Do you lose your scholarship if you take a year off?
Asked by: Dock Mohr | Last update: January 21, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (32 votes)
Merit-based scholarships generally do not change if you defer your enrollment a year. Need-based grants and scholarships tend to only be affected if your family's financial situation changes during your gap year.
Do you lose scholarships if you take a gap year?
No, taking a gap year has no effect on your eligibility for financial aid or scholarships. It is relatively easy to defer admission for a year to most schools.
Do you lose a scholarship if you take a semester off?
Dropping out between semesters
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.
What can make you lose your scholarship?
A scholarship can also be lost if a student changes to a different major not a major tied to the scholarship or the college deems the scholarship invalid. Sometimes, with some scholarships, if you use the money for unintended purposes outside of the scholarship guidelines, the donor can revoke it.
What happens to my financial aid if I take a year off?
Federal aid will not be impacted by a gap year. This is the aid you receive from FAFSA that is based on your household income. This includes federal student loans.
HOW COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS WORK
Will I lose my scholarship if I defer?
University-based scholarships: Whether you can defer need-based or merit-based scholarships depends solely on your prospective university. Some withdraw any offers if you defer while other universities will hold the scholarships until the following year as long as you still meet the requirements (ex. high school GPA).
Can I take a year break from college?
Most colleges and universities allow students to take a leave of absence or withdrawal from their school during their program of study.
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.
Can you lose a scholarship mid year?
Insider tip: Academic scholarships are much more secure than athletic scholarships. You can lose your athletic scholarship due to injury or poor performance, but as long as you maintain your grades, you will keep your academic scholarship even if you are no longer playing.
Do you have to pay back a scholarship if you drop out?
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.
Will I lose my financial aid if I take a semester off?
How Enrollment Changes Affect Your Aid. If you drop or withdraw from classes, you may jeopardize future eligibility for student aid (including loans). If your enrollment drops below half-time, your financial aid awards may be adjusted, and the grace period repayment of loans will begin.
Does taking a gap year affect university admission?
I also gained valuable experience that I believe helped me in the admissions process. Taking a gap doesn't not affects admission unless you previously applied to a school and in the year you did not significantly change or improve.
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.
Do you lose a year of eligibility if you take a gap year?
If you have graduated on time with your peers, in the normal time-frame you are allowed 12 months of gap after your high school graduation. If you compete in any organized sporting competition in the 13th month after your graduation from high school. You would lose one year of eligibility in the NAIA.
Do scholarships expire?
Yes, scholarships can expire. There are many reasons why a scholarship award can expire: Use it or lose it. You do not enroll in college, you drop out of college, or you take a break from college and do not use your scholarship money within a certain timeframe.
Is it bad to take a gap year after graduating college?
While there are many advantages to a gap year, there are also disadvantages. Taking a gap year after college can delay the start of a professional career, potentially putting individuals behind their peers regarding work experience and career progression.
Is it harder to get scholarships if you take a gap year?
Can you get scholarships if you take a gap year? The short answer is yes; however, this depends on various factors. Most gap year scholarships fall under two categories; needs-based and merit-based.
Why did I lose my scholarship?
Eligibility Changes
If you spend the scholarship on something other than what the scholarship is for, you could lost it. GPA – If the scholarship required a minimum grade point average to qualify or to maintain the scholarship and you fall below, you could lose the scholarship.
Can you take a scholarship away?
California is one of five states in the U.S. with such laws, and only the second in the nation to bar scholarship displacement at both public and private colleges and universities.
What are two things you should never do when applying for a scholarship?
- Mistake 1: Overlooking Scholarship Guidelines.
- Mistake 2: Submitting an Unpolished Application.
- Mistake 3: Missing Scholarship Application Deadlines.
- Mistake 4: Writing Generic Admission Essays.
- Mistake 5: Skipping the Proofreading Step.
What does your GPA have to be 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.
Can you use scholarship money to buy a car?
Buying a car to drive to and from campus is an expense that many college students incur. Unfortunately, it's not one that can be covered by scholarship money. Because your car can be used for so many different things — like travel, recreation, and commuting to work — a car payment is considered a personal expense.
Is it okay to take a 1 year break?
Yes, taking a break from work can be good for you. It may give you a new perspective on your career or life. But my professional advice is to give yourself a time frame. This will allow you to work on your goal and plan for what comes next.
Is taking a year off before college bad?
For many, taking a gap year — typically defined as an academic year-long break between secondary school and university — can reduce stress and burnout, improve academic performance, and be instrumental in finding purpose.
How long of a break can you take in college?
Most colleges grant leaves of absence for 1-2 semesters. Students who plan to leave for longer than a year may need to withdraw from school and then reapply when they want to return.