Federal Student Financial Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations

Is it true that drug convictions might affect my ability to get federal student aid?

No, your eligibility won’t be suspended. Drug convictions no longer affect your federal student aid eligibility. When you complete the FAFSA form, you will be asked whether you had a drug conviction for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid. If the answer is yes, you will be provided a worksheet. Please answer the questions correctly; however, they won’t impact your eligibility.

“1” means your eligibility for federal student aid is not affected by question 23.

“2” means your drug conviction(s) affect eligibility for federal student aid for part of this school year. To receive federal student aid, you need to tell the financial aid office at your college your “eligibility date” from question 11 on this worksheet. You can become eligible earlier in the school year if you complete an acceptable drug rehabilitation program or pass two unannounced drug tests administered by an acceptable drug rehabilitation program. Even if you are not eligible for federal student aid, you may still be eligible for aid from your state or college.

“3” means you are not eligible for federal student aid for this school year unless you complete an acceptable drug rehabilitation program or pass two unannounced drug tests administered by an acceptable drug rehabilitation program. Even if you are not eligible for federal student aid, you may still be eligible for aid from your state or college.