Navigating College Dreams: Scholarships and Financial Aid for Individuals with a Felony Record

For individuals with a felony record, the pursuit of higher education can be a transformative step toward a brighter future. Overcoming the challenges of the past and building a new life through education is possible, and financial aid can play a crucial role in making that dream a reality. While a felony conviction can present unique obstacles, numerous resources and opportunities exist to help ex-felons access the financial support they need to attend college.

Understanding Eligibility for Federal Aid

One of the primary sources of financial aid for college is the federal government. While incarcerated for a felony conviction, you may have fewer options for federal financial aid than you will upon your release. After being released, most of the eligibility restrictions will be lifted. It's crucial to understand the eligibility rules for different types of student aid.

The FAFSA Simplification Act and Pell Grants

In 2020, Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act, which ultimately removed questions about drug convictions from the FAFSA. This means that a felony on your record doesn’t automatically disqualify you from receiving a Pell Grant. Federal Pell Grants are need-based grants that can help pay for tuition, books, and living expenses. They are open to any citizen with extreme financial need who is seeking their first undergraduate degree. Pell Grants can pay up to the entire cost of attendance at a public school.

However, felons with drug convictions, who have been involuntarily committed for a sexual offense, or who are currently incarcerated in a state or federal institution may not be eligible. Sexual offenses exempt you from the Federal Pell Grant, for example.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) and Other Federal Programs

FSEOGs are open to incarcerated felons. These grants are offered through participating schools in amounts between $100 and $4,000 toward college expenses. The Department of Labor offers federal work-study programs that felons can apply for. They can even be obtained during incarceration, depending on availability and ability to perform job duties. Grant options exist for trade schools, career training, and small-business opportunities.

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Incarcerated students may also be eligible for the Teacher Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant. The TEACH Grant funds students who agree to teach in high-need fields at low-income schools. To keep the grant, recipients must complete four years of qualifying teaching service and obtain full state licensure. A felony conviction does not automatically disqualify you, but state licensing rules and school hiring policies could make meeting those requirements more challenging.

Limitations and Considerations

According to FAFSA guidance, students currently confined to an adult or juvenile correctional facility are ineligible for federal student loans. For incarcerated students, getting FWS positions is difficult. That’s not because the law prohibits it, but because work-study jobs aren’t feasible while confined. Austin notes that while students with a felony conviction may technically qualify for FSEOG, they may be unlikely to receive it due to limited institutional funding.

How to Submit the FAFSA

The first step in applying for grants and financial aid of any kind is to fill out the FAFSA form. This will tell you which types of federal financial aid are open to you. Even if you are currently incarcerated and looking to attend college upon your release, fill out the FAFSA to get your aid processed in time to use it. If you are convicted of a drug-related offense, your federal financial aid can be suspended.

To complete the FAFSA, you will need to provide your Social Security number, date of birth, and other personal information. The FAFSA is a long form, but it is important to complete it carefully.

Here are the steps you should take to submit the FAFSA:

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Step 1: Gather Required Materials
Before you start to fill out the FAFSA, it helps to have a few documents handy. At the top of the list is your Social Security number (or your parents’ if you are a dependent). You’ll also need:
- Tax returns
- Child support information
- Bank statements
- Investment and business records
Step 2: Create Your FSA ID
Go to StudentAid.gov to create your FSA ID. All parties or contributors - defined as anyone other than you, such as a parent or spouse, who is providing information on the form - must have their own ID, as well. This could include your spouse or parents if you are a dependent.
To create this ID, choose your language preference and select “Get Started.” You will be prompted to enter personal information, including your Social Security number. Be sure to enter the number exactly as it appears on your Social Security card.

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Step 3: Complete the FAFSA Form
Thanks to recent streamlining efforts, the FAFSA is considerably shorter than it once was. The form now includes as few as 18 questions and no more than 36, depending on the amount of information available from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Start by selecting the academic year you’re applying for, then proceed from there. The FAFSA is made up of five major sections:
- Demographic information
- School selection, where you list schools you want to attend
- Parent and family information, if you’re a dependent or married
- Dependency status, where you indicate whether you’re applying as a dependent or independent student
- Financial information, including tax returns and W-2s
To make the financial section easier to fill out, you can link your FAFSA account to the IRS. This allows you to automatically transfer your tax information. If your form includes contributors, like parents or a spouse, they’ll need to log in separately and give permission for their tax information to be shared as well.
Before you submit the form, take a moment to double-check your information.
Step 4: Get Your Student Aid Report
After you submit the FAFSA, you’ll receive your Student Aid Report, or SAR, usually within three to five days.
The SAR gives you an overview of your federal student aid eligibility, such as grants, loans, and work-study. It also includes your Data Release Number, which your school may need if any information on your FAFSA has to be corrected.
Be sure to review the report carefully to make sure it’s accurate, since schools use it to determine what federal and nonfederal aid you might be eligible to receive.

