The 2024-2025 FAFSA is available!
If you plan on
attending Rutgers
during the 2024-2025
academic year,
complete the FAFSA by March 15, 2024 to
apply for financial aid.
Professional Judgment Request
Some students and families experience changes in their households that may impact their ability to contribute to educational expenses. For students who have changes that are not already reflected on their FAFSA, submitting a Professional Judgment (PJ) Request Form will allow us to address those issues and decide if a change in eligibility is warranted. A form for the academic year in which you wish to appeal for additional aid must be completed and submitted for review. Additional documentation will be requested in order for the form to be reviewed.
The 2023-2024 PJ Request Form has closed. The 2024-2025 PJ Request Form will be open soon.
For assistance, please see the Professional Judgment Quick Guide.
Changes for Special or Unusual Circumstances
Under the new simplified FAFSA, financial aid administrators at colleges must let families know that students who apply for aid can pursue adjustments based on their family and financial circumstances. This process is known as Professional Judgment (PJ). In certain circumstances, it can extend to declared disasters, emergencies or economic downturns.
Important Information
No federal, state, or institutional financial aid will be awarded to you until the verification process is complete.
- If you have not yet accepted your admission offer, we will not review your PJ until you have notified Rutgers of your intention to enroll. Therefore, please inform the Office of Financial Aid promptly when your admission status changes.
- If you are submitting a PJ Request Form, please visit the myRutgers portal 72 hours after submitting your form and check the financial aid widget, which will then bring you to the Rutgers Financial Aid Student Portal. Your request cannot be reviewed until all requested documentation has been submitted.
- After all information has been received, and reviewed, students will be notified by email of the results. Please allow at least 4-6 weeks for a Financial Aid Officer to review your file.
- Review of documents, letters, emails, and other communications is processed in the order in which they are received. Please promptly return your documents.
- Incomplete files will not be reviewed. The application will be rejected if a file remains incomplete for 30 days. If additional information is required to further a review, the student will be notified in writing at their RU account. Students are asked to submit any additional documentation within 30 days to ensure a timely response and the processing of financial aid awards.
- Submission of a PJ Request Form does not guarantee additional funds. This process does not release students from adhering to the term bill requirements.
- If based on your FAFSA you are considered a dependent student but feel that you have unusual circumstances that need to be considered, you may submit a Professional Judgment Request for a dependency override. For more information, visit the dependency override page.