Financial Aid

Federal Student Aid and
Drug Law Violations

Federal regulations dictate that a student is ineligible to receive federal student aid (Title IV, HEA funds) if convicted of an offense under any Federal or State law involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs for conduct that occurred during a period of enrollment. The ineligibility lasts for a period of time based on number of offenses, as shown below:


​Convicted of Possession ​Duration of Ineligibility*
First Offense ​1 year
​Second Offense ​2 years
Third Offense or more Indefinite
  *Begins as of the date of conviction



Convicted of Selling     
​Duration of Ineligibility​*
​First Offense ​2 years
​Second Offense or more ​Indefinite
 *Begins as of the date of conviction



Students who have lost eligibility based on a conviction related to the possession or sale of illegal drugs may regain eligibility before the time period expires, if the student successfully completes a drug rehabilitation program after the student's most recent drug conviction. The student regains eligibility on the date the student successfully completes the program.

For purposes of eligibility a drug rehabilitation program is defined as one which -

  1. Includes at least two unannounced drug tests; and
  2. Meets one of the following criteria:
    1. Has received or is qualified to receive funds directly or indirectly from Federal, State, or local government; 
    2. Is administered or recognized by a Federal, State, or Local government agency or court; 
    3. Has received or is qualified to receive payment directly or indirectly from a Federally- or State-licensed insurance company; or
    4. Is administered or recognized by a Federally- or State-licensed hospital, health clinic, or medical doctor.