Did you know that a conviction for illegal drug use or possession can result in the loss of State and Federal student aid, including the Georgia HOPE scholarship? Further, a criminal conviction can cause you to be thrown out of some State colleges and universities. Before you plead guilty to any drug offense or DUI consult an attorney to make sure that your College career or funding is not at stake. Complete this worksheet to determine if you are eligible for federal student aid.
These are the possible eligibility results:
1) Have you ever received federal student aid? Answer “No” if you have never received federal student grants, federal student loans, or federal work-study. You should also answer “No” if you have never attended college. If No, your eligibility for federal student financial aid will not be affected. If Yes, go to question 2.
2) Have you been convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs? Only include federal and state convictions. Do not count any convictions that have been removed from your record or occurred before you turned age 18 unless you were tried as an adult. Only include federal and state convictions. Do not count any convictions that have been removed from your record or occurred before you turned age 18 unless you were tried as an adult. If No, your eligibility for federal student financial aid will not be affected. If Yes, go to question 3.
3) Did the conviction occur during a period of enrollment in which you were receiving financial aid? If No, your eligibility for federal student financial aid will not be affected. If Yes, go to question 4.
4) Have you completed an acceptable drug rehabilitation program since your conviction? An acceptable drug rehabilitation program must include at least two unannounced drug tests, and: Be qualified to receive funds from a federal, state, or local government or from a federally or state-licensed insurance company; or Be administered or recognized by a federal, state, or local government agency or court, or a federally or state-licensed hospital, health clinic or medical doctor. If Yes, you are eligible for federal student financial aid. If No, go to question 5.
5) Do you have more than two convictions for possessing illegal drugs? Only count convictions for offenses that occurred during a period of enrollment for which you were receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, and/or work-study). If Yes, you are not eligible for federal student financial aid. If No, go to question 6.
6) Do you have more than one conviction for selling illegal drugs? Only count convictions for offenses that occurred during a period of enrollment for which you were receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, and/or work-study). If Yes, you are not eligible for federal student financial aid. If No, go to question 7.
If you have only one conviction for possessing drugs, you are not eligible for federal student financial aid until a year after the conviction. If you have two convictions for possessing drugs, you are not eligible for federal student financial aid until two years expires from your last conviction. If you have only one conviction for selling drugs, you are not eligible for federal student financial aid until two years expires from the date of your conviction.