If you have been convicted of a felony, post-secondary education is a good way to make a big life change. College is expensive, and you may not have stable employment or great wages directly after incarceration.
There are many opportunities for free money for college that can offset the overall cost. Scholarships and grants can provide funding for tuition, school fees, supplies, books, room and board, and other living expenses while you’re going to college.
There are not many specific college grants for felons, but most grants and scholarships do not exempt felons from applying. As a felon, you can still receive federal, state, and private grants and scholarships from a variety of sources.
Grant and Scholarship Options for Felons
One of the main 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.
To determine your eligibility for federal student aid, you will need to fill out and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The FAFSA will help you understand how much you can receive in the way of loans and grants.
If you are convicted of a drug-related offense or were involuntarily committed for a sexual offense, you may not be eligible for federal financial aid. Sexual offenses exempt you from the Federal Pell Grant, for example. Drug-related offenses often require that you complete an approved drug rehabilitation program.
Felons can apply for the following scholarships and grants:
- Federal Pell Grant: This is 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.
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. - Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): These grants are offered through participating schools in amounts between $100 and $4,000 toward college expenses.
FSEOGs are open to incarcerated felons. Since priority is given to students receiving Pell Grants, it may be harder to qualify. - U.S. Department of Labor: This department 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. - State grants: Each individual state government has programs set up to offer grants and/or scholarships to students in need. Some even have programs specific to felons.
- Community organizations, philanthropic foundations, nonprofits, corporations, and private individuals: These entities may not offer grants and scholarships specifically for felons, but most do not exclude felons from applying or receiving aid.
Applying for College Grants
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. You will need to fill out the FAFSA every year.
If you are convicted of a drug-related offense, your federal financial aid can be suspended. You will need to either submit to and pass two unannounced drug tests that are administered by an approved drug rehabilitation program, or complete an approved drug rehabilitation program successfully to be reinstated for eligibility.
Other than 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. Scholarships are often merit-based and require specific grades, test scores, fields of study, volunteer hours, community service, or other specifications to qualify.
Check with your state government and local organizations to find out if they have grant and scholarship programs and how to apply. Pay close attention to deadlines and submission requirements, as many ask for letters of reference or a personal essay.
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. There may even be specialty programs for felons too.
Contact the financial aid office at the school you want to attend and talk to a counselor to find out what your options are. Grants can help pay for all kinds of expenses related to the cost of attending college, not just tuition.
Options Beyond Grants
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.
If you carry a felony conviction, you may not have steady or stable employment and income yet, making college expenses daunting.
Student loans allow you to borrow money to pay for the cost of college and related expenses. Federal student loans are distributed by the U.S. Department of Education, and your eligibility will be determined through the FAFSA.
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. Federal student loans often have some of the lowest fixed-interest rates, most favorable and flexible loan repayment terms, and loan forgiveness options.
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.
Loans can give you much better interest rates than credit cards, but free money in the form of grants and scholarships should always be your first option.
