packages to reduce the indebtedness of students, particularly those with financial need, upon their graduation from Purdue. To that end, Purdue remains committed to increasing grant and scholarship funds from public and private sources.

Federal regulations require that, if any time during the enrollment period additional resources become available in excess of a student’s estimated cost of education, a reduction in previous awards made by DFA (including grants, scholarships, work and loan funding) may be necessary. 

Educational loans may be adjusted if additional resources become available to a student that were not originally considered when eligibility for the loan funds was determined. 

Purdue does not award financial aid over the estimated cost of attendance. If additional resources become available, a reduction in previous awards may occur to keep the student’s aid package within the estimated cost.

Eligibility for Pell grants and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) is almost exclusively restricted to students who have not received a bachelor’s degree or completed the requirements for one. Degrees from unaccredited and foreign schools can also count as bachelor’s degrees in some cases. If you have obtained a bachelor’s degree and are returning to school as an undergraduate student, you would only be eligible for Federal Direct Loans. 

The Division of Financial Aid (DFA) strives to protect the confidentiality and privacy of student records as required by law. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (as amended), commonly referred to as the Buckley Amendment, sets forth the standards for the protection of educational information of a student and how that information must be treated to protect student privacy. 

More information regarding student information and privacy at Purdue University is available from the Office of the Registrar. 

Advice to Students, Parents, and External Parties Seeking Student Financial Aid Records 

The Division of Financial Aid recommends interested non-students (custodial parents, non-custodial parents, and other third parties) to seek financial aid award information directly from the student. Students have quick and easy access to their financial aid, billing, and grade report records via myPurdue. A student may grant access to anyone whom they deem appropriate through the myPurdue Proxy system.  

DFA counselors may provide custodial parents who are not Proxy electees and whose information is provided on the FAFSA with financial aid information services but are not required to do so. In some instances, DFA reserves the right to refer some custodial parent questions back to the student to receive information to protect the confidentiality of student records. 

DFA Student Financial Aid Information Release Practices 

Note that for financial aid purposes, parent definitions and independent student definitions are defined by federal student aid regulations and may differ from Internal Revenue Service dependent exemption tax rules and definitions. Any exceptions to these DFA information release practices are subject to Director approval. 

• myPurdue Proxy Electee 

If a student designates a person as a Proxy, they must identify themselves as a proxy at the beginning of a phone conversation. The proxy will then be asked for their passphrase. Once the passphrase has been given and accepted, DFA will discuss all items given permission by the student. 

• Parent Financial Aid Record Release 

Financial aid and parent records submitted to DFA are not considered student educational records. Because of this, our office will not release copies of these documents to the student. For example, DFA will not release a copy of a parent’s tax record or tax transcript to a student after it is submitted. 

• Non-Custodial Parent Information Inquiries 

DFA staff will not release student financial aid information to the non-custodial parent(s) of a student considered dependent for financial aid purposes. 

• Parents of Independent Students Information Inquiries 

DFA staff will not release student financial aid information to the parent(s) or spouse of a student considered independent for financial aid purposes. 

• Student Written Requests 

A student may submit a written and signed request for the release of student financial aid information from DFA that specifies the following: (1) exactly what information is to be released; (2) the time period the information is for; and (3) the reason the information is being sought. This information will only be provided to the student. 

• Third-Party Requests 

No student-specific financial aid information is provided to any third party by phone or in person. 

DFA Identity Confirmation Practices 

• Student Identity Confirmation in Person 

The preferred method for confirming student identity is the student’s personal presentation of a valid Purdue University Identification card, driver’s license, or passport (picture ID). 

• Student Identity Confirmation on the Telephone 

Over the phone, student identity will be verified by asking a series of questions: full name, date of birth, and student identification number. To preserve the privacy of student records, DFA reserves the right to deny telephone service to a caller if the identity of the caller cannot be confirmed or is in doubt. 

• Students Identify Confirmation through Email 

Students seeking information specific to their account through email must inquire through their purdue.edu email account and include their name, Purdue University ID number, and date of birth. 

• Dependent Student Custodial Parent Confirmation through Email 
• Custodial parent identity will be verified by asking a series of questions including but not limited to:
  • full name of student and parent  
  • student identification number  
  • parent date of birth as reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 
  • Independent Student Parents on the Telephone or in Person 
• Dependent Student Custodial Parent Confirmation on the Telephone
  • Custodial parent identity will be verified by asking a series of questions: full name of student and parent, student identification number, and parent date of birth as reported on the FAFSA. To preserve the privacy of student records, DFA reserves the right to deny telephone service to a caller if the identity of the caller cannot be confirmed or is in doubt. 
• Dependent Student Custodial Parent Confirmation in Person
  • Parents of dependent students seeking information specific to their child’s account through email must inquire through the parent email account that they provided on the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and include their name and date of birth and the student’s name and Purdue University ID number and date of birth. 

