If you are in college and get a DUI, there is a risk that it could impact your financial aid. However, the exact charges you face and how you handle them can make a difference.
When you’re charged with a DUI, your first step has to be to build a strong defense. Being able to have the charge reduced or dropped could help you avoid financial-aid-related penalties.
If you do get a DUI, then you should know the following.
The police will report the DUI to your college
A DUI is almost always reported to your college, which may have an impact on your scholarships and the programs you’ll be able to be in. Sometimes, colleges suspend or expel students who get DUIs.
In other cases, your housing may not allow people with criminal records, or you may lose your job. Any of these issues can have a negative impact on your finances.
Federal student aid could be limited
It’s not always the case, but it is possible that your access to federal student aid could be limited. If you hurt or killed someone in a DUI crash and face a felony charge, for example, your federal aid may be at risk.
Not all DUIs results in the loss of federal aid, but this is something that you’ll want to consider carefully as you work on defending your case.
A DUI doesn’t have to change your life
Your reputation could be harmed if you are convicted of a DUI, and that damage could also lead to a loss of the financial support you need to complete your college career.
You have an opportunity to mitigate the damage that a DUI could cause. A strong defense against the charges is where you should start.
Once you know that you’ll face DUI charges, it’s valuable to question the reason for a traffic stop or how the police determined that you were drunk or impaired. There are other reasons for someone to appear impaired, such as because of diabetes or neurological issues, unexpected side effects to legal over-the-counter medications and unexpected drugging at a college party. It’s worth taking the time to fight back, so you can protect your right to financial aid.