Getting a DUI can potentially jeopardize many aspects of a person’s life, whether or not it is a first-time offense.
Unfortunately, this is even more true for college students who depend on financial aid. But just where do these impacts come from?
DUI vs. drug charges
The U.S. Department of Education discusses the restrictions on criminal convictions regarding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
First, a DUI on its own will likely not result in a person being unable to turn in a FAFSA application. This may change in the event of other charges being involved, such as the involvement of a minor as a passenger or bodily harm occurring due to a DUI-related crash.
However, drug charges and convictions are another story. Anyone with a drug conviction on record cannot apply for FAFSA. Students facing incarceration also have very limited eligibility for other forms of government-backed financial aid, too.
The risk with private financial aid
On top of that, just because a person may be eligible for FAFSA with a DUI, this does not mean they are completely out of the woods.
Many scholarships and other private forms of financial aid come with their lists of regulations regarding the behavior and actions of the people receiving this aid. A DUI conviction may well be against these regulations, thus resulting in the recipient having their financial benefits revoked.
In the end, it is best to avoid a DUI in the first place, as it can have irreparable consequences on a student’s ability to afford college.