The CSS Profile, Explained

What the CSS Profile is and how it relates to the FAFSA

The CSS Profile is a financial aid application administered by College Board that some U.S. colleges and universities use to award their own institutional grant and scholarship funds. It is separate from, and in addition to, the FAFSA.

Where the FAFSA determines eligibility for federal aid programs (federal grants, loans, and work-study), the CSS Profile gives colleges a more detailed picture of a family's finances so they can decide how to allocate their own scholarship dollars. A college that requires both forms will use FAFSA data for federal aid and CSS Profile data for institutional awards. Applying to a school that requires the CSS Profile without filing it will typically mean the student is not considered for that institution's need-based grants.

Which colleges require it

Not every U.S. college uses the CSS Profile. It is most commonly required by private colleges and universities that have substantial endowments and award significant institutional grant aid, as well as by some state flagship universities and scholarship programs. The College Board maintains a current list of participating institutions at cssprofile.collegeboard.org.

Always verify directly with each college's financial aid office whether the CSS Profile is required, whether there is a specific deadline (which is usually earlier than the FAFSA deadline), and what additional materials the college may ask for.

How the CSS Profile differs from the FAFSA

The CSS Profile collects a broader set of financial information than the FAFSA. It asks about home equity, retirement account balances, assets of divorced or non-custodial parents (in many cases), small-business assets, and other items that the standard FAFSA does not address. As a result, two families with similar income levels may receive different CSS Profile assessments depending on their complete asset picture.

Because each college sets its own institutional aid formulas, the CSS Profile result is not a single universal number — it feeds into each institution's own calculation. Aid awards can therefore vary substantially between colleges even for the same applicant.

• FAFSA: determines federal aid eligibility; free to file; uses a standardized formula
• CSS Profile: determines institutional (college's own) aid eligibility; filing fee applies (waivers available); more detailed financial picture; formula varies by college

What information the CSS Profile asks for

The CSS Profile is longer and more detailed than the FAFSA. Before starting, verify the current list of required sections on cssprofile.collegeboard.org. Typical areas include:

Student and parent income and tax information, often for multiple prior years; detailed asset information including home value and equity, investments, and retirement accounts; information about both parents in the case of divorced or separated families (many colleges use a non-custodial parent waiver process — check each school's policy); and any unusual financial circumstances.

• Student income, assets, and tax data
• Parent(s) income, assets, taxes, and business information
• Non-custodial parent information (varies by college — check each school's policy)
• Household size, siblings in college, and special financial circumstances

When and how to file

File the CSS Profile as early as possible — well before the financial aid deadlines of your target colleges, many of which set CSS Profile deadlines weeks ahead of their regular admissions deadlines. Log in at cssprofile.collegeboard.org with a College Board account. You will need to indicate which colleges should receive your results; a separate fee applies for each school (or a fee waiver if you qualify).

Deadlines and fees change. Always confirm the current deadline for each college and the current fee schedule on the College Board official site before you file.