Hey everyone! Starting to look into the financial aid process and I found out about the CSS Profile. I'm a little bit stressed about the cost of applying to college, so do you know if all colleges require the CSS Profile, or is it just some? Don't want to miss out on aid opportunities!
Hey there! No need to stress, not all colleges require the CSS Profile. It's utilized by about 400 colleges and scholarship programs to determine eligibility for non-federal financial aid. However, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required by virtually all colleges for federal aid and should be your first step in applying for financial aid.
While the FAFSA is free, there is a fee to submit the CSS Profile to multiple schools, but fee waivers are available if you qualify. To make sure you don’t miss out on any aid opportunities, check the financial aid website of each college you're interested in to see if they require the CSS Profile.
Also, remember to keep track of the different deadlines for the FAFSA and the CSS Profile, as they can vary between schools. Good luck and remember that there's plenty of help available for navigating the financial aid process if you need it!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.