Do you need to submit FAFSA every year in college if not seeking financial aid?

The short answer is no, FAFSA isn't technically mandatory for enrollment. However, there are several important considerations: 1. Some colleges require FAFSA submission for ALL students regardless of need (institutional policy) 2. If your daughter has ANY institutional scholarships (even merit-based), many schools require an annual FAFSA to maintain eligibility 3. Financial circumstances can change year-to-year, and you might qualify for something you didn't expect 4. Some schools use FAFSA data for institutional aid beyond federal programs I'd recommend checking directly with her financial aid office about their specific policy. Some schools won't release your student's account for registration without it.

i never did fafsa after freshman year. nothing happened. save yourself the headache lol

You should definitely complete the FAFSA every year!!! Even if you think you won't qualify for anything. My family makes good money and we didn't qualify freshman year, but when my brother started college during my junior year, it changed our EFC/SAI calculation and suddenly I qualified for a $4,500 Pell Grant! You never know what might change year to year, and the FAFSA takes like 20 minutes now with the new simplified version. Worth it just in case!

While FAFSA isn't universally required, here's what you should know: 1. Check your daughter's scholarship terms - many merit scholarships require annual FAFSA completion 2. Contact her school's financial aid office for their specific policy (some institutions require it for all students) 3. Consider that financial situations change - losing a job, medical expenses, or another sibling entering college could change your eligibility 4. Some schools offer institutional aid separate from federal programs 5. The simplified FAFSA generally takes less time now If you definitely don't want to complete it, get written confirmation from financial aid that it won't affect her enrollment or existing scholarships.

I spent THREE HOURS on hold with my son's school trying to get a straight answer about this same question! Their phone system is a nightmare. Finally gave up and just did the stupid form again even though we know we don't qualify for aid. The whole system is ridiculous - why make us jump through hoops every year just to tell us "sorry you make too much money"?? 🤬

As a college financial aid counselor, I can tell you that skipping the FAFSA can have unintended consequences. Many institutions use FAFSA data for internal scholarships and grants that aren't federal aid. Also, the Student Aid Index (SAI) formula changes occasionally, so a family that didn't qualify one year might qualify the next. Additionally, some departments use FAFSA completion as a metric for student engagement/retention programs. Not having it on file could exclude your student from opportunities they might not even know about yet. I always recommend completing it annually unless you've explicitly confirmed with your specific institution that it's unnecessary for your student's particular situation.

Another thing to consider - if your daughter ever needs to take out federal student loans in the future (maybe for graduate school or if family circumstances change), having recent FAFSA data on file can speed up that process. The Department of Education keeps records of your submissions, and some schools require FAFSA completion before they'll even discuss loan options with students. It's kind of like insurance - you hope you won't need it, but it's better to have it just in case. Plus, with the 529 plan you mentioned, there are some educational tax credits that use similar financial information, so keeping everything current can help with tax planning too.

I'm in a similar situation with my son - we don't qualify for need-based aid but I've been completing the FAFSA anyway. One thing I discovered is that some schools use FAFSA data to determine eligibility for subsidized vs unsubsidized federal loans, even if you don't need them right now. Also, if you're using a 529 plan like we are, having the FAFSA on file can help if you ever need to document education expenses for tax purposes or if the IRS has questions about your 529 withdrawals. It's become part of our annual financial routine now - just another form to complete alongside tax prep. Better safe than sorry, especially since the new version really is much faster than the old one!

As someone who just went through this decision process last year, I'd strongly recommend completing the FAFSA annually even if you're paying out of pocket. Here's why: my family was in almost the exact same situation - didn't qualify for need-based aid, using 529 funds, thought we could skip it sophomore year. Then my husband's company went through layoffs mid-year, and suddenly we needed to explore loan options. Having a current FAFSA on file made that process so much smoother when we were already stressed about the job situation. Plus, I discovered our state has some merit-based programs that require FAFSA completion regardless of income level. The 20-30 minutes it takes now feels like cheap insurance against unexpected changes in circumstances. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it!