Do I need to file FAFSA for merit scholarships if I won't qualify for need-based aid?

YES YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO FILL IT OUT!!! I was in the same boat last yr (parents made 200k+) and I almost didnt do the FAFSA thinking it was pointless. My college counselor made me do it anyway and thank god she did because I wouldnt have gotten my $15k/year academic scholarship without it. Most schools won't even CONSIDER you for ANY type of aid - need OR merit - unless you've submitted the FAFSA. It's stupid but that's how the system works.

The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. Some colleges require FAFSA for all institutional aid including merit scholarships, while others separate their merit aid process completely from need-based considerations. I recommend: 1. Check each university's financial aid website specifically about merit scholarship requirements 2. Look for language stating "FAFSA required for all institutional aid" or similar 3. Contact the financial aid office directly if unclear Also, you might be surprised - even with that income level, depending on how many siblings you have in college simultaneously and other factors, you might qualify for some aid at higher-cost private institutions. The federal methodology for calculating your Student Aid Index (SAI) is complex and considers many factors beyond just income.

dont waste ur time with it, my parents make similar $ and we got NOTHING even after all that work filling it out. juest apply directly for merit scholies at each school, thats wat my older sis did and she got $25k at her school without fafsa

I tried calling FSA to ask about this exact question for my son, and was on hold for like 2 hours before giving up. Then a friend told me about Claimyr.com which got me connected to an actual person at FSA in under 10 minutes. They have this video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. The agent confirmed that many schools do require FAFSA for merit aid, and said you should definitely complete it. Apparently some schools also have small amounts of institutional aid that isn't strictly need-based that you might qualify for.

fill it out!! my cousin didnt do it and lost a $12k merit scholarship at Boston college cuz they required fafsa for ALL aid not just need-based. took her like 2 hrs to do the whole thing and couldve saved 48k over 4 yrs!!!!

One additional point that hasn't been mentioned: filling out the FAFSA also makes you eligible for federal direct unsubsidized loans (currently at 5.5% interest rate for undergraduates), which are available regardless of financial need. These often have better terms than private student loans, so even if you don't get grants or subsidized loans, having access to unsubsidized federal loans can be valuable if you end up needing to borrow at some point in your college career.

And BTW the FAFSA is wayyyy easier this year than before with the new simplified version (thats what I heard at least). They cut like 30 questions and streamlined the whole thing. So don't stress about it being super complicated - it's mostly just inputting basic tax info.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I've decided to fill out the FAFSA since it seems like the safer option. Already created my FSA ID and started the application. Some of my schools have priority deadlines coming up soon, so I'll try to get it done this week. I appreciate all the insights!