A study by a drug reform group says 189,065 people have been turned down for financial aid since the federal government added a drug conviction question to the financial aid form for the 2000 school year. But students who submit to drug tests will get their aid returned, say federal officials.

Students for Sensible Drug Policy says by analyzing Education Department data it found about 25 percent of students applying for federal financial aid for college are rejected because of a drug conviction.

Under the 1998 federal law, a student convicted of drug possession is ineligible for aid for one year for a first offense, two years for a second offense and indefinitely for ...