Do you have to pay back scholarships if you fail?

Asked by: Marcella Huels  |  Last update: September 3, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (45 votes)

Usually, the answer is no. Scholarships are a form of nonrepayable gift aid, much like many federal grants. Student loans, unlike grants and scholarships, are borrowed money that must be paid back with interest. Scholarships are considered free money because there are no expectations for repayment.

Do you have to pay back a scholarship if you drop out?

Typically, you will not have to repay anything. Of course, you won't receive the future disbursements of the scholarship that you would have received if you continued attending school. But even so, you won't face further financial penalties.

Do I have to pay back financial aid if I fail?

Failing a class does not force you to pay back your FAFSA financial aid. However, it could put you at risk for losing eligibility to renew it next semester. If you do not make Satisfactory Academic Progress, or SAP, your federal financial aid is at risk of being suspended.

What happens to a scholarship if you don't use it?

Chances are there won't be unused scholarship money after the school takes what it needs for cost of attendance expenses. If there is some left over, your school might send the unused money in a refund check. If they do, you can't turn it into personal cash.

What scholarships do you have to pay back?

You don't. Scholarships (and grants) are “free money” to help you pay for college, and you never have to pay them back.

Use Left Over Scholarship Money To Pay Off Student Loans?

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What happens if you get a scholarship and fail?

As long as you meet all of the obligations of an award, the scholarship is yours. If at some point you fail to meet the eligibility criteria, this is when repayment opens for discussion.

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What happens if you accept a scholarship and then decline?

You don't get to keep any money if that's what you're getting at. A scholarship from a college reverts to that college. They may give it to another student or put it back in the general fund. Third party scholarships will transfer with you to another university.

Do scholarships hurt financial aid?

Getting an outside, or private, scholarship can actually reduce the amount of financial aid you get from your college. But that doesn't mean you'll have to pay a bigger share of your college costs.

What are two things you should never do when applying for a scholarship?

7 Scholarship Application Mistakes to Avoid: Fund Your Education...
  1. Mistake 1: Overlooking Scholarship Guidelines.
  2. Mistake 2: Submitting an Unpolished Application.
  3. Mistake 3: Missing Scholarship Application Deadlines.
  4. Mistake 4: Writing Generic Admission Essays.
  5. Mistake 5: Skipping the Proofreading Step.

Is it better to withdraw or fail?

According to Croskey, it is usually better to withdraw from a class. Exceptions may result for students with many withdrawals already if they can create a productive plan to retake the course after failing.

Does an F affect financial aid?

Failing one class does not mean you'll automatically lose access to federal financial aid. But these funds do have academic eligibility requirements, as outlined in your school's satisfactory academic progress (SAP) guidelines.

Is D passing in college?

Many people wonder, “What is a passing grade in college?” Coming from high school, the grading system doesn't really change. In fact, a “D” is considered passing in both high school and college, as it's above 60%. While a passing grade may be as low as 60%, you will want to aim higher for many reasons.

Is it better to fail or drop a class with financial aid?

In most situations, withdrawing from a course should not affect your aid package. But if you fail to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, or SAP, your aid may be affected. Withdrawing from a course can also change your enrollment status, which could reduce your aid.

Do I have to pay back Pell Grant if I fail?

If you fail a course, you will not have to repay the Pell Grant that you took out for it. Although failing a course can have drastic effects on your GPA and hurt your transcript, it will not require repayment of any Pell Grant funds.

What happens if you don't use your financial aid for a semester?

Students in this situation may wonder “what happens if I don't use all of my student loans?” In most cases, colleges will refund the money to the student.

What happens if you don't report scholarships?

If you don't report your outside scholarships, you may be required to repay the school or the federal government all or part of your need-based financial aid package.

Are there any downsides to scholarships?

Cons of College Scholarships

Since there are so many options and sources for scholarships vs grants, you'll have to do more research and put in more time. Scholarships provide access to education to a larger number of students. The large amount of options also makes competition high for most scholarships.

Will scholarships affect my Pell Grant?

The Pell Grant is never reduced when a student wins a private scholarship, not even if the student is overawarded. The Pell Grant is based on the student's EFC, not financial need, so changes in financial need do not affect the amount of the Pell Grant.

Will I lose my scholarship if I fail a class?

When it comes to scholarships, they may be merit-based, or contingent on your grades and academic achievement. Therefore, if you fail, you could lose the scholarship, or even worse, have to pay back any money that has already been issued.

When you lose a scholarship can you get it back?

You may get your scholarship back if you've faced certain hardships. It's worth speaking to the organization to see if they have an appeal process.

What happens if I don't use all my scholarship money?

What happens to leftover scholarship money. If you earned scholarships and grants that add up to more than your total cost of attendance, your school may send you a refund of the leftover scholarship money. Keep in mind, you may have to pay taxes on that amount.

What is the lowest GPA to get a scholarship?

Since the minimum GPA for a full-ride scholarship is usually set at 3.0, a 4.0 is sure to always be above and beyond what's required. Here's how it can boost your chances: Academic Excellence: A 4.0 GPA demonstrates consistent academic excellence, making you an attractive candidate for merit-based scholarships.

Is the $2 000 Sallie Mae scholarship legit?

This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.