The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) serves more purposes than most people realize, and you may miss out on financial aid if you don’t submit it. Parents constantly ask whether they have to fill out a FAFSA form, so we prepared this Q&A to answer that question fully and account for different scenarios.
Do I Have to Fill out the FAFSA Even if I Don’t Qualify for Financial Aid?
The short answer is that it’s a good idea to fill out a FAFSA form, even if you think you’re not going to qualify for aid. Here’s why:
1. The Definition of Need Differs
Many families who don’t fill out the FAFSA assume they won’t get financial aid, but that’s not always true. There are a lot of factors that go into determining your Student Aid Index (SAI) and need.
You never know how your actual financial situation will compare to the cost of the school your child is targeting. College is more expensive than ever, so even if you earn a lot of money, you may find you have financial need at specific schools, and that helps you qualify for aid.
It all depends on how a college gives out aid and if your Student Aid Index isn’t too high for a school’s financial aid policy.
Until you’ve done the research to know what percent of financial need a college meets and how your SAI compares to the college’s cost of attendance, don’t rule out filling out the FAFSA.
>> RELATED:
- 2025-26 FAFSA Guide: How to Get the Student Aid You Deserve
- Student Aid Index Guide: How FAFSA Uses SAI For Financial Aid
Here’s a pleasant surprise a member of our Paying For College 101 group shared with us. She was reluctant to fill out FAFSA, but see what happened…
2. Some Loans Require the FAFSA
The federal government offers student and parent loans that are not based on financial need.
Federal student loans tend to have the lowest interest rates and more favorable repayment terms, which can help lessen the impact of school debt after graduation. Most importantly, federal student loans do not require students to have a cosigner.
Any student, regardless of income, who wants to borrow federal student loans (also known as Stafford or Direct Student Loans), must fill out the FAFSA to get access to these loans.
In addition, any parent, regardless of income, who would like to borrow the Parent PLUS Loan must also fill out the FAFSA.
3. Financial Changes Happen
Having the FAFSA on file in the event of a job loss, a serious injury, or a death in the family, is especially helpful. It means the school can quickly recalculate need and hopefully enable your student to continue their education.
Here’s advice from a member of our Paying For College 101 group…
4. Merit Aid Requirements Differ
While policies vary depending on the school, some schools may require students to fill out FAFSA to be evaluated for merit aid.
Sometimes the FAFSA requirement is to verify citizenship or colleges want to make sure a student has maximized their need-based aid before they are awarded merit-based aid.
Be sure to check the college’s website and/or call the school to verify whether the FAFSA is required to be considered for merit aid.
5. Some States Require FAFSA
In an attempt to get more people to file the FAFSA, some states require high school students to submit a FAFSA before graduation or sign a waiver opting out. And more are considering FAFSA requirements.
The states with some form of universal FAFSA requirements include:
- Louisiana (started with class of 2018)
- Illinois (2021)
- Alabama (2022)
- Texas (2022)
- California (2023)
- Maryland (2023)
- New Hampshire (2024)
- Connecticut (2024)
- Indiana (2025)
- Oklahoma (2025)
- Nebraska (2025)
- New York (2027)
- New Jersey (2027)
- Kansas (2028)
6. Access to Funding
Filling out the FAFSA is not required to apply or attend college. However, if you don’t fill out the FAFSA, you won’t be able to access any federal funding, grants, Direct Student Loans, or the Parent Plus Loan.
Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Student Loans offer students the option to borrow federal loans that are in the student’s name without a cosigner. As an incoming freshman, it is very difficult to find a lender willing to lend money to students with little to no credit history. This is why it’s important for students to consider borrowing Direct Student Loans before any other loan option, and in turn make sure they fill out the FAFSA to get access to these loans.
Do I Have to Fill Out the FAFSA Every Year?
Yes. If your student wants to be considered by the college, state, or federal government for financial aid (grants, loans, and scholarships), they need to fill out the FAFSA each year.
In addition, your financial needs may change each year. For example:
- Your student may have a one-time scholarship that helps for freshman year, but won’t extend into sophomore year or beyond.
- Your income may be different, the school’s cost may change, your student may transfer, and much more.
The Bottom Line: Filling out the FAFSA never hurts, can greatly help, and is not a difficult process.
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Use R2C Insights to help find merit aid and schools that fit the criteria most important to your student. You’ll not only save precious time, but your student will avoid the heartache of applying to schools they aren’t likely to get into or can’t afford to attend.
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Other Articles You Might Like:
Understanding the Student Aid Index: How FAFSA Will Now Use SAI for Your Financial Aid
FAFSA Guide: How to Fill Out the New FAFSA to Get the Aid You Deserve
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