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.

Non-federal financial aid, including the CSS Profile, helps US students cover college costs beyond federal aid like FAFSA. The CSS Profile, used by around 270 institutions, captures detailed financial ...

Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia. Marguerita is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor ...