CSS Profile

Do I need to complete a CSS profile? See if your college is on the list here:

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

What is the CSS Profile?

The College Board, who administers the SAT and AP exams, also administers a financial aid form called the CSS Profile. The CSS Profile helps make education more accessible to everyone. It helps colleges determine your level of financial need, and then awards you a financial aid package that’s consistent with that need. Some schools require the CSS Profile to improve their financial aid offerings. Not all schools require students to complete the CSS Profile.

Similar to the FAFSA application, the CSS Profile requires a prospective student to submit the following information:

• Tax returns

• W-2s

• Bank statements

• Records of income

Unlike the FAFSA application, the CSS Profile demonstrates a thorough snapshot of your household income. While the FAFSA assesses your need for federal financial aid, the CSS Profile is a much more in-depth tool used to assess how much additional financial aid you might need to cover your college costs.

The profile helps colleges more easily assess the kind of institutional aid they could offer a student, in addition to any federal aid. This is vital because federal financial aid isn’t usually sufficient in covering the cost of college.

You also must pay a fee of $25 to send your CSS Profile to a college, and $16 each to send it to more than one school. When you complete your information, it will automatically determine if you qualify for a waiver.