Will I Lose My Scholarship Over a Title IX Accusation?

The message always seems to land without warning: “There’s been a Title IX complaint filed against you.” In a single moment, everything you’ve worked for—your degree, your name, your future—feels like it’s on the line. But for many students, there’s one question that cuts through the noise first: “Am I about to lose my scholarship?”

It’s a fair question. And if you’ve been accused of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, or sexual assault under Title IX, it’s not just a possibility—it’s a serious risk.

Unlike the criminal system, where the standard is beyond a reasonable doubt, a Title IX case often turns on a lower threshold: the preponderance of the evidence. And the fallout from that kind of finding can be immediate.

How a Title IX Case Puts Scholarships at Risk

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. While it’s often associated with college athletics, its reach today includes a broad range of disciplinary matters, including allegations of sexual misconduct on campus.

When a student becomes the respondent in a Title IX investigation, the threat to their financial assistance depends on multiple factors: the type of scholarship, the institution’s policies, and how the school handles disciplinary proceedings. And unfortunately, most schools don’t wait for the dust to settle before taking action.

Which Scholarships Are Most Vulnerable?

Not all scholarships are treated the same—and knowing which ones carry the most risk can help you prepare for what’s ahead.

Merit-Based Academic Scholarships

These usually come with two expectations: maintain your grades and follow the school’s code of conduct. A Title IX violation—even without expulsion—can count as a conduct breach. That alone can trigger termination. We’ve worked with students who had near-perfect GPAs before being accused. The stress from the process alone can affect academic performance, creating a one-two punch that endangers both eligibility and standing.

Athletic Scholarships

This is where Title IX’s origins in athletics and education equity collide with its disciplinary power. Student-athletes often face swift and severe consequences under NCAA or university policies, sometimes even before a Title IX hearing concludes. For many, benefits are suspended upon accusation, long before any finding of responsibility.

Departmental or Program-Specific Scholarships

These tend to include moral character or code of ethics clauses. A single alleged incident can trigger internal reviews—even if the allegation doesn’t ultimately result in disciplinary sanctions. In these cases, perception alone can be enough to put your award at risk.

When Can You Lose Your Scholarship?

Scholarship loss doesn’t always wait for the final decision. Depending on the school’s Title IX coordinator, student conduct office, or financial aid department, it can happen at several points in the process:

• During the Title IX Investigation – Many colleges and universities implement interim measures, like suspending scholarships or barring participation in athletics, before the Title IX hearing even takes place. These steps are usually justified as precautionary, but they often feel like punishment before due process.
• After Being Found Responsible – If a disciplinary hearing ends with a finding that you violated Title IX policy, scholarship loss is often part of the sanctions. Even if you’re not expelled or suspended, losing financial assistance can be just as devastating.
• After the Appeals Process Ends – Some schools delay scholarship decisions until all appeals are exhausted. But by then, many students have already faced academic interruptions, mounting bills, and long-term damage to their financial stability.

A Title IX accusation can put your entire academic path in jeopardy, including the financial aid that makes that path possible.

If you’re facing this situation, you need to act quickly, understand your rights under Title IX, and have a defense strategy that accounts for more than just the disciplinary hearing—it should also protect your future.

What Happens to Your Scholarship During a Title IX Investigation?

Once a Title IX complaint is filed, everything shifts—and it happens fast. If you’re a student who depends on a scholarship, you can’t afford to sit back and wait to see how it unfolds. You need to know how this process works, where you stand, and what you’re up against.

Because while the school is moving through its Title IX procedures, your financial support may already be at risk.

The School’s First Move: Notice and Immediate Restrictions

Here’s what usually happens at the start:

• The Title IX coordinator notifies you of the allegations.
• You’re labeled the respondent in the case.
• The school starts putting interim measures in place—restrictions that might limit where you go on campus, which classes you attend, or whether you can stay in student housing.
• And yes, in some cases, your scholarship or financial assistance is placed on hold or flagged for review—even before any finding is made.

This phase can feel disorienting. But this is where documentation matters. Every email. Every meeting. Every message from school officials—keep it. And if you’re eligible for support services or legal help, don’t wait. The earlier you respond with structure, the better chance you have of avoiding unnecessary scholarship disruption.

The Timeline: Investigation, Report, and Hearing

Unlike criminal court, this doesn’t drag on for months or years. Most Title IX investigations wrap up in about 60 to 90 days, sometimes faster. That doesn’t leave much time to get your footing.

The process usually involves:

• Interviews with everyone involved—you, the complainant, and any witnesses
• Emails, texts, screenshots—whatever they count as evidence
• A formal investigation report, shared before the hearing
• And the hearing itself, where both sides speak and respond to questions

If you’re trying to keep your grades up while managing all of this, it’s a lot. For students with academic scholarships, even the stress alone can cause performance to slip—and that’s before you even get to the outcome of the case.

