<p>Once again, FAFSA doesn’t give you anything. It tells you what your family contribution is. In order to be awarded actual money, you have to apply for financial aid from your school - they are the ones who administer the money. Therefore, you cannot “opt not to fill out the aid forms” of the colleges you’re applying to (note: you do not wait until you “decide to attend”; you file the financial aid papers in accordance with the colleges’ deadlines - usually in February or March) and still get aid.</p>
<p>However, once you get your aid award, you can turn down the loans and work-study and can get the money wherever you want. But be aware that having another source for funds in Year 1 could affect your aid for Year 2, if the source needs to be reported to the school.</p>
<p>(And you didn’t really get an answer to your question because there is no answer to your question. It depends on the school, its budget, and how much they want you. If they want you more strongly, your aid package may tend towards grants; if not, it may tend towards loans.)</p>