A DUI arrest can negatively impact your life in many ways. If you’re a college student, you might worry if it could affect your financial aid.
How do colleges view a DUI arrest?
It’s fair to worry that your current college or one that you are planning on transferring to might see you in a negative light if you have been arrested for driving under the influence. However, not all DUI arrests are the same. Some are considered minor and are classified as misdemeanors. As a result, the college will consider the circumstances surrounding your DUI arrest and make a decision based on it.
How can a DUI affect your student aid?
If you have a prior arrest for DUI on your record, you might fear that you won’t qualify for student aid. This is not completely true. With a past DUI arrest, you might still be able to receive student loans for college. However, if you were recently arrested or are currently in jail, that could make you ineligible for student loans for up to two years.
In some cases, when you are arrested for DUI, you might be ordered to enter a rehab program. This does not reflect poorly on you regarding your federal student aid. It could help you in more ways than one. First, you can become clean and sober and show that you are still a productive member of society. Second, you can regain student aid eligibility and resume your educational goals. However, you will have to apply again to obtain aid.
Where you are incarcerated after a DUI arrest also makes a difference regarding whether you can get student aid. Prison will automatically disqualify you. Jail also makes you ineligible for student aid, but you can qualify for a federal Pell grant.