The Standard of Proof: Why Scholarship Loss Is So Common

In most colleges and universities, the standard used is “preponderance of the evidence.” That means decision-makers only need to be slightly convinced—just over 50%—that the alleged incident happened.

Not 90%. Not “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Just 50.1%.

That lower threshold is why so many students lose scholarships even without a criminal charge or conviction. A simple majority decision at a Title IX hearing can trigger disciplinary sanctions—and that’s often enough to revoke aid tied to academic performance, character, or program eligibility.

What Else Can Happen If You’re Found Responsible

Losing your scholarship is hard enough. But that’s rarely where the consequences end. Here’s what else we see:

• Your academics take a hit. Most students don’t have time to prepare for a hearing and keep up with midterms. Grades drop, assignments are missed, and performance suffers. That alone can put merit-based scholarships at risk, even before a decision is made.
• Your transcript might carry a note. Some schools add Title IX-related notations to transcripts after a case is closed. That can complicate transfer applications or grad school admissions, regardless of whether you qualify for other aid.
• Future financial aid can dry up. Students who are found responsible for a Title IX violation may have trouble qualifying for federal financial aid at a different institution. And if your current program drops your financial support, that could follow you to the next school, too.

When a university accepts federal funding, it has to follow its obligations under Title IX of the Education Amendments. But those same obligations don’t always protect the due process rights of the accused.

That’s where your defense matters. That’s where timing matters. And that’s where keeping your scholarship, your reputation, and your future education within reach becomes the priority.

What You Can Do to Protect Your Scholarship While Under a Title IX Investigation

If your education depends on a scholarship, a Title IX accusation puts more than your reputation at risk. Financial aid can be frozen. Terms can shift. Some scholarships get canceled altogether, before the school even finishes its investigation. So, no waiting. You have to get active, immediately.

Here’s where to start.

Keep everything.

Emails from the school. Screenshots of texts. Notes from meetings. If it’s related to the allegation or your response, don’t trust memory—save it. Especially anything involving the Title IX coordinator or administrators discussing your status or any interim measures.

Know the scholarship fine print.

Pull out the award terms. Go line by line. Some include morality clauses or behavior expectations tied to enrollment. Others are tied to participation in athletics, housing, or even GPA. You can’t defend what you don’t know is at risk.

Follow the restrictions—but push back where needed.

If you’ve been told to stay out of certain buildings, avoid campus groups, or limit class attendance, follow those orders. But don’t assume they can’t be changed.

A defense lawyer can help you request alternative arrangements, especially if the restrictions interfere with meeting scholarship requirements.

Get someone who understands Title IX and scholarship defense.

Don’t hire just any lawyer. Find someone who’s handled Title IX cases and understands the connection between disciplinary sanctions and financial aid.

This isn’t a standard student conduct matter—it’s tied to federal funding, school policy, and long-term eligibility. You need someone who’s been here before.

If the School Crosses a Line, You May Have Legal Options

Schools don’t always follow their own rules. And if they skip steps or overreach, there are ways to push back—legally.

You can sue.

If your Title IX rights were violated—say, you weren’t given a chance to respond, or sanctions were imposed before a decision—you may be able to file a Title IX lawsuit.

Courts have ruled in favor of students when fairness and due process were ignored, especially where scholarships or federal financial assistance were involved.

You can file a Title IX complaint. 

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) oversees school compliance. If the institution bypasses standard procedures or retaliates by cutting off aid unfairly, OCR can investigate. Schools that receive federal funding must comply with those procedures, and OCR can hold them accountable.

You can negotiate. 

Not every situation needs to end in litigation. Depending on the facts, your attorney might be able to work out a middle ground—adjusted scholarship terms, a probation period, something that keeps you enrolled and funded even after a finding of responsibility. It doesn’t always have to be all or nothing.

The scholarship is just one piece, but for many students, it’s the one that determines whether they get to stay at school at all. You can’t afford to wait for the school to play fair.

Know your rights. Build a record. Get help. And don’t let the Title IX process decide your future without a fight.

Protecting Your Future When Facing Title IX Allegations

A Title IX accusation can put your education and scholarship at serious risk. Schools move fast, and so should you. The outcome can affect your enrollment, your record, and whether you can afford to stay in school.

If your financial aid or scholarship is tied to conduct, GPA, or federal funding, you need to understand how your school handles Title IX cases—and what your rights are.

At Dawson Law Office, we help students and families respond strategically. We tailor every defense to the school’s process, the scholarship terms, and the stakes involved.

If you’re facing a Title IX allegation, get in touch. We’re here to protect what you’ve worked for.