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.

Completing the CSS profile can help you qualify for non-federal aid opportunities. This form, unlike the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) , is used by a limited number of colleges. It ...

Hundreds of colleges use the CSS Profile to award institutional grants and scholarships to students. The 2025-26 form opened on Oct. 1, 2024. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are ...

The CSS Profile is an application for college financial aid required by about 200 undergraduate institutions. Completing the CSS Profile, short for the College Scholarship Service Profile, can be ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Robert Farrington writes about higher education and student loans. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is usually the ...

Some colleges require you to fill out the CSS Profile to qualify for non-federal financial aid. Unlike the FAFSA, most applicants have to pay a fee to submit the CSS Profile. You can still complete ...

College financial-aid application season is coming soon. That means lots of angst, lots of questions—and lots of forms to fill out. As a minimum, most families should fill out the Free Application for ...

The College Scholarship Service PROFILE (CSS Profile) is an application for non-federal student financial aid that is administered by the College Board, the creator of the SAT. Nearly 400 of their ...

Learn how the FAFSA can help you obtain federal grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans for college. Apply early to maximize your financial aid opportunities.

Any student who hopes to qualify for financial aid must complete at least one financial aid application. And now is the time to tackle this crucial chore. Parents, whose children will be returning to ...