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If your family earns less than $100,000 per year, you don’t have to pay a fee to submit the CSS Profile.
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The CSS Profile can help you unlock non-federal funding opportunities for college.
Every participating school sets its own deadline for the CSS Profile.
Generally, the CSS Profile opens on October 1 each year.
The CSS Profile can potentially open the door to non-federal aid, through different colleges and scholarship programs. If you want a chance to tap additional funding opportunities, you’ll need to submit yours on time. But the CSS Profile deadline varies from school to school.
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What is a CSS Profile?
The College Scholarship Service Profile, CSS Profile, is an online application used by some colleges and scholarships to award non-federal aid.
The CSS Profile is different from the FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA focuses on distributing federal aid. In contrast, the CSS Profile distributes funds from different funding sources.
Some of the schools that use the CSS Profile include Arizona State University, Baylor University, Duke University, John Hopkins University, Stanford University, and Wake Forest University.
What is the CSS Profile deadline?
The CSS Profile opens on October 1, which means you can get started on the form on that date. Different schools have different CSS Profile deadlines.
For example, students attending or planning to attend the University of Virginia must complete the CSS Profile by March 1. Students planning to attend the University of Michigan must complete the CSS Profile by March 31. Generally, the deadline falls between January 1 and March 31. As you prepare to enroll in a particular college, you’ll need to determine what the deadline is for your particular school.
Quick tip: You can likely determine the deadline for the CSS Profile at a given school by contacting the financial aid office.
When you are ready to complete the CSS Profile, it’s available through the College Board. If you don’t already have a College Board account, you’ll need to create a new one. Be prepared to answer questions about yourself and your family. You don’t have to complete the entire document in one sitting, you can save it to complete at another time.
Keep in mind that you may have to pay a fee to submit this form. If your family makes less than $100,000 per year, the CSS Profile is free to complete. If your family makes more than this limit, the cost is $25 for the initial application to one institution. After that, you’ll pay $16 for each additional institution.
If you miss the CSS Profile deadline set by the school of your choice, you could miss out on opportunities for grants and scholarships available at your school. Most deadlines are set in stone, which means you can’t just submit the CSS Profile later.
Why complete the CSS Profile?
“Many of the colleges requiring the CSS Profile are private colleges with generous need-based aid, so a student with demonstrated financial need who doesn’t apply for need-based aid may be missing out on sizable amounts of money,” says Dr. Robert Kohen, an independent college admissions counselor at Kohen Educational Services.
Even if you might not qualify for need-based aid, completing this profile can pay off. “A very, very small minority of colleges require the student to apply for need-based financial aid in order to be considered for merit aid, so not completing the CSS Profile at one of these colleges could mean no merit aid,” says Kohen.
Quick tip: If your family earns less than $100,000 per year, you don’t have to pay a fee to submit the CSS Profile. With that, an investment of time on your end could lead to a worthwhile funding opportunity.
As of the fourth quarter of 2023, more than 250 schools used this form. If you plan on attending one of these participating schools, then completing the CSS Profile is one way to increase your odds of earning scholarship or grant money.
CSS Profile frequently asked questions
How do I access the CSS Profile?
You can access the CSS Profile by creating an account with the College Board. Once your account is created, you can start to fill out the form.
When is the CSS Profile due for most colleges?
The CSS Profile deadline usually falls between January 1 and March 31. But the exact deadline varies from school to school.
Are there any exceptions to the CSS Profile deadline?
Whether or not there are exceptions to the CSS Profile deadlines varies from school to school. In general, missing the deadline means you’ll miss out on funding opportunities.
Can I make changes to my CSS Profile after I submit it?
Yes, the College Board allows you to correct your CSS Profile if you made a mistake.
Is the CSS Profile free to complete?
If your family earns less than $100,000 per year, it’s free to submit the CSS Profile. If your family earns more than $100,000 per year, the cost is $25 for the initial application to one institution. After that, you’ll pay $16 for each additional institution.
How does the CSS Profile affect my financial aid award?
The CSS Profile potentially unlocks non-federal aid opportunities. Depending on your school and your situation, a completed CSS Profile could lead to more financial aid.