This publication identifies a variety of situations in which it may be necessary to use professional judgement in the needs analysis of students requesting financial aid. Alternatives are suggested to aid administrators in more sensitively assessing the ability of a family to pay for postsecondary education. The intent is to describe alternative…

The 1992 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) made changes in the need analysis formulas that determine the expected family contribution (EFC) used in awarding Title IV Federal student aid, altered the definition of an independent student, lowered the family size offset for independent students without dependents, eliminated home…