Title IV Penalties
A student who is convicted of any offense under any federal or state law involving the sale or possession of illegal drugs will not be eligible for any federal Title IV, HEA grant, loan, or work-study funds for the period described below if the conduct occurred while the student was enrolled in school and receiving federal Title IV, HEA student aid.
This chart summarizes the period that the student will be ineligible to receive Title IV, HEA program funds based on the type of offense and number of offenses.
| Offense Number | Conviction of an offense involving Possession of Illegal Drugs | Conviction of an offense involving the Sale of Illegal Drugs (includes convictions for conspiring to sell drugs) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Offense | The student is ineligible for 1 year from date of conviction. | The student is ineligible for 2 years from date of conviction. |
| 2nd Offense | The student is ineligible for 2 years from the date of the second conviction. | The student is ineligible for an indefinite period from the date of the second conviction. |
| 3rd or Subsequent Offense | The student is ineligible for an indefinite period from the date of the third conviction. | The student is ineligible for an indefinite period from the date of the third conviction. |
If you have a conviction(s) for these offenses, please contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FEDAID (1-800-433-3243) or go to the FAFSA website (https://fafsa.gov/) and click on “Before Beginning a FAFSA” in the left column. You’ll need to access the “Student Aid Eligibility Worksheet” to see how this law applies to you.
If you have lost federal student aid eligibility due to a drug conviction, you can regain eligibility if you successfully complete a drug rehabilitation program that includes at least two (2) unannounced drug tests and that complies with the following additional criteria established by the U.S. Department of Education:
- Has received or is qualified to receive funds directly or indirectly under a federal, state, or local government program;
- Is administered or recognized by a federal, state or local government agency or court;
- Has received or is qualified to receive payment directly or indirectly from a federally or state licensed insurance company, or
- Is administered or recognized by a federally or state licensed hospital, health clinic or medical doctor
If you have questions, please feel free to contact the Office of Financial Aid.