CSS Profile

What is the CSS Profile? 

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.

Link: cssprofile.collegeboard.org/ 

What is the difference between the CSS Profile and the FAFSA?

The biggest differences between the CSS PROFILE and the FAFSA are:

• Submission dates: The CSS PROFILE can be submitted in the fall; The CSS PROFILE can be submitted in the fall.

• Specific questions: The CSS PROFILE contains questions specific to the school or program you're applying to; FAFSA contains the same questions for everyone.

• Different methodology: The CSS PROFILE determines your financial need differently than the FAFSA, taking into account such factors as whether your family owns a home. In general, the CSS PROFILE asks for more detailed information than FAFSA.

• Minimum student contribution: The CSS PROFILE requires this; the FAFSA doesn't.

• 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, as the name implies, is free.

Which schools require it? 

You can find the list of schools that require a CSS below: profile.collegeboard.org/profile/ppi/participatingInstitutions.aspx