A potential student who has been convicted of a felony in the past can complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA). This application determines an individual's eligibility for federal financial aid based on income. A felony conviction will not be taken into consideration unless the applicant committed a drug-related crime while receiving financial aid in the past.
An individual with a felony conviction can apply for federal student loans to help cover the costs of tuition, books, housing and other college related costs. A FASFA form must be filed before a student loan application can be submitted.
A convicted felon may be eligible for grants and scholarships distributed by the college they want to attend. Speak with a counselor in the school's financial aid office to find all options available.
An individual convicted of a drug-related felony may not be eligible for certain types of financial assistance. Federal aid may not be given to an applicant convicted of a drug-related felony if the crime occurred while he was receiving educational aid. In some cases, limited financial aid may be given if the applicant agrees to attend or has attended an acceptable drug rehabilitation program. Even if an individual is ineligible for federal aid because of drug charges, he may still be eligible for state grants and college-based aid.