Completing the CSS profile can help you qualify for non-federal aid opportunities. This form, unlike the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) , is used by a limited number of colleges. It ...

All schools accept the FAFSA for federal aid, but only some accept the CSS Profile for state and institutional aid. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising ...

This financial aid form is the key to non-federal aid at some colleges Greg Daugherty has worked 25+ years as an editor and writer for major publications and websites. He is also the author of two ...

Hundreds of colleges use the CSS Profile to award institutional grants and scholarships to students. The 2025-26 form opened on Oct. 1, 2024. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I cover the college admission process and how it affects families. You may think that once you've completed the FAFSA you're all ...

The College Scholarship Service PROFILE (CSS Profile) is an application for non-federal student financial aid that is administered by the College Board, the creator of the SAT. Nearly 400 of their ...

The CSS Profile, managed by the College Board, helps students access institutional financial aid beyond federal support. Unlike the FAFSA, it provides colleges with a detailed view of income, assets, ...

Applying to college is an exercise in paperwork: recommendations, essays, the application itself, and the FAFSA — the form that determines whether your student is eligible for federal financial aid.

It allows Drexel to consider you for need-based grant aid. Drexel grants are considered gift aid; they don't need to be paid back. In 2025–2026, the average financial aid package was $40,814 for first ...

If you are one of the parents who had to submit estimated tax and income information on the CSS Profile college aid form to meet deadlines at the colleges your child has applied to, this is what you ...