Students whose families experience an involuntary loss of income in calendar year 2025 as compared to 2023 or experience an unusual circumstance may wish to contact a Financial Aid Advisor for information on how to proceed with a Professional Judgement (PJ) appeal.  PJ cases are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are housed under two different types:

• Special Circumstances: Involuntary loss of income is classified as a condition outside of a person's control. Circumstances such as retirement or termination from employment due to unfavorable conduct would not be considered.  Examples of situations that can be considered are:
  • • Employment layoff, company downsizing, or reduced workforce hours
    • Substantial medical expenses not covered by insurance that were paid
    • Parent divorce or separation after the FAFSA is filed (for dependent students)
    • Death of a parent after the FAFSA is filed (for dependent students)
    • Loss of child support, alimony, or unemployment
    • A one-time 401(k)/Pension withdrawal (for necessary or emergency purposes)
• Unusual Circumstances: Conditions for a dependency override due to human trafficking, parental abandonment, parental abuse, or parent imprisonment.

If you feel eligibility may be impacted based on a circumstance please contact our office. Our office will collect information from you to determine if your situation could impact eligibility. If so, documentation will be collected to conduct the review. The type of documentation requested will be dependent on the type of appeal submitted, but could include letters from employers, most recent pay stubs, tax forms, court documentation, police records, a student attestation/interview, etc. If you were selected for verification, this process must be complete before Professional Judgement can begin.

A Special Circumstance review may take three weeks from the time all required documentation is submitted. An Unusual Circumstance review will be finalized within 60 days of the student's enrollment if all required documentation is submitted within this timeframe. If a Professional Judgement case is approved, and it affects a student's financial aid offer, the Financial Aid office will revise the student offer in accordance with Federal Aid rules. The revised offer notification will be sent to the student's UNOH email account, directing the student to my.unoh.edu to view their offer under their Financial Aid Dashboard.

What if I am an Unaccompanied Homeless Youth?

If you selected on the 2025/2026 FAFSA that you are unaccompanied and homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless the Financial Aid Office will provide you with documentation to have completed.  In order to confirm your status for Title IV eligibility purposes, documentation from one of the following sources will be required:

• A local educational agency homeless liaison (or designee), as designated by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)).
• The director (or designee) of an emergency or transitional shelter, street outreach program, homeless youth drop-in center, or other program serving individuals who are experiencing homelessness.
• The director (or designee) of a Federal TRIO program or a Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate program (GEAR UP) grant.
• A financial aid administrator at another institution who documented the student’s circumstance in the same or a prior award year.

Financial Aid Eligibility

How do I see my Financial Aid offer?

Once you complete your FAFSA and/or all documentation requirements are met and completed, you will receive a notification that your offer has been provided to you.  You will receive an email to your UNOH email account and you will receive a postcard.  This will direct you to your Financial Aid Dashboard at my.unoh.edu where you can access your Financial Aid Offer. 

How do I know if I have enough Financial Aid?

Your Financial Aid Offer will provide you information pertaining to your offered aid eligibility each term and for the Academic Year.  You will notice a link to aid you in understating if you have sufficient aid called “Calculate Essential Costs”.  Use this tool to determine if you need to borrow any additional loans or seek alternative funding.

What do I need to do to use my Federal Direct Student Loan?

The Federal Direct Student Loan is available for all students who complete a FAFSA.  Eligibility amounts are as follows:

Currently, the fixed interest rate for Subsidized and Unsubsidized student loans disbursed after July 1, 2024 for Undergraduates is 6.53%, and the fixed interest rate for Unsubsidized student loans disbursed after July 1, 2024 for Graduates is 8.08%.

If you wish to use the Federal Direct Student Loan, you must go to studentaid.gov and complete Entrance Counseling and the Master Promissory Note.  Instructions are available here.

What other loan options are available other than the Federal Direct Student Loan?

If grants, scholarships, Federal Direct Student Loans, or other eligible funding is not sufficient to cover all of your educational costs or needs, you can apply for additional loans.  There are two options:  The Federal Direct PLUS Loan or Private Education Loans.  Additional Loan information can be found on our Loan Page.

What scholarships are available?

The University of Northwestern Ohio offers many UNOH sponsored scholarship opportunities. In addition, there are many outside scholarship opportunities available.  For outside scholarships, please note that Fall and Winter are peak scholarship application processing times, as deadlines are typically in late Winter or early Spring.  For a list of outside scholarship options and opportunities, please click here. 

How many credit hours do I need to take to receive aid?

• To receive aid as a full-time student in the College of Business, Occupational Professions, and Health Professions you must take 12 credit hours per term.  Part-time enrollment requires 6 credit hours minimum.
• To receive aid as a full-time student in the College of Applied Technologies you must take 6 credit hours per term. Part-time enrollment requires 3 credit hours minimum.

Please note that the aid you qualify for as a part-time student may be significantly less than that of full-time.