CSS Profile

We wanted to be sure to remind you that you need to look at your desired colleges closely to see what their financial aid requirements include.

At some of the more competitive colleges - particularly those who cover all of demonstrated need for students, in addition to requiring the FAFSA, many of those colleges will also require that students and families will submit the CSS profile. The FAFSA helps colleges determine federal aid, but the CSS profile helps colleges determine institutional aid. The CSS profile typically asks for a lot more detailed information from families than the FAFSA does. And while the FAFSA is free to complete, there are fees associated with the CSS profile.

Usually this is a topic students figure out as they are going through the whole financial aid application process and the CSS profile is just another step in that process, but you don't want to miss if your intended colleges are requiring the CSS profile and to watch your deadlines closely so that you don't miss them along with the FAFSA.

As always, feel free to stop and see your counselor if you have any questions about the CSS profile requirements.