In addition to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), some schools require you to complete a CSS profile. This online application helps determine if you are eligible for nonfederal financial assistance. Unlike FASFA, CSS Profiles have a cost.
However, if you are eligible for scholarships, grants, or other assistance that can reduce your need to take out student loans, it is worth paying to fill it out, even if your school doesn’t require it. There may be.
What are CSS Profiles?
CSS Profile stands for College Scholarship Service Profile. This is a closed, independent survey that you complete through a non-profit organization known as the College Board. About 200 colleges and universities currently rely on CSS Profiles for guidance when awarding scholarships and other non-federal financial aid.
According to the College Board, CSS Profiles help college students across the country access more than $9 billion in financial aid annually. Completing the application may help secure scholarships and aid for the institution, in addition to grants and student loans that may be offered by the federal government.
If the university you are considering offers a scholarship program and you plan to apply, you will need to check if you need to complete a CSS profile. Luckily, he only needs to enter the CSS profile application once. From there, the College Board can share your information with as many participating colleges or scholarship programs as you choose.
When should the CSS profile be completed?
CSS Profile submissions open on October 1st of each year. If your college or scholarship program requires a CSS profile for consideration of financial aid, you must complete your application at least two weeks before the expedited application deadline for your scholarship. However, it is wise to complete your application as soon as it becomes available for the next school year.
How much does the CSS Profile application cost?
Unlike FAFSA, CSS Profiles are not free. Please prepare the following expenses.
Notwithstanding the above fees, domestic undergraduate students may be eligible for fee waivers under the following circumstances:
Their family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is less than $100,000.
They qualified for SAT fee waivers.
They are under the age of 24 and are now considered orphans or court wards.
Why CSS Profiles Matter
Completing a CSS profile is important because it can potentially save you money on your college education. Some students may receive scholarships or reduced tuition fees based on financial or other information contained in their profile.
There is a fee associated with CSS profiles, but it may be worth the expense in the end. Submitting your profile to multiple schools and scholarship programs increases your chances of qualifying for institutional assistance. Colleges you thought were financially out of reach might suddenly become within reach if you find yourself eligible for aid you didn’t know you had.
How to complete a CSS profile
To fill out the CSS Profile, first visit the CSS Profile website. Then follow these steps:
Create a College Board account. If you’ve ever taken the PSAT or SAT, chances are you already have.
Collect the required information. You’ll need your family’s most recent tax returns, W-2 forms or other income records, bank statements, savings, stocks, bonds, and other assets.
Please fill out the application form. Answer questions about your income, assets and expenses. Please also provide the same details for your parents. (Divorced parents may be required to complete a separate profile.) They should also be expected to provide academic and housing information along with answers to supplemental questions. Let’s take a closer look at the CSS profile application. However, you can complete parts of it, save your progress, and come back to complete them later if you like.
Review and save your application. Make sure the information in your CSS profile is complete and accurate. Also remember to save a copy for your records.
Select the college or scholarship program you would like to submit your CSS profile to. You can also add schools and programs later.
Enter your payment information. Once you have completed your application, you can enter your credit or debit card information to cover the costs. There is a $25 fee to submit your CSS profile to your first college or scholarship program unless you qualify for a fee waiver. Each additional profile submission is $16.
How is CSS Profile different from FAFSA?
Both CSS Profiles and FAFSA Forms can help you find ways to finance your education. Both applications can share similar information, but there are some important differences to be aware of.
CSS profiles generally require more information than FAFSA forms, especially when family income, assets, and liabilities are involved. These two applications also differ in cost, the type of financial aid they help secure, and the universities that accept them.
Use the following cheat sheet to compare CSS Profiles and FAFSA.
CSS profile | Fafsa | |
price | $25 for first school or scholarship program, $16 for additional profile shares | free |
Who can apply | U.S. Citizens and International Students | U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, Refugees, and Students Seeking Asylum in the U.S. |
Type of financial aid | private, from institutions | federal, sometimes state and local |
Financial information required from both parents if divorced | Yes (with some exceptions) | no |
Participating Universities | Voluntary Participating Institution | All Post-Secondary Institutions Offering and Accepting Federal Assistance |
annual update | need | need |
next step
If you are having trouble filling out the CSS Profile Application, you can contact the College Board for assistance. Support is available by phone, email, or chat.To access these options, open the application’s[お問い合わせ]Just click a button.
After submitting your application, you will receive confirmation of successful payment. Also check out the CSS Profile Dashboard. It may contain new messages from specific colleges and programs you’ve shared your profile with.
FAQ
On October 1st, you will be able to complete the CSS Profile Application for the upcoming academic year. Ideally, you should aim to complete your profile as close as possible to your application start date to increase your chances of assistance. The University Board recommends submitting the profile at least two weeks prior to his priority submission date for the financial aid application to the university. As far as deadline dates are concerned, each agency has set a deadline for when a completed CSS Profile application can be submitted. Often these deadlines are between his January 1st and his March 31st. You should contact the individual schools and scholarship programs you are interested in to learn more about any specific deadlines that may affect you.
Unlike FASFA, there is a cost to complete the CSS Profile, but it is worth it if it helps you qualify for scholarships, grants, and other forms of aid that can help you pay for your college education. There may be
Some universities may require submission of a CSS profile. If you do not submit it, the agency that requires it may not consider it for non-federal grants.
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