Can a DUI Affect College Scholarships?

By Jonathan Blecher on November 15, 2017

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is the one criminal offense that is commonly committed by everyday citizens with a lot to lose. If a high-school or college-aged student is arrested for DUI and they have plans on applying for scholarships or financial aid, a DUI conviction can definitely affect their ability to gain access to much-needed funds.

When freshman goes to college, many of them go to a school that was willing to pay for at least a portion of their education. However, getting and keeping a scholarship are two very different things. Each year, thousands of college students lose their financial aid or scholarships because they either: 1) break the law, or 2) let their grades slip.

It’s pretty simple: In order for a college student to obtain and maintain their financial aid, they need to keep their nose clean and maintain a certain GPA. When a student gets into trouble with the law; for example, they’re convicted of DUI, a drug-related crime, sexual assault, or non-violent crime, such as plagiarism, they can lose their college money.

What About Federal Student Aid?

According to Federal Student Aid, an Office of the U.S. Department of Education, “Your eligibility for federal student aid can be affected by incarceration/and or the type of conviction you have.” If you are on probation or parole, you may be entitled to federal student aid, but if you were convicted of a drug-related offense, you may have a harder time becoming eligible.

Essentially, drug convictions can cause a person’s eligibility to be suspended if he or she was convicted of a drug-related offense while they were receiving federal student aid in the form of work-study, grants, or loans. If you’re facing DUI or drug charges, this is something to bring up to an experienced DUI attorney.

Can a DUI affect college scholarships and financial aid, even if it’s not federal student aid? Yes, in many cases a DUI conviction can cause a student to lose a scholarship. If you’re facing DUI charges and you’re concerned about it affecting your educational opportunities and your career, contact me at once to learn about the Back on Track DUI Diversion Program and how it may help resolve your situation!