Can a DUI Impact Your Chance at Financial Aid?

As a resident of Illinois currently up against DUI-related charges, you have a lot that is potentially at stake. You have even more at risk if you intend on going to college and are relying on a scholarship or another form of financial aid to get you there.

If you are convicted of a DUI-related charge, there is a fairly high chance that your financial aid plans could be disrupted. If you are relying on a public scholarship or grant, you are especially at risk. This is because public sources of money given away to prospective students are under a high level of scrutiny. If faced with a situation where a candidate or recipient of a scholarship or grant gains a criminal record, they will likely revoke the financial aid or prevent you from being considered.

Though private scholarships are a little more forgiving, they will possibly do the same thing. You may also be barred from applying for future scholarships or grants. Even if you aren’t directly banned from applying, it is possible that you will be slotted into a lower priority bracket of applicants, which can severely damage your chances of being successful. This can be a big issue if you were intending to rely on financial aid to pay your way through.

Are you interested in taking a more in-depth look into matters related to DUI charges and convictions, including how scholarships and other forms of financial aid can be impacted? You can take a look at our web page on DUI defense, linked here, to learn more.