How to Pay for College without the FAFSA: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re the parent of a teenager in high school, you’ve probably already heard of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). But what if you don’t want to disclose your financial information or have doubts about your eligibility? 

Whatever your situation, we always suggest that even if you don’t think you’ll qualify, it’s best to still submit the FAFSA, because your institution may put institutional funds on your financial aid award based on your income. 

However, we’ll describe how to pay for college without the FAFSA if you really don’t want to fill it out, so read on.

What is the FAFSA? (And Why People Might Not Use it)

The FAFSA is an online form you can fill out to learn whether you’re eligible for government aid, like Pell Grants, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized student loans, work-study programs and more. Apart from the federal government, many colleges and states also use the FAFSA to give away their need-based financial aid.

Its importance notwithstanding, not every family is inclined to prepare and submit the FAFSA every year. Some of them are sure their reported income will exceed the eligible limits for any aid. Others opt not to share their financial information because they regard it as a very intimate subject. In addition, families who are unlawfully non-residents or have legal obstructions may be prohibited from applying. 

If you do not use FAFSA for any particular reason, whether it be a free choice or otherwise, here’s how to maneuver college costs.

Step 1: Understand the true cost of college without FAFSA.

Before making any financial commitments, it’s essential to know what college cost lies under the surface, and it’s more than just tuition. The full cost of attendance (COA) also includes fees, room and board, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. 

The largest starting point for understanding the cost of college: Checking out the net price calculator on each college’s website. The net price calculator helps you to see the approximate amount of money it’ll cost you for each school. The tools give estimates of the out-of-pocket costs based on your income, assets, academic profile, and much more. The net price calculator is just an estimate, but it gives you a clearer picture of whether a college is within your financial reach. It can help you make sound decisions, help you secure further funds comfortably, so you’re not caught unawares later.

Step 2: Focus on merit-based scholarships.

If you don’t plan to file the FAFSA, you’ll want to focus on finding merit-based scholarships. These scholarships reward class performance, test scores, leadership, sports, or talent — not financial need.

Many colleges, mostly private colleges, offer large merit-based scholarships to attract the best students. For example, if your student has a high GPA, top SAT/ACT scores, or excels in the arts, sports, or community service, there’s a high chance that your child could qualify for a large scholarship.

Many colleges reveal their automatic or competitive merit awards on their financial aid pages. Most offer your child merit-based scholarships based on the application, without requiring an extra application or the FAFSA. 

Don’t overlook the deadlines at each school — some institutions have early merit-based scholarship cutoffs. It’s not the end of the world if you miss a deadline (it’s not like your child has gotten expelled from college), but you’ll have to widen your search to other colleges.

Tip: Apply to schools known for giving out quality merit aid. Many colleges use these scholarships to entice students, so they are more likely to compete for your child’s attendance.

Learn more: Private vs. federal student loans for college

Step 3: Apply for private scholarships.

Besides merit-based awards that are granted by colleges and universities, you can also find private scholarships offered by companies, nonprofits and religious organizations, among others. The most attractive thing about these is that the majority of them do not require the FAFSA.

These scholarships can range from $500 to the whole tuition fee are awarded for academic excellence, volunteer work, leadership, your intended career path, ethnicity and more. 

You can find scholarships through:

• Scholarship databases
• Local community organizations, such as Rotary clubs and PTA groups

• Your employer or your spouse’s employer, as many offer scholarships to employees’ children
• Banks and credit unions

Tips for success: Get started early, keep track of everything and rework your existing essays when possible. The more applications you fill out, the higher the chance that one of them will work out. Ask your child to treat scholarship applications as if they were a part-time job. Steadiness is the road to success!

Check out Dayna’s story: 

Dayna worked with College Money Tips this past year and applied for three scholarships (two were family foundation scholarships, another was a scholarship for her dad’s job). She won a $400, $2,000 and a $1,500 scholarship — amounting to $3,900 — cha-ching! She also received merit-based scholarships and ultimately received $30,400 in private and merit-based scholarships!

Step 4: Consider tuition discounts and employer programs.

