Financial Aid Appeals

If your financial aid has been suspended or your financial situation has changed, you may be eligible to submit an appeal. The Long Beach City College Financial Aid Office reviews appeals on a case-by-case basis.

What is a Financial Aid Appeal?

A financial aid appeal allows students to request a review of a financial aid decision when special circumstances impact their eligibility. Students may submit documentation explaining their situation so the Financial Aid Office can determine whether aid eligibility can be reinstated or adjusted.

Types of Financial Aid Appeals

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal

Students who did not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards may submit an appeal explaining the circumstances that affected their academic performance.

Reasons a student may be eligible for an Appeal, that must be supported by official documentation, include (but are not limited to): 

• Death of a relative or other significant person
• Injury or illness, including, but not limited to, behavioral health conditions, of the student or a relative or other significant person
• Pregnancy or birth of a child (or adoption)
• Homelessness (of difficulty securing reliable housing)
• Loss of, limited, or difficulty finding childcare
• Loss or change in employment
• Loss of, limited, or difficult access to personal or public transportation
• Being a victim of a serious crime, including, but not limited to, domestic abuse, even if the crime was not reported or did not result in criminal prosecution or civil liability
• Natural Disaster, including the impacts from one
• Change of major or program

All decisions of the SAP committee are considered final. Students will be notified via email to their LBCC account of the appeal decision. Any questions regarding your decision can be sent to SAPappeals@lbcc.edu. If a student wishes to request a Secondary Review of their Denied Appeal, they may request one in writing at SAPappeals@lbcc.edu.

Special Circumstances Appeal

If your financial situation has significantly changed since submitting the FAFSA or CADAA, you may request a re-evaluation of your financial aid eligibility. Situations such as the following are considered here:

• Loss of employment
• Reduction in household income
• Divorce or separation of student’s spouse or parents
• Death of a parent or spouse

Dependency Override Appeal

Students who cannot obtain parental information due to unusual and extenuating family circumstances may request a dependency override. If approved, the student will be considered independent for financial aid purposes

Cost of Attendance (COA) Adjustment Appeal

New for Fall 2026: Students with educational expenses not included in the standard cost of attendance may request a budget adjustment. Adjustments can be made for increases in expenses such as:

• Childcare expenses
• Required tools or equipment for academic programs
• Transportation expenses
• Disability-related educational costs

California College Promise Grant (CCPG) Appeal

Students who are on Academic or Progress Probation for 2 (two) consecutive terms lose their eligibility for the California College Promise Grant at the next registration opportunity.

Students can appeal this determination due to extenuating circumstances or financial hardship by completing either CCPG Appeal form or requesting to be evaluated for an appeal on the SAP Appeal form by checking the appropriate box on that form.

How to Submit an Appeal

1. Review the appeal requirements on the Financial Aid Office Website.
2. Go to http://lbcc.studentforms.com. Log in to your account through the Viking Portal or create a Student Forms account if it is your first time visiting the site.
3. Click the “Manage Requests” button. A box will appear on the screen with the available Financial Aid Appeals. Please select the needed appeal by clicking the + sign under the proper aid year, enter the reason for selecting this appeal and click Submit to initiate the appeal.
4. Review the appeal requirements on the LBCC appeal form, making sure you complete all areas of the appeal form prior to submitting.
5. Write a detailed statement explaining your circumstances.
6. Provide the required supporting documentation regarding your situation by uploading the documents with the requested appeal.
7. Click the  Submit and Finish buttons on your appeal at http://lbcc.studentforms.com, when your appeal has been signed and all items have been uploaded for review.

Important:

• Appeal approval is not guaranteed.
• Incomplete appeals (without all required documentation) will not be reviewed.
• Approved students may be placed on financial aid probation or an academic plan (please read LBCC’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for more information)
• Processing times may take several weeks depending on volume and time of year. 
• Appeals are reviewed in the order they are received.