Study: Lack of Aid Deterred College-Going By Students With Drug Offenses

A federal law barring the awarding of federal financial aid to students with drug convictions negatively affected the college-going rates of affected students, in many cases delaying their enrollment in college after high school and in other cases appearing to deter enrollment altogether, a study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research concludes. The researchers, from Cornell University, use evidence from the temporary ban on aid for those with drug offenses to make the case that "eligibility for federal financial aid strongly impacts college investment decisions."