Everything You Need to Know About the FAFSA and CSS Profile

Applying for financial aid is a crucial part of the college admissions process. Countless students across the U.S. would not be able to afford a college education without scholarships, grants, and loans. Eligibility for these opportunities requires submitting two key financial aid applications: the FAFSA and the CSS Profile.

What is the FAFSA?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a free application that families use to apply for government-sponsored aid. Nearly all U.S. colleges require or recommend students to complete the FAFSA. 

Once you and your guardians create and link your accounts, you can complete the FAFSA application, which requires you to submit financial documents — tax forms, income, assets, other financial aid — and other information. The U.S. Department of Education reviews this information to determine your eligibility for grants, work-study, and loans. 

The FAFSA application asks you to list the colleges you are applying to. Once your FAFSA application has been processed, each college on your list receives a summary of the information you and your parents shared. But don’t worry, you don’t need to finalize your list before submitting your FAFSA. In fact, you can add or remove colleges from your FAFSA list, even after submitting it.

What is the CSS Profile?

The College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile) is a financial aid application offered by the College Board, the same organization that administers the SAT. The CSS Profile determines a student’s eligibility for institutional aid — grants, scholarships, and loans offered by colleges and scholarship organizations. The CSS Profile is free to submit for families earning up to $100,000. If you don’t qualify for a free application, the application fee costs $25.

Over 200 schools require the CSS Profile. Before applying, verify whether the schools on your list require the CSS Profile. Some participating schools will also require you to submit your financial documents via the Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC). You will receive information from the College Board about accessing IDOC after submitting your CSS Profile.

Do I really need to submit both applications?

If a college requires both applications, yes — you’ll need to submit both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile. Failure to do so may prevent you from receiving any financial aid from that school. This oversight won’t affect your admissions decision, but you won’t receive any money if you’re accepted and choose to attend.

Financial Aid FAQs

In general, because CSS Profile requests more particulars and information regarding you and your family’s finances, it’s more in-depth than FAFSA. While the CSS Profile can take longer to complete, a more comprehensive look into your finances can help you qualify for more aid — and perhaps guide your decision on which college to choose.

What type of aid am I eligible for?

FAFSA: The FAFSA qualifies you for federal government aid (grants, federal loans, work-study).
CSS Profile: The CSS Profile qualifies you for non-federal institutional aid (grants, scholarships, school-backed loans).

When does the application typically open?

Both open on or about October 1, although this date can vary.

When is the deadline to submit?

Financial aid deadlines vary by school and admissions plan. Early decision/early action deadlines typically fall between October and December. Regular decision deadlines typically fall between February and April.

Is the application free?

FAFSA: Yes, the FAFSA is free to all applicants.
CSS Profile: The CSS Profile is free for certain students. View fee waiver eligibility requirements here.

Where do I access the application?

FAFSA: You can log into the FAFSA online at studentaid.gov. To access your account, you must verify your identity and create an FSA ID.
CSS Profile: You can log into the CSS Profile online at cssprofile.collegeboard.org. If you already have a College Board account, you can use the same username and password.

Do my parents need to create their own account?

FAFSA: Yes — Parents must create a  FAFSA account, separate from their child’s. Your child will then log in to their account and invite you to join their application.
CSS Profile: No — Custodial parents do not need to create a separate account. However, non-custodial parents may need to create an account and complete their own CSS Profile.

What documents do I need to complete the application?

FAFSA:

• Most recent federal tax returns
• Records of child support 
• The current balance of cash, savings, and checking accounts
• Records of net worth of investments, businesses, and farms
• Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
• Records of untaxed income (if applicable)

CSS Profile: 

• Most recent federal tax returns
• W-2 forms
• Records of current-year income
• Records of untaxed income and benefits
• Records of assets
• Bank statements

Do I have to finish my application once I’ve started it?

No, you can save your application and return to it later.

I made a mistake — can I edit my application after submitting it?

Yes, you can update your information and submit corrections to your application after submitting.

Tips for completing your financial aid applications

Applying for financial aid can be tricky. Here are a few tips to remember.

• Do your research. These applications might feel intimidating if you and your family are filling them out for the first time. However, there are tons of great online resources, including this CSS Profile tutorial and this guide to Filling Out the FAFSA. Review these resources ahead of time to  feel more prepared when you’re ready to apply.
• Talk to your parents about the financial aid process. Ideally, your parents should help you compile the information you need for the FAFSA and CSS Profile. However,  more complicated situations need extra support. A knowledgeable expert like those at CollegeAdvisor can help guide you through the process.
• Work on your applications concurrently. The FAFSA and CSS Profile ask for some of the same information — so why not make the most of your time and tackle both at once? You can gather a list of each form’s requirements — like past years’ taxes — to have handy. This strategy can help you stay organized, reduce stress, and keep you on track to meet your deadlines.
• Review your applications before submitting. Verify the accuracy and completeness of the information you provided. Leaving blank answers or mis-entering information could result in delays or less aid than you qualify to receive. Ensure you and your parents provide all required signatures — your applications won’t be processed without them.
• Submit your applications early. To maximize your financial aid package, submit your applications early. Waiting until the deadline can reduce the amount of available aid because the pot of money isn’t limitless. Submitting your FAFSA and CSS Profile sooner improves your chances of receiving the financial assistance you hope for.

Want more tips and insights? Check out our full Guide to College Admissions here.