Guide to Student Loan Eligibility

To receive Aid from any of the federal student aid programs discussed on the Department of Education Web site, you must meet all of the following criteria:
The law suspends aid eligibility for students convicted under federal or state law of sale or possession of illegal drugs. The period of ineligibility varies and depends on whether the conviction was for sale or possession, and whether the student had previous offenses. The student regains eligibility when the period of suspension ends, or in some cases, only when the student completes an acceptable drug rehabilitation program. If you have a conviction or convictions for these offenses, call 1-800-4-FEDAID (1-800-433-3243) to find out how, or if, this law applies to you. Even if you’re ineligible for federal aid, you should complete the FAFSA and answer Question 35 because schools use this information in awarding nonfederal aid. If you leave Question 35 of the FAFSA blank, you will automatically become ineligible for federal student aid.

Incarcerated persons have limited eligibility for federal student aid. An incarcerated person is eligible for a Pell Grant only if he or she is incarcerated in a nonfederal or nonstate penal institution, such as a local or county jail.

When you apply for aid from the FSA programs, the U. S. Department of Education verifies some of your information with the following federal agencies:

Source: U.S. Department of Education, Student Aid Program