At Martin Luther College we take the time to personally consider each individual family’s financial circumstances.  The financial information reflected on the FAFSA may not be the best representation of your current financial situation. The Financial Aid Office provides a Special Circumstance Appeal process, which allows us to review changes to a family’s financial situation based on new information.

If one of the situations below applies to you or your family, please complete the appropriate Special Circumstances Form.

Tuition Paid for Younger Sibling

If your family paid $1500 or more in private elementary, high school, or any higher education institution (public or private college/university) tuition for younger sibling(s), we will consider these payments.

  • Expenses for tuition only (EXCLUDES fees, books, room, board, etc.)
  • Does not include tuition for current MLC student
  • Incomplete forms will not be processed
  • Submissions must be made using the official form below
  • Submissions of documents not using the form will not be considered

For the 2024-2025 academic year

Special Circumstances 2024-25: Tuition Paid

Medical Expenses

If your family had high amounts of medical or dental expenses that were not covered by insurance or a health savings account, we may be able to consider these payments.

  • Expenses paid by family and not reimbursed by insurance or by employer’s pre-tax plan
  • Documentation showing the amount paid (out of pocket) must be provided
  • As a guideline – it takes at least $5000 in medical expenses paid (for a family of 4) to provide eligibility for additional financial aid
  • Incomplete forms will not be processed
  • Please submit the special circumstances form below

For the 2024-2025 academic year

Special Circumstances 2024-25: Medical Expenses

Loss of Income

If your family experienced a loss or reduction of income, we may be able to consider this situation.

  • Provide a written statement explaining the cause, approximate start date, and expected duration of the loss of income.
  • Provide your phone number on the special circumstances form.
  • Since every situation is different, the Director of Financial Aid will contact you in order to confirm what specific additional documentation is required.

For the 2024-2025 academic year

Special Circumstances 2024-25: Loss of Income

Dependency Override – Married Students/Students Getting Married

MLC strongly recommends waiting to file the FAFSA until after getting married.  

Students that are planning on getting married should not file the FAFSA until after they speak to the Financial Aid office.  Students planning on getting married that haven’t completed the FAFSA need to review this information and speak to the Director of Financial Aid for further guidance.

MLC will consider a dependency override for students that have entered in to marriage after filing the FAFSA.

Students that filed the FAFSA prior to becoming married should complete the dependency override request form, provided by the link button below, and submit it to the Financial Aid office. Appeals for change in martial status will be accepted up to the last date of class attendance for an academic year. Please allow a minimum of 2-3 weeks for processing.

For the 2024-2025 academic year

Dependency Override Request Form

Dependency Override – Students Experiencing Hardships

If  a student is in an abusive family situation which creates extreme hardship preventing attendance to college, a dependency override may be considered.

  • Documented child abuse cases, release into DHS or court custody, or parental incarcaration are examples of extreme situations that can be considered for an override.
  • Such situations must be documented by two non-family sources.
  • Such situations must also involve a total abandonment by the parents from all emotional, financial and physical support for the student.

Students experiencing any of the above situations should contact the Financial Aid office.

PLEASE NOTE: Parental willingness to give information or financial help to student, whether or not the parents claim the student on their federal tax return, and whether or not the student lives with the parent DO NOT make a student eligible for a dependency override by themselves.

For the 2024-2025 academic year

Dependency Override Policy

Submit Documentation Securely to Our Office

To securely supply requested documents to Martin Luther College, you may fax, mail, hand deliver, or use the secure electronic link available HERE (select the ‘Secure Upload’ option and follow the instructions).

For your safety, Martin Luther College requests that you DO NOT email documents.

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