How to Find FAFSA-Only Private Colleges
College is expensive. And it’s getting more and more expensive every year. Families try to find ways to reduce their costs, looking into scholarships or how to save effectively for school. But perhaps the best way to reduce your expenses and maximize financial aid eligibility is to make sure you are putting together a strong school list. In a lot of cases, this list should include FAFSA-only private colleges.
First, I’m no expert in admissions. There are plenty out there, hopefully including your high school guidance counselor, who can help you identify colleges that are strong academic and social fits.
Finding FAFSA-Only Private Colleges
What I’m going to share is how to put together a college school list that helps you maximize financial aid eligibility. There are several ways to do this, but today we’ll look at identifying FAFSA-only private colleges.
Learn more about the most common financial aid forms: FAFSA & CSS Profile >>
Why FAFSA-Only?
The FAFSA is a shorter form compared to the CSS Profile, and it often is more beneficial in the way it determines a family’s expected contribution to college.
However, applying to a school that requires only the FAFSA doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to qualify for need-based grants. Many FAFSA-only schools rely on federal and state grants along with minimal merit-based scholarships to subsidize their cost.
The sweet spot is often a private school that DOES provide institutional need-based aid but DOES NOT require the FAFSA. This takes a bit to uncover, but here’s the process:
Use a free search tool such as this to identify private schools that meet your desired academic and social criteria.
Cross-reference any private schools identified against the CSS Profile School List.
If you are able to identify a private school that’s a good academic and social fit that only requires the FAFSA, it’s worth investigating further and adding to your list.
This is a great way to maximize aid for all families, but it’s especially effective for families of divorce. You can learn more about that here. In short, a FAFSA-only school will require information from one parent (the custodial parent) instead of BOTH the custodial and non-custodial parent. For many families, that’s a game changer in terms of the amount of financial aid they can receive.
There is a lot to be gained from our free general financial aid advice, but it’s also a very individual process. If you have remaining financial aid questions, email us to discuss more or book an individual session.