No student-specific financial aid information will be released to the spouse or parents of students considered independent for financial aid purposes, including parents that are required to provide information on the FAFSA for Health Professions Loan Program purposes. Students that want to share their financial aid status and eligibility information with unauthorized individuals are encouraged to call or come in with that individual, or forward copies of financial aid information available on their myPurdue account. DFA does not provide a blanket release form authorizing the release of information to unauthorized individuals. Students can request a single release to authorize DFA to complete applications for private scholarships or government benefits. The Office of the Bursar allows a student to authorize a user to view bills and make payments.  

Restricting Information Access 

The Purdue University Division of Financial Aid uses the information students provide on the Free Application of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility to receive federal, state, and institutional student financial aid and the amount of eligibility. Sections 483 and 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, give the Federal Student Aid Programs (FSAP) and DFA the authority to ask students and parents these questions, and to collect the SSN of students and parents. DFA, FSAP, and your state aid agency use the SSN to verify, identify, and retrieve records, and may request the SSN again for these purposes. 

Without student consent, FSAP may disclose information provided on the FAFSA to entities under a published routine use. Under such a routine use, FSAP may disclose information to third parties that are authorized to assist them in administering the above programs; to other federal agencies under computer matching programs, such as those with the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, Selective Service System, Immigration and Naturalization Service, and Veterans Administration; to a student’s parents or spouse; and to members of Congress if a student asks them to help with student aid questions. 

If the federal government, the U.S. Department of Education, or an employee of the U.S. Department of Education is involved in litigation, FSAP may send information to the Department of Justice, or a court of adjudicative body, if the disclosure is related to financial aid and certain conditions are met. In addition, FSAP may send student information to a foreign, federal, state, or local enforcement agency if the information submitted indicates a violation, or potential violation of law, for which that agency has jurisdiction for investigation or prosecution. Finally, FSAP may send information regarding a claim that is determined to be valid and overdue to a consumer report agency. This information includes identifiers from the record; the amount, status, and history of the claim, and the program under which the claim arose.

Federal regulations impact how financial aid can be used for classes taken more than once. 

You CAN receive financial aid: 

• To repeat a course that has already been passed (D- or higher) only one additional time. Any repeated attempts after that will not be eligible for financial aid. Note that this applies even if you earn a failing grade (F). 
• As many times as necessary to repeat a course in which the only previous grade earned has been a failing grade (F). 
• If a passing grade has been earned for certain repeat courses because of different subject content being studied in each term, such as in-band.

All courses previously taken, even if financial aid was not used, are compared against the current semester to determine if it is a repeated class and whether it can be paid for using financial aid. Your financial aid may be recalculated if you take a class that is not eligible for financial aid. This policy does not provide exceptions if the repeat courses are taken to meet the plan of study grade requirements, i.e., a grade of C or higher must be earned to count towards your major.

Eligibility for Federal and state of Indiana student aid at Purdue University will be based on the number of credit hours in which a student is enrolled and has initiated course participation as of the end of the sixth week of classes for the Fall or Spring semesters, and as of the end of the first week of classes of module 3 for each module of the Summer. If enrollment is reduced on or before the census date, Federal and state aid eligibility could be reduced or canceled. If enrollment is increased after this date, financial aid eligibility is not automatically increased. For students enrolled at College of Technology Statewide sites, census dates vary based on the start of the enrollment period. 

Note that if a student drops a course prior to specified dates, but remains enrolled at the minimum enrollment level, there is no impact on the amount of financial aid. 

The definitions for each enrollment level listed below are based on state and federal regulations for financial aid. These levels may vary from the Registrar’s Office definitions for insurance or similar purposes.    

Undergraduate Enrollment Levels for Financial Aid Per Semester (including Summer School): 

• Full-time = 12 or more credits
• Three-quarter-time = 9 – 11.99 credits
• Half-time = 6 – 8.99 credits
• Less-than-half-time = 1 – 5.99 credits

Graduate and Professional Student Enrollment Levels for Financial Aid Per Semester: 

• Full-time = 8 or more credits (6 or more credits for summer)
• Three-quarter-time = 6 – 7.99 credits (4.5 – 5.99 credits for summer)
• Half-time = 4 – 5.99 credits (3 – 4.49 credits for summer)
• Less-than-half-time = 1 – 3.99 credits (less than 3 credits for summer)

Enrollment Level Impact on Aid Eligibility: 

Federal assistance includes the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Direct Loan, Federal Parent PLUS Loan, and/or Federal Work-Study. These types of aid usually require at least half-time enrollment at Purdue (6 or more credit hours for undergraduates and 4 or more credit hours for graduate students). 

