Can felons get financial aid to help with the cost of studying for a degree or vocational certificate program? In most cases, the answer is yes. Even if you’re still incarcerated, you can qualify for some forms of financial aid.
How Can Felons Get Financial Aid?
Most felons can qualify for the same federal financial aid available to all students. This includes:
- Grants and scholarships
- Student loans
- Work-study programs
Your eligibility for Financial aid and grants for convicted felons depends on the financial information you submit on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (FAFSA).
Is There A Criminal Background Check For FAFSA?
There aren’t any criminal background checks connected to federal financial aid applications, you’ll only be asked for your personal details, financial information, details about the course you’re going to enroll in, and the school you plan to attend.
If you’re still in prison and planning to attend school after your release, you can apply for school grants for felons before you leave so your financial aid is ready and waiting for you.
When you fill out the FAFSA, just use your institution’s mailing address, then update your address details after your release.
What Types Of Financial Aid Can Felons Get?
School grants for felons are provided through federal and state financial aid programs. These awards are based on financial need and you can even qualify if you’re on probation or parole.
Financial aid programs and college grants for felons include:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
- Federal Work-Study Program
- Federal student loans
- State grants and scholarships
Pell Grants For Felons
The federal Pell Grant is issued to students with financial need. Eligibility is based on the income and cost of attending school reported on your FAFSA. If you qualify for a Pell Grant, you’re award will be between $740 and $7,395 each year.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
The FSEOG is a grant for students with exceptional financial need. Unlike the Pell Grant which is given to everyone who qualifies, funding for the FSEOG is limited. Grants of up to $4,000 per year are given by schools on a first come first served basis.
While your FAFSA will determine your eligibility for this grant, your school may require an additional application. Check with your college financial aid office for more information.
Federal Work-Study Program For Felons
Another way to help pay for college is with a part-time job through the work-study program. These on and off-campus job opportunities are available at participating schools. To get a work-study job, indicate your interest on the FAFSA form.
Federal Student Loans For Felons
Federal student loans are a form of financial aid that has to be paid back. These loans are easier to get than private student loans because they’re backed by the federal government. You won’t have to make any payments until you finish your course.
State Grants & Scholarships for Felons
State grants and scholarship programs are usually reserved for those with financial need attending in-state schools. Having a felony won’t affect your eligibility.
Grant amounts vary. Indiana students, for example, can receive up to $9,200, while students in Kentucky can get up to $3,500.
Are There Any Convictions That Affect Financial Aid Eligibility?
Restrictions that used to make felons ineligible for financial aid no longer apply. Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, questions about drug offenses and other criminal convictions were removed from the FAFSA form.
Sex offenders subject to an involuntary civil commitment after incarceration may also qualify for financial aid.
Can Felons In Prison Receive Financial Aid?
Yes! You can receive college grants for felons if you’re studying in an approved prison education program (PEP). However, felons in prison will not qualify for federal student loans.
The 2020 FAFSA Simplification Act restored financial aid access rights to incarcerated individuals making it possible for students in federal and state facilities to receive Pell Grants and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG).
Felons in prison can also apply for the Federal Work-Study program which provides part-time jobs for students to help cover the cost of a degree or certificate program. Even so, your correctional facility may not be equipped for the logistics involved in allowing you to take on a work-study job.
When you’re ready to apply for college grants for felons, complete the FAFSA form for confined or incarcerated individuals. This version of the FAFSA form is mailed to a separate address that handles FAFSA processing for prisons.
Get your FAFSA for incarcerated individuals here: https://fsapartners.ed.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/2022-11/2324FAFSAenIncarcerated.pdf
Can You Go To College With A Felony?
Now you know that your felony isn’t a barrier to getting financial aid, you might be wondering if your felony will affect your chances of getting accepted when you apply to colleges.
School admission policies varies, but it’s certainly possible to go to college with a felony conviction on your record and there are no legal restrictions standing in your way.
Colleges, community colleges, universities, and trade schools may run background checks during the admissions process, but having a felony won’t automatically disqualify you.
While having a felony won’t necessarily affect admission decisions unless you’re applying for a specific program like a nursing course, you may face restrictions if you apply for campus housing.
Many colleges are part of the Ban the Box initiative, which removes questions about criminal history from admissions applications. This allows applicants to be evaluated based on academic and personal merits, rather than past mistakes.
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