Why do you have to submit CSS/ FAFSA for Merit Scholarship?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have experience with NMSF scholarships? Why do you have to submit CSS/ FAFSA? DC is NMSF and is interested in potentially applying to a few schools that offer substantial merit, but I am wondering if our HHI ($350K) will preclude them from being awarded merit. Not sure how this all works. Our plan has always been full pay, but if NM is a pathway to free/lower tuition, DC will have $$ for grad school. They probably wouldn't apply to the schools if it weren't for NMSF scholarship opportunities.

[Anonymous]

I think that the schools that require FAFSA for substantial merit scholarships do so because they want credit for any Pell-eligible students who might not need other aid after receiving such scholarships.

[Anonymous]

Which college requires financial aid forms - which I agree with PP, would likely be to rule out Pell eligibility - for a big NM scholarship? I have seen no such colleges that require this for a non-need-based big NM scholarship. It would be helpful to identify such schools.

If you are wondering if your income will preclude a big NM scholarship, that would only be the case if the college's scholarship is also part need-based, not a pure merit-only scholarship.

[Anonymous]

Depends on schools. Some require and some don’t. UMD didn’t when my kids applied (NMF/NMS and B/K). NMS money wasn’t much - $1000 or 2000 per year if I remember correctly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which college requires financial aid forms - which I agree with PP, would likely be to rule out Pell eligibility - for a big NM scholarship? I have seen no such colleges that require this for a non-need-based big NM scholarship. It would be helpful to identify such schools.

If you are wondering if your income will preclude a big NM scholarship, that would only be the case if the college's scholarship is also part need-based, not a pure merit-only scholarship.

Here's the list of colleges that have NMSF scholarships. Arizona requires FAFSA.
https://www.collegetransitions.com/dataverse/national-merit-scholarships

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which college requires financial aid forms - which I agree with PP, would likely be to rule out Pell eligibility - for a big NM scholarship? I have seen no such colleges that require this for a non-need-based big NM scholarship. It would be helpful to identify such schools.

If you are wondering if your income will preclude a big NM scholarship, that would only be the case if the college's scholarship is also part need-based, not a pure merit-only scholarship.

Here's the list of colleges that have NMSF scholarships. Arizona requires FAFSA.
https://www.collegetransitions.com/dataverse/national-merit-scholarships

Arizona State or University of Arizona? I cannot find anything on the ASU site that says FAFSA is required for their National Merit award - happen to have a link?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which college requires financial aid forms - which I agree with PP, would likely be to rule out Pell eligibility - for a big NM scholarship? I have seen no such colleges that require this for a non-need-based big NM scholarship. It would be helpful to identify such schools.

If you are wondering if your income will preclude a big NM scholarship, that would only be the case if the college's scholarship is also part need-based, not a pure merit-only scholarship.

Here's the list of colleges that have NMSF scholarships. Arizona requires FAFSA.
https://www.collegetransitions.com/dataverse/national-merit-scholarships

Not seeing any requirement for FAFSA whatsoever for University of Arizona's National Merit award. https://financialaid.arizona.edu/types-of-aid/scholarships/2023-2024-terms-and-conditions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which college requires financial aid forms - which I agree with PP, would likely be to rule out Pell eligibility - for a big NM scholarship? I have seen no such colleges that require this for a non-need-based big NM scholarship. It would be helpful to identify such schools.

If you are wondering if your income will preclude a big NM scholarship, that would only be the case if the college's scholarship is also part need-based, not a pure merit-only scholarship.

Here's the list of colleges that have NMSF scholarships. Arizona requires FAFSA.
https://www.collegetransitions.com/dataverse/national-merit-scholarships

ASU and UA do not require FAFSA for merit. This PP is incorrect.

[Anonymous]

Last year my kid was advised to submit the CSS/FAFSA to be considered for merit scholarships. I understand that some merit-based state scholarship programs require a FAFSA or CSS as wellS

[Anonymous]

What about Fordham, do they require CSS/FAFSA? Where can you find this info? I'm looking over their scholarship age and it isn't clear.

https://www.fordham.edu/undergraduate-admission/apply/scholarships-and-grants/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on schools. Some require and some don’t. UMD didn’t when my kids applied (NMF/NMS and B/K). NMS money wasn’t much - $1000 or 2000 per year if I remember correctly.

+1
We did not take advantage either

[Anonymous]

Because most "merit" awards are just calculations based on how much they think families can pay and how much they think they would be willing to pay for their "product."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Fordham, do they require CSS/FAFSA? Where can you find this info? I'm looking over their scholarship age and it isn't clear.

https://www.fordham.edu/undergraduate-admission/apply/scholarships-and-grants/

PP—go to this page and scroll down to the type of admission deadline your kid is selecting. It will show when CSS and FAFSA are due:

https://www.fordham.edu/undergraduate-financial-aid/how-to-apply/prospective-and-incoming-students-us-citizens-and-eligible-non-citizens/

Forham requires the CSS. I can also see it here:

https://profile.collegeboard.org/profile/ppi/participatinginstitutions.aspx

And you have to complete FAFSA for any aid or merit scholarship:

https://www.fordham.edu/undergraduate-financial-aid/how-to-apply/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Fordham, do they require CSS/FAFSA? Where can you find this info? I'm looking over their scholarship age and it isn't clear.

https://www.fordham.edu/undergraduate-admission/apply/scholarships-and-grants/

Fordham is one of the few schools that do require FAFSA for non-need-based merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience with NMSF scholarships? Why do you have to submit CSS/ FAFSA? DC is NMSF and is interested in potentially applying to a few schools that offer substantial merit, but I am wondering if our HHI ($350K) will preclude them from being awarded merit. Not sure how this all works. Our plan has always been full pay, but if NM is a pathway to free/lower tuition, DC will have $$ for grad school. They probably wouldn't apply to the schools if it weren't for NMSF scholarship opportunities.

There are a lot of need based merit scholarships.