I think if you put it into a long-term deferred-tax savings instrument, that you e.g. can’t easily cash out, it might not show as an asset for purposes of a grant. Like an IRA, or CD, or gov bond, or something.

Talk to a financial planner. Fidelity will be happy to have a conversation with you in hopes that you’ll set you account up with them. They may not be able to answer your question, but then, they might.

And fuck people who try to guilt you about trying for grants when you have a retirement account. $250k is a great start if you’re 18, and will turn into a decent retirement fund if you leave it alone; but it’s peanuts in the big picture and certainly doesn’t make you “rich.” And if you spend it on education, you won’t have it for retirement.