Disqualification Based on Conviction/Possession of Illegal Drugs:

Disqualification Based on Conviction/Possession of Illegal Drugs:

A federal or state drug conviction can disqualify a student for Title IV financial aid. Convictions only count if they were for an offense that occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving Title IV aid. They do not count if the offense was not during such a period.  A conviction that was reversed, set aside, or removed from the student’s record does not count, nor does one received when the student was a juvenile, unless she/he was tried as an adult.

The student self-certifies in applying for aid that he/she is eligible; Graduate America College is not required to confirm this unless there is evidence of conflicting information.

The chart below illustrates the period of ineligibility for Title IV, depending on whether the conviction was for sale or possession and whether the student had previous offenses.  (A conviction for sale of drugs includes convictions for conspiring to sell drugs).

If the student was convicted of both possessing and selling illegal drugs, and the periods of ineligibility are different, the student will be ineligible for the longer period.

A student regains eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility ends or when he/she successfully completes a qualified drug rehabilitation program.  Further drug convictions will make him/her ineligible again.

When a student regains eligibility during the award year, the school may award Pell Grant for the period of enrollment.