Familiarize yourself with programs sponsored by employers. Some companies provide employees with tuition reimbursement or scholarships for their kids. You can check to see if your child can get this by working part-time or check more to learn whether you can get this option through your full- or part-time job.

For example, a mom or dad who works for a national grocery chain can receive a tuition reimbursement of $1,000 to $5,000, even if they are in a part-time position.

Programs like this don’t usually require the FAFSA and can drastically decrease your bill.

Step 5: Use college savings or payment plans.

If you’ve set aside college savings using a plan, now’s the right time to utilize it. You can use a wide variety of accounts to pay for college, including ordinary savings accounts, 529 plans, children’s custodial accounts (such as a UTMA/UGMA) or investment accounts.

But what if you don’t have a tidy sum to pay? Most universities offer monthly payment plans, which is handy because you can break fees into six to 10 installments over the semester or academic year. These plans are usually interest-free, making them more affordable and cost-effective than either private student loans or credit cards.

Find out about the school’s payment plans and the fees (if any) related to them at the school’s financial office.

Pro tip: Using a savings and payment combo will help you maintain your cash flow and avoid unnecessary debt. Planning even a few months will give you the flexibility you need.

Step 6: Consider less expensive college options.

Finally, look into less expensive college options. Your child can achieve their goals without attending an expensive school.

Consider these substitutions:

• Community college: Attend community college for the first two years, then transfer to a four-year school. You can save a lot of money if your child spends two years at a community college.
• In-state public universities: In-state public universities usually give residents lower tuition fees and some merit money, even without the FAFSA. Learn how to get in-state tuition when you live out of state.
• Tuition-free colleges: Tuition-free colleges like Berea College and College of the Ozarks can be a great alternative to filing the FAFSA, but note that you’ll still pay for room and board.
• FAFSA-free colleges: Some colleges, such as Grove City College, do not give out government aid to students. These colleges can discuss how they can offer aid to your student in detail, so call the financial aid office to ask more questions.
• Online programs: Accredited schools that offer online programs can save tuition and expenses on campus.
• Live at home and commute: Your child can also commute to a local university if it’s close to home. You’ll only pay for tuition and save a lot of money on room and board.

These can offer great alternatives if your child is unsure about their career path or if they want to have as little debt as possible at an early stage.

Final Thoughts: Is Skipping the FAFSA Worth it?

If you’ve decided not to fill out the FAFSA, ensure you’re not missing out on free money, because most colleges and universities will suggest that you fill it out for their internal processes. Some scholarships and colleges demand completing the FAFSA, even if you happen not to meet federal grant criteria.

Nonetheless, if you are unable or unwilling to use the FAFSA, there are still numerous strategic and productive tools to assist you in dealing with college costs. Merit scholarships, tuition discounts, private aid and payment plans can enable families to afford their children’s higher education without dependence on the government. (And it’s

Paying for college without the FAFSA is possible, though you may see a disappointing aid award. It just takes more research, planning, and resourcefulness.

FAQs

Take a look at our frequently asked questions if you still have questions about paying for college without the FAFSA or how to pay for college without loans.

What salary is too high for FAFSA?

FAFSA doesn’t have a formal salary limit. A modest background doesn’t guarantee that you won’t receive any financial aid. Many families whose income exceeds $100,000 can still receive scholarships, grants or work-study programs. Furthermore, your child will likely qualify for unsubsidized loans if they file the FAFSA, but it’s important to recognize that you must repay these because they’re loans.

What is the alternative to FAFSA?

The most recommended options involve taking advantage of specialized scholarships, non-profit private scholarships, university scholarships, employer benefits and university fee installment plans. Many of these sources are accessible to the general public and do not require financial need documentation besides the fact that funds can be directly applied for from the source, may that be institution-based, company-based or organization-based.

What happens if you don’t file the FAFSA?

By not filing FAFSA, you won’t be able to obtain federal student aid, such as the Pell Grant, subsidized loans or work-study. Moreover, you might forgo state and college financial aid that relies on the information on the FAFSA form. However, some options, such as private scholarships, merit-based institutional grants and other non-federal funding opportunities are still available to you.