Why Every Family Should File the FAFSA — Even If You Don’t Think You’ll Qualify
Written by Sy Kim
Every fall, families across the country ask me the same question: “Do we really need to fill out the FAFSA? We probably won’t qualify for aid.”
My answer is almost always yes — you should file. Even if you’re convinced you won’t qualify, the FAFSA unlocks more opportunities than most families realize.
What the FAFSA Actually Does
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) isn’t just about need-based grants. Filing it gives your student access to:
Federal loans with better interest rates and repayment protections than private loans.
Work-study eligibility, which can provide part-time jobs on or near campus.
Institutional aid — many colleges require the FAFSA on file before awarding their own grants and scholarships (even some merit-based awards).
Flexibility if circumstances change — if your family’s finances shift unexpectedly, schools can’t reevaluate your aid unless you have a FAFSA on file.
Who Should File?
Low-income families: Strong chance of Pell Grant eligibility.
Middle-income families: Even if need-based aid is limited, you’ll want access to loans and institutional grants.
High-income families: You may not qualify for need-based aid, but many schools still require the FAFSA for scholarships and to keep loan options open.
Unless you’re 100% certain you won’t need any aid (grants, loans, scholarships, work-study), it’s smart to file.
What About the CSS Profile?
Families often hear about another financial aid form, the CSS Profile, and wonder if they need to file it too. Here’s the difference:
FAFSA: Free, required by all colleges for federal aid and widely used for institutional aid. We recommend everyone file.
CSS Profile: Costs money to submit ($25 for the first school, $16 for each additional). Required by about 200 mostly private colleges (think Ivies, Stanford, top liberal arts schools) if you want to be considered for their institutional need-based aid.
Our Advice
Filling out the FAFSA keeps doors open at no cost to you. Skipping it can close off opportunities you didn’t realize your student had.
At LVL Prep, we recommend that all families file the FAFSA, every year. For the CSS Profile, file it only if you’re applying to one of the colleges that requires it and you’re seeking need-based aid.
Need help? We’re here to guide you. Whether you’re figuring out how to maximize aid, or just making sure the form is filed correctly, don’t hesitate to reach out.