Those eligible for the Federal Pell Grant must maintain their planned enrollment or the Pell Grant value must be “prorated” based on the following enrollment levels: 

• Full-time: 12 or more credits, 100% of full-time award
• 11 credits, 92% of full-time award
• 10 credits, 83% of full-time award
• 9 credits, 75% of full-time award
• 8 credits, 67% of full-time award
• 7 credits, 58% of full-time award
• 6 credits, 50% of full-time award
• 5 credits, 42% of full-time award
• 4 credits, 33% of full-time award
• 3 credits, 25% of full-time award
• 2 credits, 17% of full-time award
• 1 credit, 8% of full-time award

State of Indiana aid includes the Higher Education Award and the Part-Time Grant program. The Higher Education Award requires a minimum of 12 credit hour enrollment. 

If you have any questions about how your enrollment level impacts your aid eligibility, contact the Division of Financial Aid at (765) 494-5050 or facontact@purdue.edu.

The Division of Financial Aid (DFA) is required by federal regulation to monitor and determine whether a student is enrolled in a degree-seeking program and is meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements. Students receiving federal financial aid, Purdue need-based awards or Purdue scholarships/private scholarships with a SAP requirement must meet Purdue’s institutional policy that is required of students not receiving Federal Student Aid.  

Check out our Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) webpage to learn more.

Introduction 

Verification is a process that the Division of Financial Aid conducts to comply with federal regulations. Purdue is required to verify the information provided on the FAFSA using tax transcripts or returns and other documents to ensure that students receive accurate financial aid awards. If selected for verification, our office will request the information required to complete the FAFSA verification process. 

Verification Requirements 

Records selected for verification will always require student information and parent information if the student is dependent. Custodial parents who have remarried must also provide their current spouse’s income information. To satisfy the verification requirement the student will access the StudentForms portal using the link provided in their myPurdue account. Information requested will vary depending on the information provided on the FAFSA but may include requests for student and/or parent federal tax information, family size and number in college, and assets. Federal tax information may be provided by using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool* to transfer tax information to the FAFSA or by providing a copy of federal, Puerto Rican, or foreign tax transcripts or signed tax returns. 

*Preferred method 

Processing Timeframe 

DFA staff will manually review the verification documents after all of the requirements have been completed and submitted in the StudentForms portal. Until the review is complete, the “Take Action – Access the StudentForms portal” link on the myPurdue account will read as incomplete, marked with a red exclamation point. It can take up to 3 weeks to complete the manual review and update the account. We will correct FAFSA information that does not match the verification documents and determine financial aid eligibility based on the correct information. A revision to the financial aid may be necessary if verification is required and completed after financial aid is awarded. When an aid revision occurs, the student will receive an email notification advising them to review the information online through their myPurdue account. 

Important Notes 

• By submitting the FAFSA, you have agreed to provide any additional information that the school requests. 
• It is your responsibility to comply in a timely manner to maintain financial aid eligibility. 
• Verification must be completed before the last day of the student’s enrollment. However, please be advised that financial aid will not credit a student’s bill if outstanding verification requirements exist. Additionally, financial aid is awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis; eligibility may decrease if funding is no longer available. 
• Most verification documents must be uploaded to the StudentForms portal and should not be sent to our office unless specifically instructed to do so on the document or by a financial aid counselor.

The Division of Financial Aid (DFA) calculates an estimated Cost of Attendance (COA), or budget, for financial aid applicants based on federal guidelines. Financial aid is awarded up to the COA but cannot exceed it. The COA includes direct and indirect educationally related expenses. The DFA surveys students every 3 years to help estimate indirect costs. Note that tuition and fee amounts may vary based on the enrolled program. 

Please keep in mind that the COA only accounts for the months in which you are enrolled. For instance, if you only enroll in classes for the fall semester, your COA would be half of what is shown in the example. If your eligible educationally related expenses exceed these estimated costs, you should speak with a DFA Counselor to receive the appeal form and instructions. It may be possible to increase your COA and thus increase the amount of financial aid you are eligible to receive by completing the Budget Adjustment Appeal and returning it to our office. 

We can consider the following categories: 

• Off-campus housing: rent, utilities, homeowner’s/renter’s insurance, internet, food
  • Documentation must show your name, address, date and monthly charges 
  • Examples of acceptable documentation include the lease agreement, receipts, bills, and canceled checks (additional documentation may be requested) 

NOTE: Increased on-campus housing expenses do not need to be reported through this form for additional loan consideration. Contact our office to determine if you are eligible for more loans because of on-campus housing rates. 

