Some (most) schools consider any aid, merit or need, to be financial aid. As an international student, to get your visa you need to show how you will be paying for tuition and your living expenses in the US.
If you need the money, why aren’t you applying for financial aid? If you are not doing it so that they won’t reject you for having need, and they accept you but you can’t pay, what have you gained? If you need FA, apply for it.