The CSS Profile provides access to nonfederal scholarships and other types of institutional aid that can make a significant difference when it comes time to pay for college. Unlike the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the CSS Profile aims to provide a more comprehensive picture of a family's finances. It offers opportunities for families to describe unique or extenuating circumstances that may affect their ability to pay.

Completing the CSS Profile can be daunting, but it is an essential requirement for securing institutional aid in about 300 colleges, universities, and scholarship organizations. The College Scholarship Service Profile, as it is formally known, is administered and maintained by the College Board, the same organization that develops the SAT. 

The CSS Profile is not free. Students who qualify for an SAT Fee Waiver are the only ones who can waive their application fee.