The CSS Profile is required by many private colleges and universities to determine your eligibility for non-government financial aid, such as the institution's own grants, loans, and scholarships.
The biggest differences between the CSS Profile and the FAFSA are:
Submission dates: The deadline for the CSS Profile varies by college; the California priority deadline for the FAFSA is March 2, 2026
Types of aid: The CSS Profile is used to determine eligibility for institutional grants and scholarships; the FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for federal, state, and institutional aid
Information required: In general, the CSS Profile asks for more detailed financial information than the FAFSA
Specific questions: The CSS Profile contains questions specific to the school or program you are applying to; the FAFSA contains the same questions regardless of where you are applying
Greater reliance on professional judgment: The CSS Profile gives financial aid counselors greater freedom to grant aid based on a student's particular circumstances.
Cost: There is a cost to filling out the CSS Profile, though some families may qualify for fee waivers; the FAFSA is free
You can find the list of schools that require a CSS below:
https://profile.collegeboard.org/PPI/participatingInstitutions.aspx