Financial Aid for College 101: CSS Profile and FAFSA
- borgeset
- Apr 4
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 5
What is the difference?
CSS Profile and FAFSA serve different purposes when it comes to financial aid for higher education. The CSS Profile is used to obtain non-federal funds and is most beneficial for families with one or more children attending college. Over a dozen schools now require it for their institutional aid (See current list at bottom). FAFSA is more commonly used to access federal funds that assist lower-income households and independent students without parental assistance.
Ways CSS Profile is Most Useful
More Comprehensive Aid Calculation – The CSS Profile takes a more detailed look at a family's finances, considering home equity, medical expenses, and private school tuition for siblings. This may result in a more accurate financial aid package tailored to your specific situation.
Institutional Aid Access – Many private colleges and universities require the CSS Profile to determine eligibility for their own institutional aid, which is often more generous than federal aid.
More Consideration for Unique Circumstances – The CSS Profile enables families to describe special circumstances that impact their financial situation, which the FAFSA does not accommodate. ** Highly helpful to independent students.
The Benefits of FAFSA
Free to File – Unlike the CSS Profile, which charges fees per school, FAFSA is free.
Simpler & More Widely Used – FAFSA is easier to complete and is required by all colleges for federal aid, while not all schools use CSS Profile.
Institutions that do require the CSS Profile include:
American University Amherst College, Babson College, Barnard College, Boston College, Boston University,Brown University, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Duke University, Emory University, Georgetown University, Harvard University , Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), New York University (NYU), Northwestern University, Princeton University, Rice University, Stanford University, Tufts University, University of Chicago, University of Notre Dame, University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis, & Yale University.
Which One Should You fill out?
If you're applying to colleges that require the CSS Profile, the initial application fee is $25, followed by $16 for each additional school.
If you want access to federal aid (grants, loans, work-study), complete the FAFSA.
If you want to stay proactive but can't afford any more fees, you may be eligible for a fee waiver if you meet any of the following criteria:
Your family's adjusted gross income is up to $100,000.
You qualified for an SAT fee waiver.
You are an orphan or ward of the court under the age of 24.
Neither the FAFSA nor the CSS Profile should be completed in one sitting; instead, dedicate an uninterrupted hour once a week to review your information with fresh eyes. This makes the process less tedious and more manageable.
Similarly, this strategy is precisely how EAE helps students edit their essays!
JUST TRUST THE PROCESS. xx Dr. B
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