Is there an easy way (website) to know if filling out FAFSA or CSS profile is required to receive MERIT financial aid from a particular school?

Paying for College FAFSA & CSS Profile
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i do not expect my S24 to receive any need-based financial aid. however, i do hope he is eligible and might qualify for merit scholarship/aid. i have heard of schools that REQUIRE the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile to be filled out in order to be eligible to receive this kind of aid, but it is not clear where to find this information about each school. is there a website or listing of schools that require it? Sorry if this was covered in a previous thread, but i didn’t check. Thanks!

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There are only a handful of schools that require either of these for non need based merit scholarships. The vast majority do not require them. Check directly with the school, if unsure/unclear from their own website.

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Anecdotally, we checked out around 100 schools during our search for D20, D23 and S24. Of the 100 schools we visited - ONE school required filling out the FAFSA to be eligible for merit aid.

While those schools do exist - they really are the minority.

P.S. It was University of Portland that required the FAFSA.

P.P.S Sorry for responding directly to you @DadOfJerseyGirl I meant to respond to the general thread.

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There are a few scholarships at Santa Clara that require FAFSA. Fordham requires FAFSA for at least some of their merit scholarships, but they award it before one files FAFSA. So you don’t have to file now/with the app. Read the websites carefully. If you still don’t understand have your student contact their AO (not financial aid) and ask.

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Thank you DadOfJerseyGirl and beebee3 for your replies - helpful. the school that i heard required this was Fordham so there is at least two (along with Univ of Portland) that we know of now that do this.

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Thx - good to know!

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All those listed thus far are Catholic Universities. Wondering if that is meaningful (policy wise).

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There is no clearing house for this information. You have to check each college.

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You’re welcome.

Which schools do you have on your list? (If you don’t mind sharing). Perhaps posters here can share their knowledge of those schools, if they have experience.

Alternatively, assuming you have a typical number of schools (say, 15-20), and eliminating any schools that don’t offer merit aid, you might have only a dozen or so schools at most that you need to write and ask.

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Tuskegee (not Catholic) requires FAFSA for at least some merit scholarships: Freshman Scholarships | Tuskegee University

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Any update on this thread ? Anyone whose kid applied last year? I’m going to do FASA so my kid can take out a few loans, but have a 529 for a chunk of tuition and then hopefully merit aid rest. Still trying to figure out if I should do the CSS profile ? University of Virginia and I think Georgia Tech wanted it. ( sorry not at home, to look at checklist)

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Great question! There isn’t a comprehensive list or website that tracks which schools require the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile for merit aid. However, for many reasons, it’s advisable to fill out the financial aid forms:

  1. Federal Direct Loan eligibility, even if you don’t expect need-based aid.

  2. The ability to appeal if your financial situation changes.

  3. Some schools require it the first year to be considered for aid at any point during college.

If you’d like to learn more, feel free to check out our free presentations: College Confidential Monthly Fin Aid & Scholarship Webinar Series.

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Note: @CollegeAidPro is a verified CC partner. (Indicated by the green checkmark by the avatar)

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This is absolutely true for international students at many, of not most colleges. For the CSS Profile (international students can’t complete a FAFSA).

For domestic students, there ARE a few colleges that have restrictions on applying for institutional need based aid if you don’t apply as an incoming freshman. So yes, do check to see.

Federal need based aid is NOT restricted for subsequent years if you don’t apply during your freshman year. So, you can complete a FAFSA in subsequent years to receive the federally funded Direct Loan, or if you become Pell eligible, for example.

@kelsmom

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That is correct. Only institutional aid can be restricted in this way (although these schools are not the norm - it’s always good to check). Federal aid will be available if a student qualifies, regardless of whether or not the student filed in their freshman year.

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