CSS Profile

CSS Profile

The College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile is a financial aid application maintained by CollegeBoard that is used by many, highly-selective, private institutions. This application is used by these schools to help determine how much financial assistance a student will need in order to enroll for that year. 

To learn more about the CSS Profile, click here to learn more. 

CSS Profile Partner Schools

Many schools, such as Stanford University, Dartmouth, Alabama A&M, and other post secondary institutions use the CSS profile to determine student eligibility for institutional financial aid. 

Click here to see the full list of CSS Partner Schools. 

 CSS Profile VS FAFSA

There are many similarities between the CCS Profile and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 

The CSS Profile:

• Funded by the Post-Secondary Institution

• Varies from school to school 

• Used by the schools to determine how much financial assistance a student qualifies for 

• Initial Application Fee: $25 , additional $16

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): 

• Funded by the U.S. Department of Education (Federal Government)

• Same application for everyone

• Used by the Federal government to determine how much financial assistance a student qualifies for

• Free for everyone who applies 

Documents Needed for CSS Profile

To complete the CSS Profile, you will need:

• Completed Tax Returns

• W-2 forms 

• Additional records of income for the current year 

• Record of untaxed in income and benefits

• Assets Statements

• Bank Statements

The Process

To Complete the CSS Profile you must:

1. Create a CSS Profile Account 

• Student Account 

  • If the student has taken the SAT before completing the CSS Profile, you may use that same account (this may be beneficial for receiving a waiver, if you qualify for the SAT Fee Waiver).

• Parent Account for each parent, click here for additional help. 

  • If there is a non-custodial parent (a parent who does not have physical custody/primary care of a child/minor), click here for assistance with the application. 

  • If there is an issue with obtaining information with a non-custodial parent, click here to about the non-custodial parent waiver.

  • International Families, click here for a step-by-step guide.

2. Complete Application 

• Answer questions about the family's financial status. Please see the previous section Documents Needed for Profile as a reference.

3. Submit Application 

• Be sure to check with individual school CSS Profile submission deadlines. Be sure to complete the form as soon as possible to ensure completion well before deadline, to avoid complications. 

• This is where applicants pay for the application or use the prequalified waiver to finalize the submission of the application. 

4. Review Application 

• This section allows applicants to obtain a payment receipt and submitting any additional documentation requested by the individual institutions. Any additional information needed to complete the CSS Profile needs to be submitted by Institutional Documentation Services (IDOC). 

To learn more about Institutional Documentation Services (IDOC), click here. 

CSS FEe Waiver Policy

Unlike the Free Application for Student Federal Aid (FAFSA), there is a cost associated with the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile. The initial application costs $25, and any additional applications cost $16. The cost of the CSS Profile can be waived based on the financial information input in the application. To learn more about this process, click here. 

Contact Information 

Customer Service (U.S. and Canada): 1-844-202-0524
Monday - Friday: 9 am - 6 pm (Eastern Time)