Appeal Process: Current and Returning Undergraduates

All of our financial aid awards for Arts & Sciences and Engineering students are based solely on financial need, as determined by our analysis of family financial resources.

Tufts has a process through which you can report a change in circumstances by submitting Appeal documents. If there has been a significant change in your family’s financial situation, or if you believe there are special circumstances or new information that should be considered, you can submit appeal documents for review.

• If 2023 parental income is at least 15% less than 2022 income, Tufts may consider an appeal based upon 2023 income. A more recent change in circumstances, such as a period of unemployment lasting six months or more, or medical expenses over 5% of total income, may also be considered.
• In cases of current year change of financial circumstances, an appeal may not be reviewed until the end of October, and any additional aid will be credited to your spring bill. Your family should plan to pay the fall semester balance in full when due in August.
• We are not able to consider appeals based on circumstances that include, but are not limited to: high consumer debt, personal expenses, monthly living expenses, and changes or expenses that have not yet occurred.

These documents can be submitted as part of your 2024-2025 aid application in May along with the required IDOC submission, or to request reconsideration of your 2024-2025 aid decision after you receive the notification letter. We begin emailing financial aid decision letters to currently enrolled students at the end of June.

To initiate an appeal, please submit the following items to IDOC:

• A completed Appeal Form.
• A detailed explanation letter, and any supporting documents that would be helpful in clarifying the situation. 
• A complete copy of the 2023 Parent Federal Income Tax Returns and W-2s, including all schedules, statements, and attachments, and if applicable, federal business returns.

Emailed forms and tax documents will not be accepted. After the Appeal Form, explanation letter, tax documents, and supporting documents have been received, they will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee.

If the Appeal documents are received in time, they may be considered during the awarding process. If they are received after the 2024-2025 financial aid decision notification has been sent to you, the review will begin on 8/1/24 if all documentation has been received, and a decision will be returned as soon as possible. Current year changes may not be reviewed until the end of October.

Dependency appeals are only reviewed for documented unusual circumstances (i.e., abuse, abandonment, etc.). The Higher Education Act allows an aid administrator to make dependency overrides on a case-by-case basis for students with unusual circumstances. Please note that none of the conditions listed below, singly or in combination, qualify as unusual circumstances or merit a dependency override:

• Parents refuse to contribute to the student's education.
• Parents are unwilling to provide information on the application or for verification.
• Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
• Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.

• Download the 2024-2025 Appeal Form
• Contact Us