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Can a DUI affect your scholarship?

On Behalf of | Oct 19, 2019 | DUI

If you get into a DUI-related incident in Tacoma, could your scholarship be affected? Today, we at the Law Office of Michael Austin Stewart examine just how big of an impact a potential DUI conviction could have on your future as a student and your subsequent career.

The first thing many people focus on when students are convicted of DUI-related crimes is that a college can deny admission based on that alone. But what if you have already been accepted into the college? What happens to your financial aid or scholarships, if they are impacted at all? This actually depends on the type of financial aid you’re depending on, along with other factors. These factors can include:

  • If your DUI involved a felony conviction
  • If you’re currently incarcerated
  • If the scholarship is private or federal
  • If there are drug charges related to the DUI charge

In particular, if you are relying on federal aid of some kind, you will be facing severe limitations on the types of financial aid you can rely on after conviction.  Some will be given priority to other applicants, while you might be entirely barred from others. This is especially true if you are incarcerated, as many types of aid like the Pell Grant or federal student loans are not available to you then.

If you are currently facing DUI-related charges, consider taking a look at our web page on DUI defense, linked here. You can learn more about what you can do to combat these charges and fight for your right to keep your future bright.