A DUI is not just a criminal offense. It also brings with it a variety of social penalties that can close the door to education opportunities. We’ve discussed in detail how a DUI conviction affects your college application. You can be denied admission to a school (or denied a job by any employer) purely because of your criminal history. But what if you’re accepted to school? Does your DUI affect scholarships and financial aid as well?
The answer is yes, and no. A DUI affects some types of financial aid, but not others. Your exact eligibility depends on:
- Whether you’re seeking federal student aid or a private scholarship
- Whether you’re currently incarcerated, and where
- If your DUI is a felony conviction
- Whether any drug charges are associated with your DUI
We’ll look at each of these factors and help you understand your eligibility.
Federal Student Aid and Incarceration
If you are currently incarcerated while you seek federal financial aid, you will have severe limits on your eligibility. Some types of federal aid are simply off limits and others give priority to other applicants. But the details depend on whether you’re in a state/federal prison (such as for felony DUI, DUI murder or some repeat DUIs) or a local/county jail (most DUIs).
Here are the details for both:
State or Federal Prison
- You are not eligible for a federal Pell Grant
- You are not eligible for federal student loans
- You can apply for a Federal Supplemented Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG). However, these grants are given primarily to applicants who also have a Pell Grant, and you cannot get a Pell Grant.
- You can apply for a Federal Work-Study, but it’s hard to be awarded one because it’s nearly impossible to work an appropriate job while incarcerated
County Jail
- You are not eligible for federal student loans
- You may apply for a Pell Grant
- You may apply for an FSEOG. Your chances may still be limited, even if you get a Pell Grant, because schools are only allotted a certain amount of FSEOG funds and may give priority to other students
- You may apply for a Federal Work-Study, but are unlikely to get it for the same reasons listed above
These limitations only apply if you’re taking classes while incarcerated. If your classes won’t start until you’ve been released, these limits don’t apply. In that case you are free to seek all types of federal student aid as long as you don’t meet any of the restrictions below.
Felony DUI and Federal Student Aid
If you have a felony conviction on your record, your eligibility for federal student aid is highly limited. Some DUI charges can be tried as felonies, some are always felonies, and some become felonies if you have enough prior DUI’s (details here).
Most federal student aid programs simply will not award anything to individuals with felony convictions.
Drug Charges and Federal Student Aid
Drug charges may prevent you from receiving federal student aid at all. A DUI itself is not a drug charge—even if you were driving under the “influence” of drugs. But if you were also convicted of possession, or any other drug charge in connection with your DUI, it may count against you—if the conviction happened while you were already receiving federal aid. If so, your eligibility for further financial aid will be suspended.
To find out for sure, simply fill out the FAFSA (student aid application form) and the worksheet about drug convictions. It will help you find out if your eligibility is suspended. It will also explain how to get your eligibility back, either through addiction treatment or by passing a series of drug tests.
Other Types of Scholarships and Financial Aid
All of the above restrictions apply only to federal student aid. Other forms of student aid may have their own restrictions. Many scholarships, for example, are provided by non-profit foundations or private individuals. They are free to make whatever rules they want regarding criminal history. Most will allow you to apply as long as you don’t have a felony on your record. Some will allow felons as well. But almost all will require you to disclose your past convictions, and may use this as a determining factor if it’s a close decision between you and another applicant.
Some organizations also offer scholarships or loans specifically to former convicts, including felons, to help them start a new life.
