Strictly speaking, filling out the FAFSA isn’t a requirement for attending college.
However, the FAFSA is a requirement for most need-based federal financial aid, as well as many scholarship programs. So if you hope to secure funds from the government to help pay for college — anything from grants to federal student loans — you’ll need to submit the FAFSA each year.
Even if you don’t plan to use this aid, you should still consider completing this document, since you never know when your financial situation will change. Plus, maximizing your financial aid could spare you from adding too much to the student loan debt plaguing the U.S.