| If you are applying for financial aid at a private | | | | What Information Do You Need? |
| college or university that makes institutional awards | | | | When you register, you'll need to assemble the |
| to students, then you will be asked to fill out the | | | | following information. If you find that you are missing |
| CSS / Financial Aid PROFILE application. The CSS | | | | something, you can save your application and return |
| Profile (as most people call it) is a service of the | | | | to it later:o The type of tax return you and your |
| College Board, a national, not-for-profit membership | | | | parent(s) will file for the current year (e.g., 1040, |
| association whose mission is to connect students to | | | | 1040 EZ, foreign return, etc.)o Documentation if your |
| college success and opportunity. | | | | parents receive TANF (Temporary Assistance for |
| Over 600 of the College Board's member colleges, | | | | Needy Families) or SSI (Supplemental Security |
| universities, graduate schools, and scholarship | | | | Income).o Documentation if your parents are |
| programs use the information collected on the CSS | | | | self-employed or own business(es) and/or farm(s).o |
| Profile application to help them award nonfederal | | | | Your parents' housing status (e.g., own, rent).o Your |
| student aid funds. Federal student aid is determined | | | | personal information, including your Social Security |
| by the FAFSA application. | | | | number. |
| When Do You File the CSS Profile? | | | | Once you register online, you will find detailed |
| Generally, you may file the Profile application as early | | | | instructions and an extensive Help Desk, including |
| as October 1st of the year preceding the next | | | | Frequently Asked Questions. |
| school year. Individual colleges have their own final | | | | What Information Does the CSS Profile Ask For? |
| deadlines. You should file no later than two weeks | | | | Colleges use the Profile to calculate your Expected |
| before the earliest priority filing date specified by | | | | Family Share (EFS) of your cost of education. The |
| your college or program. | | | | EFS represents the Profile's best estimate of your |
| How Do You File the CSS Profile? | | | | family's capacity (relative to other families) to absorb, |
| Completing the Profile application requires you to | | | | over time, the costs of education including tuition, |
| have a secure browser and, because there is a fee, | | | | housing, and fees. Consequently, the Profile asks for |
| either a valid credit card or checking account. Unlike | | | | a fuller range of information than FAFSA. The Profile |
| the FAFSA, there is no option to file a paper form. | | | | collects information on estimated academic year |
| If you do not have a computer at home, register for | | | | family income, medical expenses, elementary and |
| your Profile application online at your high school or | | | | secondary school tuition, and unusual circumstances. |
| local library. Then print the Pre-Application Worksheet | | | | The Profile may include in family income any paper |
| and Instructions. Return to your high school or library | | | | depreciation, business, rental, or capital losses that |
| and enter the information by logging back into your | | | | can reduce adjusted gross income. |
| application using your secure username and password. | | | | Some colleges may require additional information, |
| What Does the CSS Profile Cost? | | | | such as tax returns or an institutional application. If |
| As of this writing, the fee for the initial application | | | | your parents are divorced, some colleges will also |
| and one college or program report is $25. To send | | | | require your noncustodial parent to complete the |
| additional reports costs $16 per college. A limited | | | | Noncustodial CSS Profile. |
| number of fee waivers are granted to U.S. citizens or | | | | Remember, the College Board does not award |
| eligible noncitizens who are first-time college applicants | | | | financial aid. Your college makes the decision to |
| and who are from families with very low income and | | | | award institutional financial aid. |
| assets. | | | | |