If someone doesn't apply for financial aid why do colleges still request IDOC?

[BelknapPoint]

@Hilarious1900

On every application there was a question - Are you applying for Financial Aid and I always checked the “No” box

Financial aid is generally broken down into two categories- need-based aid and merit aid (and some awards are a hybrid of both). So if the student is looking for merit awards, they are looking for financial aid.