Exploring Scholarship Opportunities

Besides federal grants, state and private grants and scholarships will all have their own eligibility criteria. You will need to comply with all deadlines and application submission information to qualify. Need-based grants are given for financial need, although disadvantaged and nontraditional students (including felons) are also considered. Check with your state government and local organizations to find out if they have grant and scholarship programs and how to apply. Specific colleges, universities, community colleges, and trade and vocational schools have grant and scholarship programs open to their students too. There are opportunities for nontraditional students and adults returning to college. Contact the financial aid office at the school you want to attend and talk to a counselor to find out what your options are.

Here are some scholarship options available to students with a felony:

Prison Education Foundation Scholarship:
- Amount: Varies, based on the availability of donor funding
- Deadline: Rolling
- Who is eligible: Students accepted to an approved prison education program who are expected to be released within the next seven years. Additionally, applicants must have a high school diploma (or equivalent) and no serious disciplinary incidents within the past 12 months.
Empowering a Better Tomorrow Scholarship Powered by Walmart:
- Amount: $5,000 (non-renewable, one-time award)
- Deadline: Typically in the spring of each year
- Who is eligible: Students who were formerly incarcerated or who have recently been convicted. state or federal correctional institution and are currently enrolled in a certificate or degree-granting program.
Sunshine Lady Foundation: Doris Buffett, sister of Warren Buffett, started this foundation that offers the "Women on Their Own Terms" award to women who have been through hardships like incarceration and are trying to better their lives through education.
Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund: This fund is specifically for women who are 35 or older and have faced challenges such as incarceration.
The Cappex scholarship: The Cappex scholarship is available to all students enrolled in high school or college or those who plan to enroll in the next 12 months.
The Transcending Through Education Foundation (TTEF): The scholarship is available to both incarcerated and formerly incarcerated applicants.

Understanding Student Loans

Most often, students need more than grants and scholarships to cover the cost of college. Free money options usually don’t pay for the entire cost of attendance (COA), including all living expenses at your chosen school. Student loans allow you to borrow money to pay for the cost of college and related expenses. The FAFSA determines your expected family contribution (EFC), which is used to figure out how much and what kind of federal financial aid is open to you. Private student loans are another option for borrowing money to pay for school.

With a private lender, you will need to have good credit and a steady income with a stable job to qualify for the best rates. Felons are able to obtain loans since loan criteria do not exempt you from them as long as you can prove an ability to make payments. As a felon who may have less-than-stellar credit or not yet have regular employment, you may need a co-signer with a good credit history to sign the loan with you. You could potentially drop your co-signer after you establish a history of on-time and consecutive payments.

Additional Resources and Support

Many organizations are dedicated to supporting individuals with criminal convictions in their pursuit of higher education:

The National Reentry Resource Center: Assists individuals in reentering their communities after jail or prison.
Transcending Through Education Foundation: Connects incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people pursuing higher education with resources, including scholarships.
Prison Education Foundation: Helps incarcerated men and women in college earn a degree.
Prison Scholar Fund: Provides educational opportunities, professional development, and transitional support for those impacted by incarceration.
College and Community Fellowship: Helps formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted women pursue higher education and professional development
SCA (Second Chance Act): SCA supports state, local, and tribal governments and nonprofit organizations to reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for people returning to their communities from state and federal prisons, local jails, and juvenile facilities. SCA authorizes federal grants for vital programs and systems reform aimed at improving the reentry process.

Key Considerations and Steps

Fill out the FAFSA: Completing a FAFSA is usually the first step in seeking financial aid whether it be on the federal or state level.
Contact the financial aid office: Contact the financial aid office at the school you want to attend and talk to a counselor to find out what your options are.
Explore state and local programs: Many states have educational opportunity initiatives to promote college attendance among disadvantaged groups, which sometimes include ex-felons. Be sure to look into what might be offered at your relative's prospective college or within your state.
Research your target schools: Because of this, it’s a good idea to research your target schools or contact them directly to see whether they accept students with a criminal record and how their application process works.
Be upfront about your criminal history: Disclosing this information doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be denied, but not being upfront about it can increase the risk of rejection.

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