• Transportation: car insurance, gas, maintenance expenses
  • Documentation must include a written statement detailing the necessity of a car for any transportation expense 
  • Examples of acceptable documentation include vehicle insurance premiums including dates of coverage, receipts (additional documentation may be requested) 
• Daycare expenses for dependents:
  • Documentation must show the child’s name, age, and monthly expense for each child 
  • Examples of acceptable documentation include a statement from the daycare provider, canceled checks, and receipts (additional documentation may be requested) 
• Medical expenses paid:
  • Documentation must show out-of-pocket expenses and the date paid 
  • Examples of acceptable documentation include receipts, canceled checks (additional documentation may be requested) 
  • For recurring medical expenses, you must include a letter from your medical provider that verifies the monthly charge 
• Miscellaneous/recreational: personal, clothing/laundry, miscellaneous
  • Documentation not required
• Books/supplies:
  • Required documentation: receipts (additional documentation may be requested) 

We cannot consider the following types of expenses: 

• Those incurred or paid by roommates 
• Those incurred for spouses, children, or other family members 
• Car payments or credit card payments 
• Expenses incurred outside of the current enrollment period 

Timeframes 

• Summer Budget Adjustment Appeals will be available in May and should be submitted 3 weeks prior to your last day of summer enrollment to ensure adequate time to process additional financial aid.
• Academic Year Budget Adjustment Appeals will be available in July. 
• For Fall-only enrollment, Budget Adjustment Appeals should be submitted by the third Friday in November to ensure adequate time to process additional financial aid.
• For Spring-only or academic year enrollment, Budget Adjustments Appeals should be submitted by the first Friday in April to ensure adequate time to process additional financial aid.
• Processing takes approximately 3-4 weeks from the time the appeal form and all required documentation are received by our office.

Important Notes 

All expenses submitted for a Budget Adjustment Appeal must be incurred and paid during your enrollment period. Documentation showing expenses outside of the enrollment period (i.e., car insurance coverage for 12 months) will be pro-rated based on your actual enrollment.

The expenses submitted with the appeal must be greater than the amounts listed in your myPurdue account to change aid eligibility. To view the estimated cost of attendance calculated by our office, log into myPurdue. Click the Financial Aid tab. Select the appropriate Award Year from the drop-down box. Select Cost of Attendance from the Financial Aid box.

A Budget Adjustment Appeal can only be used to increase loan eligibility. Undergraduate students who have already borrowed the maximum annual grade level limit for Federal Direct Education Loans will be offered Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan or Private Loan eligibility, both of which are subject to credit approval. Graduate students who have already borrowed the maximum annual limit for Federal Direct Education Loans will be offered Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan or Private Loan eligibility, both of which are subject to credit approval.

When the FAFSA does not accurately reflect a family’s financial status, a Special Circumstance appeal may be used. Our office can evaluate your circumstance to determine if an adjustment to the FAFSA income could affect the type or amount of financial aid that is available. Documentation is required for all Special Circumstance appeals.

Allowable Circumstances 

Purdue Division of Financial Aid will consider adjusting for the following situations: 

• Income loss 
• Documented out-of-pocket medical/dental expenses paid in 2023
• Marital status changed to divorced, separated, or widowed after filing the 2024-25 FAFSA
• One-time income received in 2022

Non-allowable Circumstances 

Purdue Division of Financial Aid will not consider adjusting for the following situations: 

• Bankruptcy 
• Consumer debt (credit cards, car payments) 
• “Lifestyle” choices, including high mortgage payments or second vehicles 
• Any circumstance experienced by a parent who is not a contributor on the FAFSA
• Voluntary income losses 

Appeal Requirements 

To complete a Special Circumstance Appeal, you must: 

• Speak to a financial aid administrator to discuss your circumstances. 
• Have the current year’s FAFSA completed and sent to Purdue (school code 001825).
• Complete the FAFSA verification process, if applicable. The verification review must be complete prior to processing a Special Circumstance appeal.
• Have a circumstance that is not already reflected on the FAFSA. 
• Have an SAI that is greater than -1500.
• Provide all required documentation and any additional information requested. 

Timeframes for 2024-25 

• The 2024-25 special circumstance appeals will be available in late April 2024. Your 2024-25 FAFSA must be received before you can begin the appeal process
• Processing of the 2024-25 appeals will begin in mid-to-late May. 
• Processing can take 3-4 weeks, or longer, depending on the time of year and workload.
• Appeal review is in order by date of submission. The timeframe may be longer for appeals submitted without the documentation required for the appeal category. 
• Submit the 2024-25 special circumstance appeal form and all required documentation for the chosen category in the portal. A link to the portal will be provided once an appeal is made available. To ensure adequate time to process your appeal, it must be submitted 4 weeks prior to the end of the period of enrollment.

*Categories: 

• Involuntary unemployment or job change in 2023
• Involuntary unemployment or job change in 2024
• One-time income received in 2022 that was not received in 2023
• Marital status changed to divorced, separated, or widowed after the 2024-25 FAFSA was filed
• Extraordinary, unreimbursed medical expenses paid in 2023
• Miscellaneous loss of income in 2023 that does not fit in the other categories