Financial matters: Do You Need to Submit the CSS Profile?

The bulk of college financial aid money comes from the federal government; this aid is distributed by colleges using information supplied by fam when they complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), available on October 1st. About 240 colleges, universities, and scholarship programs, however, use an additional form, the CSS Profile, to gather more information in order to award their own institutional funds to deserving students. Students applying to college should check to see if this form is required by schools on their list. Some scholarship programs also utilize the CSS Profile. It, too, becomes available on October 1st of each year.

The Profile provides a more complete picture of your family’s finances; it also provides a way for you to describe special circumstances right on your application. Begin by logging on to the College Board website at https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org.

Use your College Board student account and password to begin the Profile process. Alternatively, parents can create a separate account, since sensitive financial information will be collected. The first step after logging in to your account is to register for the correct year (2023-2024 for this year’s senior class). Now, complete the application—as you answer questions, the application will be tailored to your family’s financial situation.

The application may be completed in one sitting or you can save the information and come back to complete it. You will need a number of financial documents, so get these ready before beginning the application. You will find a list of the needed documents once you sign in. Answer all questions carefully; answers are saved as you change screens. Unlike the FAFSA, there is a processing and reporting fee for this application. After an initial $25 registration fee (including one school report), you will be charged $16 for each report required. After submitting, you will receive an acknowledgment and instructions for making any needed revisions or adding additional colleges. Submit your Profile no later than two weeks before the earliest priority filing date for your college.

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