Both my kids’ college counselors sometimes suggest there are schools that require you to fill out the FAFSA and/or CSS to be eligible for merit aid. We did it for my son, even though none of the schools he was applying to seemed to require it, and it confirmed we would not qualify for financial aid.
Now we’re going through process for the second kid. I wondered from the wisdom here if there was an actual list of schools that require these forms for merit aid, or if this is just urban myth.
There are a few schools (about 5-6 I think) that do ask for FAFSA even for non-need-based merit aid, but none I know of that ask for CSS.
I’m tagging @Mwfan1921 and @ucbalumnus who I believe know some of these schools.
Virginia Tech requires the FAFSA for merit awards.
Since the question raised by OP comes up quite frequently, I think this thread will be a great resource for future readers.
It’ll be super helpful if posters listing schools can provide an official link that validates the information. Thanks in advance!
Texas A&M requires FAFSA to be submitted yearly, for many merit scholarships.
Just the ones that have a need component, right? Do you have a link that says otherwise? I might have missed it.
Thanks.
Just thinking out loud: the VT website says to submit FAFSA “for maximum scholarship consideration.” The wording makes me wonder if there are merit scholarships that don’t require FAFSA, as though perhaps some, but not all, of the scholarships have a need component.
Edit, the VT chatbot Ask Hokiebird says “Most Virginia Tech scholarships require a FAFSA, so for maximum financial and scholarship consideration at VT you should complete the FAFSA.” Still not clear to me whether that’s because most of the scholarships have a need component or not.
No, not a need component. My Aggie didn’t qualify for any need, but she did receive multiple merit based awards/scholarships. However, it’s pretty difficult to find out which ones require it, and the application is for ALL scholarships/awards-you don’t select which ones to apply for.
If student doesn’t submit FAFSA, they will automatically be overlooked for the scholarships that do require it.
Incoming and Returning students must apply/submit general scholarship application yearly.
Example: Freshman Scholarships | Tuskegee University
Looks like they want to check that the up to full ride scholarship + federal aid does not exceed the cost of attendance.
This may not be answering the exact question asked, but I believe this scenario may exist at multiple schools…
Washington & Lee does not require the CSS/FAFSA for consideration for merit; however, it does require the FAFSA to be filed annually before disbursement of merit funds. (For the reason mentioned by @ucbalumnus in the post above.) I don’t have a link but am sharing from personal experience.
None of S24’s colleges did, so we didn’t do it, and then he did in fact get some merit offers.
Not that I disbelieve that a few colleges do. But I would definitely confirm that one or more of the colleges actually on your list do.
Have a 2nd year there. When we went to the admissions sessions they said FAFSA was required for all merit. It was the only college on the list that asked for it for merit.
We don’t qualify for need-based aid but filed the FAFSA and didn’t receive merit 1st year. VT does not offer 1st years a lot of merit but does offer department/major related merit in later years. Still didn’t qualify for need-based 2nd year, but submitted the FAFSA and general scholarship application. Received a good amount of merit.
The wording you included does seem unclear and maybe it’s not required for all possible merit money (thinking maybe athletes or the Cadets?) but we will file it again this year to receive whatever maximum consideration includes 
Fordham is the same. It is my understanding FAFSA doesn’t have to be filed until the spring for matriculants.
Fordham requires the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to disburse all types of aid, including merit-based scholarships.
Big picture, most schools don’t require FAFSA or CSS to qualify for or disburse merit. If one wants to make sure, a call to admissions or FA is appropriate.
Thanks to everyone for these responses. Really appreciate it.
Received this email from Virginia Tech to (maybe) clarify 
November is National Scholarship Month. Encourage your student to start the month off right by completing Virginia Tech’s 2025-26 General Scholarship Application today.
The General Scholarship Application:
● Takes less than 5 minutes to complete
● Allows your student to be considered for over 3,000 Virginia Tech scholarship opportunities supported by donors
General Scholarship Application can be completed by logging in to Scholarship Central.
For maximum scholarship consideration, your student should complete the General Scholarship Application and the 2025-26 FAFSA (available December 1st) by January 22, 2025.
Students must complete the FAFSA to be considered for need-based scholarships or any scholarship administered by the Office of University Scholarships and Financial Aid. For this reason, we strongly recommend completing the 2025-26 FAFSA even if you do not think you will qualify for federal gift aid.
Those opting not to complete the FAFSA can be considered for non-need based college and departmental scholarships only.
Questions? Visit our Scholarships Page, emailfinaid@vt.edu, or give us a call at 540-231-5179.
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