• Money
    • Budget
    • Shop
    • Travel
    • Stories
  • Career
    • Advice
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Freelance
    • Small Business
  • Investing
    • General
    • IRA + 401K
    • Stocks + Bonds
    • Retirement Planning
    • Estate
  • The Basics
    • Student Loans
    • Credit Cards
    • Debt
    • Taxes
    • More
  1. Home
  2. The Basics
  3. Personal Loans
  4. What Criminal Charges Affect Student Financial Aid?

What Criminal Charges Affect Student Financial Aid?

By: Candace Webb
  • Share
  • Share on Facebook

The only criminal charges with the potential to impact student financial aid are drug charges if they are received while the student is on federal financial aid, and only then if the student is convicted. Those convicted of other felonies, including murder, robbery and embezzlement, are eligible for financial aid as long as they meet the criteria to qualify. Those with one drug conviction, including a misdemeanor conviction, will be temporarily barred from receiving financial aid. Additional drug convictions can keep a student from permanently receiving aid.

...
Simple possession of drugs can eliminate your access to financial aid.

Conviction of Possession

A conviction for drug possession, including possession of drug paraphernalia, garners increasingly serious financial aid restrictions with each conviction. The restrictions apply only to students attending school on federal financial aid when the charge was incurred. A first conviction prohibits the student from getting federal financial aid for one year from the conviction date. A second conviction increases the restriction to two years. Subsequent convictions for possession remove federal aid for an indefinite period, typically until after the student completes a federally acceptable substance abuse program.

Video of the Day

Selling Drugs

Just as the court system typically views drug dealing more harshly than drug use or possession, the financial aid penalty for drug sales is more harsh than for drug possession. A student convicted of selling drugs the first time can expect to be banned from receiving federal financial aid for two years, starting at the conviction date. Students who pick up a second conviction for selling drugs are banned indefinitely from getting federal help for college or trade school. Eligibility can be reinstated if the student completes a substance abuse program. As in the case of possession, students are only prohibited from aid if their sales charge was incurred while they were enrolled in college and using federal financial aid.

Attending Anyway

Disqualification due to drug convictions only applies to federal aid. Students may still be eligible for state aid, regional scholarships and other financial awards. In addition, students can sometimes attend college on a self pay program despite any criminal convictions. They simply will not receive federally funded financial aid to do so, until their eligibility is reinstated.

Notification

The U.S. Department of Education requires students receiving financial aid convicted of a drug crime to notify their school's financial aid office immediately. A letter of aid revocation will be sent to the student with advice on how to become reinstated. Exceptions to the mandated time frames include having the conviction reversed, expunged or reduced to less than three possession convictions or two sale convictions.

Show Comments

Related Articles

What Convictions Disqualify You From Being a CNA in the State of Michigan?

What Convictions Disqualify You From Being a CNA in the State of Michigan?

Investing
General
By: Jeffrey Joyner
Penalty for Driving Without a License in North Carolina

Penalty for Driving Without a License in North Carolina

Money
Budget
By: Jennifer Mueller

PARTNER CONTENT

7 Habits of Highly (Financially) Effective People

7 Habits of Highly (Financially) Effective People

How Do I Report Food Stamp Fraud in Georgia?

How Do I Report Food Stamp Fraud in Georgia?

The Basics
Consumer Rights
By: Jeannine Mancini
What Is a Food Stamp Sanction?

What Is a Food Stamp Sanction?

Money
Budget
By: Peyton Brookes
Financial Aid for Children Whose Parents Are in Prison

Financial Aid for Children Whose Parents Are in Prison

The Basics
Personal Loans
By: Chad Buleen

Get Weekly Savings& Finance Tips.

  • Money
  • Career
  • Investing
  • The Basics
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright Policy
© 2019 Leaf Group Ltd. Leaf Group Media

Get Weekly Savings
& Finance Tips.

Money Made Easier.

Please enter a valid email.