- The CSS Profile is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid.
- The CSS Profile opens the door to nonfederal scholarships and
other types of institutional help that may make a significant difference when it comes to paying for college.
It is maintained and overseen by the College Board, the same organization that creates the SAT.
- The CSS Profile provides options for families to explain any special or mitigating circumstances that influence
their capacity to pay, with the goal of providing a more complete picture of a family's financial situation
than the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
You submit the CSS Profile at cssprofile.org. Once you signin, you will find a list of useful documents, such as your federal tax returns and other financial information that you’ll need to have on hand to complete the application.
For domestic undergraduate students whose family income is up to $100,000, the CSS Profile is free. The initial application has a $25 cost. Reports in addition cost $16. Credit or debit cards are accepted as payment methods.
1. Sign In - If you had made a College Board account for the
SAT, PSAT or AP, use the same username and
password to sign-in. If not, create a new account
2. Complete the Application - The application provides
online help to guide you. You do not need to complete the
application all at once; you can save your application and
return to it later. Make sure all information is correct and truthful!
3.Submit the Application - Application deadline is based on Eastern Standard Time. Make sure you submit beforehand.\
4. Review - Your dashboard will include
your payment receipt and any next steps, such as
uploading documents through the Institutional
Documentation Service (IDOC). You may also add
additional schools at any time by clicking on “Add a
College or Program.”
- To apply for any federal financial aid to help you pay for college, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The U.S. Department of Education awards more than 13 million students who fill out the FAFSA each year more than $120 billion in scholarships, work-study, and low-interest loans.
- The FAFSA is also used by many states and institutions to decide whether students receive financial help and how much they will receive.
- You might need your parents' assistance to complete the FAFSA because it requests details about your finances and those of your family, including tax records. Contact your school counselor if you require further assistance.
You’ll need the following to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form:
If you are a dependent student, then you'll also need most of the above information for your parent(s).