Everything you need to know about the CSS Financial Aid Profile

The CSS Profile is offered by the College Board. Similar to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), colleges and universities use the CSS profile to determine financial aid packages for their applicants. Students should also complete the FAFSA, even if their college requires the CSS Profile, as the CSS Profile isn't an exact replacement for the FAFSA. In this guide, we cover everything you need to know about the CSS profile, how it differs from the FAFSA, how you can find out if your school requires it, and more.

What is the CSS profile?

The CSS Profile, or College Scholarship Service Profile, is the financial aid application available online through the College Board, the same organization that administers the SAT. It provides colleges, universities, and institutions information on what the student and their family can afford when it comes to education expenses. These programs may then offer need-based aid to the individual depending on their financial situation.

The CSS Profile is not an alternative to the FAFSA, which is administered by the federal government. If a college requires students to submit the CSS, this should be in addition to submitting the FAFSA, as the two applications are used for slightly different purposes.

How could the CSS Profile impact your financial aid?

The CSS Profile may qualify you for more financial aid than the FAFSA will, so it's important to complete it if your school requests it or offers the option. Even if you think you won't qualify for any additional assistance, you might be pleasantly surprised!

Schools use this data to determine your ability to afford college, similar to the FAFSA and its Student Aid Index (SAI).

However, since some schools use the CSS Profile in conjunction with FAFSA, it could open the door to additional financial aid including grants and scholarships. These colleges, universities, and programs have their own requirements to be eligible for their offers. If you skip this application, you could miss out on some big bucks!

How do you complete the CSS Profile?

To start your CSS Profile application, you'll need to create or log into your College Board account, the same account you used to register for your SAT, PSAT, or AP tests. Parents can use their student's account.

If you need to log out and continue the application process later, you can pick up right where you left off.

What information is required for the CSS Profile?

The application collects more information than the FAFSA. Participating schools are looking for a more complete picture of your family's financial situation to put together a fair package for you. While filling in all the details can be tedious and time-consuming, the payoff can absolutely make a difference for your current finances and future student loan debt.

In addition to some of the more basic information such as your name, date of birth, Social Security number, residential address, email address, and phone number, you will have to provide these details:

• Your personal income, assets, and expenses
• Your parents' income, assets, and expenses
• Number of family members and dependents
• Previous year's federal income tax return
• Up-to-date bank statement(s)
• Latest statement for savings and investment accounts
• Current and previous year's earned income and untaxed income
• Current and previous year's records of SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and benefits such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
• Current mortgage details

To help make it easier when you are ready to complete your CSS Profile, keep these documents handy as they contain all of the information you need:

• Current bank statements
• Previous year's federal tax returns
• Records of untaxed income for the previous financial year
• W-2 forms and any other records of income for the previous financial year
• Mortgage statements if applicable
• Small business information if applicable
• Documentation related to stocks, bonds, or trust

You'll also be asked to specify which colleges you'd like your CSS profile to be sent to.

Special circumstances and the CSS Profile

There is also a section for information regarding special circumstances where you can provide details that you were unable to state through other parts of the application. Special circumstances may include a parent getting laid off work, a recent separation or divorce, disability or death, or excessively high medical expenses.

What schools accept the CSS Profile?

Around 270 colleges, scholarship programs, and universities accept or require the CSS Profile for the 2025-26 academic year. Some examples include Alabama A&M University, Babson College, Colorado College, Harvard University, Manhattan School of Music, and Lehigh University.

You can see a full list of participating institutions on College Board's website.

If your school requires the CSS Profile, make sure to submit it or you could lose out on an acceptance letter. If you have any concerns or questions about your potential school's participation, be sure to reach out to the college's Financial Aid department.

CSS Profile vs. FAFSA

Although the CSS Profile and FAFSA are both used to determine financial aid for college, they're quite different.

Here are some quick facts about the FAFSA:

• Institutions selected by the student are also given the FAFSA information and SAI. These schools use the data to make financial aid offers, including institutional scholarships and grants.
• Some colleges and universities even require the FAFSA for merit-based aid.
• Students attending college, career school, or graduate school can fill out the FAFSA.
• All colleges and universities accept the FAFSA.

And here's a look at how the CSS Profile compares:

• It's administered by the College Board.
• Participating colleges, universities, and programs use the data to determine institutional grant and scholarship offers.
• It collects more financial information than the FAFSA, so you could end up getting more money by completing it.
• It can't be used to apply for federal financial aid programs.
• Graduates and professional students can complete the CSS Profile.
• Only 270 institutions accept it.

The FAFSA underwent a major overhaul in recent years, while the CSS Profile remains the same. As a result, it takes much more time to complete the CSS Profile in comparison.

If you submit both applications, the supplied financial information should match. Errors, misleading information, or mismatching information can result in a request for additional information or even loss of financial assistance. If you make an error on either application, be sure to submit correction forms as soon as possible.

Should you complete the CSS Profile if you already submitted your FAFSA?

You already completed the FAFSA for your financial aid, so why do you have to complete the CSS Profile, too? Well, this application collects more information than the federal application and takes other circumstances into account. For example, if your family's income has been impacted by the extenuating circumstances, you can let your college know directly through the CSS Profile. With the FAFSA, you'll have to submit a special circumstances form.

Colleges can also require specific information through the CSS profile. They may ask for details on annual medical bills, a family's assets, private school tuition for siblings and the student, home equity, and more.

Should you complete the FAFSA if you already submitted your CSS Profile?

Even if you already submitted the CSS Profile, you should absolutely complete the FAFSA. If you fail to complete the FAFSA, you won't be considered for Pell Grants, scholarships that require your SAI, work-study program, and federal student loans, which have lower interest rates and more borrower protections than private student loans. Even if you don't think you'll be eligible for financial aid, you could be pleasantly surprised by your offers.

CSS Profile FAQ

Here are a few common questions we see regarding the CSS Profile:

How much does the CSS Profile cost?

The CSS Profile is $25 for one school and $16 for every additional school.

However, the application is free for undergraduate students who live in the United States and:

• Have a family adjusted gross income is below $100,000
• OR previously qualified for an SAT fee waiver
• OR are an orphan or ward of the court under the age of 24

When does the CSS Profile open?

The CSS Profile becomes available on October 1st each year for the following academic year, the same day the FAFSA is usually available.

What is the CSS Profile deadline?

Each participating school and program has its own CSS Profile deadline. Check with your college's financial aid office to learn more. We recommend completing your application as soon as possible to potentially increase your chances of receiving scholarship or grant offers.

Do you have to submit a CSS profile to all of your potential colleges?

You don't need to submit your CSS Profile to all colleges that you apply to. You only need to submit it if you are applying to a college that requires this application. Of the 270 colleges that accept the CSS Profile to calculate their financial aid packages, most are private schools.

How many schools can you submit a CSS Profile to?

There is no limit to how many schools can receive your CSS Profile, even if you qualify for a fee waiver.

The CSS Profile may seem like an extra chore you have to complete for college, but it can definitely pay off. Even if you think you won't qualify, you might be a bit surprised by just how much assistance colleges offer their students to make their education more affordable. Some institutions even require the CSS Profile along with college applications. If you have any questions about your school's requirements, make sure you reach out to the financial aid office before you start on your CSS Profile.

Are you looking to get a bit of extra cash for your college education? Our Scholarship Search Tool can help you locate awards you qualify for with minimal hassle.