CSS Profile vs FAFSA: What's The Difference? Bankrate

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CSS Profile vs FAFSA What s the difference

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Advertiser Disclosure

We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare information for free - so that you can make financial decisions with confidence.
Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover.

How We Make Money

The offers that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within the listing categories. But this compensation does not influence the information we publish, or the reviews that you see on this site. We do not include the universe of companies or financial offers that may be available to you. Written by Contributing writer Dori Zinn has been a personal finance journalist for more than a decade. Aside from her work for Bankrate, her bylines have appeared on CNET, Yahoo Finance, MSN Money, Wirecutter, April 21, 2022 Edited by Student loans editor Chelsea has been with Bankrate since early 2020. She is invested in helping students navigate the high costs of college and breaking down the complexities of student loans. Reviewed by Nationally recognized student financial aid expert Mark Kantrowitz is an expert on student financial aid, the FAFSA, scholarships, 529 plans, education tax benefits and student loans. April 21, 2022

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CSS Profile vs FAFSA

Both the CSS Profile and the FAFSA can help you pay for school, but there are some distinct differences in the application process and eligibility requirements. FAFSA CSS Profile
Aid provided
Federal and state aid, including grants, scholarships and loans Grants, scholarships and loans provided by school Fee Free $25 for one school, $16 per additional school Required information
Personal information from student and parents; income and asset details; business income Income and asset details; business income; bank statements; records of untaxed income and benefits; medical expenses Eligibility U.S. citizens, some non-U.S. citizens (asylum seekers, permanent residents and refugees) U.S. citizens and international students Participating schools
Any postsecondary institution that offers federal financial aid Application renewal
Annually Annually

What is the FAFSA

Administered by the U.S. Department of Education, the is your ticket to receiving in the form of grants, scholarships, work-study and . In some cases, state and local aid require FAFSA completion as well. Funds are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, with about $150 billion of federal aid available every year. You're if you: Are a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen (like a permanent resident). Have a Social Security number or Alien Registration Number. Have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent. Plan to enroll or are enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program at a qualifying institution. If you are experiencing homelessness, have been in foster care or have intellectual disabilities, you may qualify for additional aid. To continue getting federal aid (and, in some cases, state and local assistance), you'll need to every year by reapplying. Every postsecondary institution that offers (and accepts) federal aid is a FAFSA participant. How much you receive depends on your expected family contribution (EFC) and when you apply.

What is the CSS Profile

The is a private, independent form administered by the College Board. This group is also in charge of the SAT and other standardized tests. While most colleges and universities accept the FAFSA, only about 200 programs accept the CSS Profile. Several small, private colleges use the CSS Profile to determine institutional aid for prospective and continuing students. You may complete both forms, but you should first check if your potential school accepts the CSS Profile. Each school can tailor its CSS Profile form to add specific questions that determine how much aid to dole out. How much you receive in aid depends on your eligibility and where you go to school. Your eligibility depends on the specific institution you're applying to, though unlike with the FAFSA, international students may be eligible. While the FAFSA primarily uses your expected family contribution to determine aid eligibility, the CSS Profile takes into consideration many different types of income, assets and financial obligations. For instance, if you are currently repaying medical debt from a hospital stay, that could impact how much you can contribute. If you haven't been accepted yet or haven't made a decision on where you want to attend school, remember that there is a fee for CSS Profile: $25 for the first school and $16 for each additional school. You might qualify for a fee waiver if you satisfy one of the following requirements: You received an SAT fee waiver. Your family adjusted gross income is under $100,000. You're under 24 years of age and a ward of the court or an orphan. While students need to complete only one FAFSA every year regardless of living situation, students with divorced or separated parents might have to ask each parent to fill out their own CSS Profile.

FAFSA and CSS Profile deadlines

Both the CSS Profile and the FAFSA open on Oct. 1 for the following school year. So if you're preparing for the 2022-23 school year, you could apply as early as Oct. 1, 2021. The is June 30 of the school year for which you're applying, although you may have to submit the form earlier depending on your state of residence and the college you're considering. The CSS Profile deadline varies based on the school you're submitting to. Some states have deadlines as early as December, and more than a dozen states award stage grants on a first-come, first-served basis. The sooner you apply, the more likely you are to max out your free aid through grants and scholarships. Both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile include funding that is first come, first served, so the sooner you complete your form, the more likely you are to get aid.

Should I apply to the FAFSA or CSS Profile

As a general rule, you should always apply for as much financial aid as you can. At a minimum, you should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. Your expected family contribution and when you complete your application will determine how much you get. This should always be your first step. The CSS Profile offers different aid than the FAFSA, which means that you might unlock even more financial aid than what's available at the federal and state level. If you can afford to pay the fee or you qualify for fee waivers, the CSS Profile is a great extra step. But not every school requires the CSS Profile, so you'll want to investigate any institution you're interested in before filling out an application.

Learn more

Written by Dori Zinn Contributing writer Dori Zinn has been a personal finance journalist for more than a decade. Aside from her work for Bankrate, her bylines have appeared on CNET, Yahoo Finance, MSN Money, Wirecutter, Quartz, Inc. and more. She loves helping people learn about money, specializing in topics like investing, real estate, borrowing money and financial literacy. Edited by Student loans editor Reviewed by Nationally recognized student financial aid expert

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