If you have dreams of obtaining a bachelor’s degree, you probably shudder every time you look into college tuition. After all, according to Best Colleges, in-state students in Texas pay an average of almost $9,000 per year. Some schools, of course, charge considerably more.
Luckily, you might not have to pay tuition, fees and other expenses by yourself, as the federal government and other organizations offer financial assistance to students who qualify. While a drug conviction does not affect all student aid, it can endanger some of it.
Federal student aid
The federal government offers grants, loans and work-study assistance to thousands of students every year. In the past, a drug conviction could jeopardize federal financial aid. That is no longer the case, though, so you can probably keep your federal academic assistance despite having a drug conviction on your record.
School financial aid
Your college or university might extend a financial aid offer to you. This offer may be a standalone one or come in exchange for your participation in school activities. If your drug conviction violates your university’s code of conduct, though, you may lose your financial aid package.
Private scholarships
Like with school financial aid, private scholarship organizations might decide to withdraw their financial assistance because of your drug conviction. To know whether you are at risk, you must review the organization’s rules.
As far as retaining your financial aid goes, there might be a meaningful difference between drug charges and a conviction. Ultimately, to ensure you can keep college affordable, it probably makes sense to fight your drug charges as aggressively as you can.
