What is the CSS Profile (and Do You Need to Complete It)?
When families start talking about financial aid, the FAFSA usually gets most of the attention. But for many students applying to private and more selective colleges, there’s another form you need to know about: the CSS Profile.
What is the CSS Profile?
The CSS Profile (short for College Scholarship Service Profile) is an online application administered by the College Board. It’s used by nearly 250 colleges, universities, and scholarship programs to award their own institutional financial aid.
While FAFSA determines eligibility for federal aid (grants, loans, and work-study), the CSS Profile helps colleges decide how to distribute their own funds—which can often be more generous.
Who Needs to Fill It Out?
Not every school requires the CSS Profile. Typically, it’s selective private colleges and universities that use it. Families should:
Check each college’s financial aid page to confirm requirements.
Pay attention to deadlines, which are often different from general application deadlines.
How is it Different from the FAFSA?
While both forms collect financial information, the CSS Profile goes into more detail. For example:
It may ask about home equity, retirement accounts, and non-custodial parent income.
It often requires families to submit additional documents, such as tax returns, through the College Board’s Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC).
Unlike FAFSA (which is free), there is a fee to submit the CSS Profile—currently $25 for the first school and $16 for each additional school. Fee waivers are available for eligible students.
What You’ll Need to Complete It
Recent tax returns and W-2 forms
Records of income and assets (including savings, investments, and home equity)
Information about siblings in college and other household expenses
Tips for Families
Start early. The CSS Profile takes longer than the FAFSA, so give yourself time to gather documents.
Check deadlines carefully. Missing a CSS Profile deadline can mean losing out on thousands in aid.
Be accurate and consistent. Colleges compare the FAFSA and CSS Profile, so make sure your answers align.
Why It Matters
For families applying to colleges that require the CSS Profile, this form can unlock significant institutional aid—sometimes making a private college just as affordable as a public one.
