Completed the FAFSA and it has been processed. However, not planning on any financial aid as EFC is huge and we did not get any with my older D whilst our financial situation has improved. Given we are only looking for non-need merit aid is it worth completing the CSS for the following colleges: Seattle U, Santa Clara, Whittier, Laverne, Willamette, Pacific U (OR) and Univ of Portland?
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Santa Clara is the only school on your list that uses CSS Profile. Run their NPC to see if that forecasts any need based aid for you…if not, no need to do the CSS Profile. Santa Clara does NOT require CSS Profile to qualify for merit aid.
Then why bother filing the FAFSA either?
Because schools say they need it for merit aid.
Some schools want to make sure that you are getting any money available from the government. This is especially true of full COA awards. They can reduce the amount they have to pay by any federal grants.
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Most schools don’t seem to require it for merit awards that have no need component and for students that aren’t requesting financial aid. Speaking from personal experience.
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And what people learned in the last 2 years, sometimes schools base a refund on FAFSA. There were covid refunds at some schools.
My daughter’s school gave almost everyone who applied a study abroad grant (thank you Dick Cheney) but I think you had to have filed a FAFSA.
I realize there is a difference between MUST and SHOULD - but from the SCU website:
“First-year students should complete the CSS PROFILE in order to be considered for the full range of Santa Clara University scholarships and grants.”
To be safe, we did.
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I read up on it and saw the section you noticed on the website. There is one type of scholarship (Johnson, which awards 5 scholarships per year) where they require both FAFSA and CSS. None of the other scholarships require it. It seems to be a scholarship for their top 3% of applicants. Santa Clara is the only school that requires the CSS where my D is applying and this scholarship seems pretty unlikely.
I would also be interested to know if any students without need are ever selected as SCU Johnson scholars. Typically, but not always, if FAFSA/CSS Profile are required, there is a need based component.
@tsbna44 might know the answer to this.
If you all mean the W&L Johnson, then no per their website. But for those with need who win, I suppose it overrides the need. @DramaMama2021 has a winning student so might know more.
I just googled. SCU has a Johnson Scholar so that is what you are referencing. Didn’t know about that one. Wonder if they are related. Sounds like full tuition. In reading you definitely need the Fafsa each year. But sounds like only the CSS if need is above tuition but I would ask the school if it’s needed initially to win. It is merit based so unlikely but they do state FAFSA must be done each year.
Honestly if a school requires CSS, I’d do it. I pretty much knew I was getting nothing but I did CSS and IDOC to be safe. U just never know.
Yup, was referring to SCU’s Johnson scholarship.
Ask the school. It’s clear yes for fafsa but it seems no for css. But a quick email from your student to admission will give a yes no answer.
I’m not familiar with the SCU Johnson.
However, if anyone is interested in the W&L Johnson full ride merit scholarship, I’m happy to answer questions. While it is a merit scholarship, there is an unofficial but openly shared goal of awarding approximately half of the scholarships to Pell eligible students. Regardless of Pell eligibility, W&L Johnson scholars are asked to file the FAFSA annually.
Presumably so that the student gets what they can from the government, and then the school gives scholarship to make it a full ride but no more.
This occurs at some other schools regarding full rides.
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Correct.
Some scholarships, even private ones, are limited to citizens or those with other qualified status, and use filing FAFSA as a way to establish eligibility for that scholarship. That way the organization doesn’t have to make decisions on citizenship, view passports or citizenship papers or hire a company to do that.