Realizing that you need to submit the CSS Profile combined with the FAFSA for the student's educational funding application could be a bit intimidating. Fortunately, even though the CSS is long and detailed, it is also pretty straightforward.
Many CSS Profile questions could be answered by hovering within the question mark near each question. This provides further explanation and helps you understand what's being asked for.
However, other questions need more detail.
Here are some common CSS Profile questions as well as their answers…
Which Colleges Are CSS Profile Schools?
The CSS is an additional standardized financial aid form that is required by about 400 schools.
They ask for the CSS form simply because they believe that the FAFSA doesn't provide them with enough information to make nuanced aid decisions.
The FAFSA may be the standard for federal educational funding. However, schools that award their own aid often require more information to make decisions concerning how to give away that money.
As an effect, the CSS form is needed by those schools.
The good news is the fact that it is just one form. Each school could require its very own financial aid questionnaire, which would be incredibly time-consuming.
Instead, the CSS Profile can be achieved once and shared with multiple schools when needed.
How Much Will the CSS Profile Cost?
The CSS Profile costs $25 to undergo one school and $16 for every additional school. In line with the financial information you provide, your fee may be waived.
You may also contact specific schools and ask for a charge waiver code.
What Will the CSS Profile Ask for?
The CSS collects more data to ensure that schools can compare students' financial situations better.
The CSS profile questions request the next details:
- Names, ages, and demographics of those who work in household.
- Prior-prior year income and current asset values for both parents and also the student. You'll also be asked to estimate future years' income to make sure that your prior-prior year income is representative of your true financial situation.
- Financial income on both households if parents are separated, not only the custodial household. Schools want to take into account if your non-custodial parent has significant financial resources.
- Home equity. This is the data point that causes the most anxiety, but keep in mind that only a small percentage of your assets are applied toward what you can do to pay for school. The need formulas are more income-driven than asset-driven.
- Business Value and Retirement Value. Both of these should be noted by the date you're filling out the shape. Both are a part of your asset calculation.
- Other resources available to purchase college. Be honest but don't wildly over- or under-estimate. Consider outside scholarships, military benefits, etc.
- Extenuating circumstances. You will be asked about elder care obligations, financial needs for other children in home and much more.
- Explanatory comments. This section can be one of the most crucial around the CSS form. It allows you to share much more of your story and give some context to the financial information you've provided.
What’s the Deadline for that CSS Profile?
The CSS form is available on October 1st of each year, and really should be completed a minimum of two weeks before the earliest school deadline to make sure you have time.
The good news is that you can save your valuable progress and are available back to it. You don't have to complete the whole CSS profile previously.
Each the website for each school your student is utilizing to for his or her specific CSS Profile deadline. It might vary school to school.
If your student is applying early admissions, deadlines for the CSS Profile are likely to be much earlier than if your student were applying regular decision. Help your student be on top of financial aid deadlines, along with other dates for school admissions.
How Is CSS Profile Data Used?
Each school has their own calculations with regards to determining the expected family contribution and financial need for each student. These calculations could be different from the way the FAFSA calculates your EFC.
There will be variations in how the schools use home equity, private school expenses for younger siblings, multiple kids attending college, and much more. Once the calculation is completed, they will give back an award package in line with the results.
Because different schools have different priorities, you can get completely different offers while you completed exactly the same CSS information for every school.
Common CSS Profile Mistakes
How can you correct CSS Profile errors?
You may change and update the FAFSA online anytime. However, the CSS Profile can only be submitted once. If there are errors or changes, you need to submit the update in writing to each school that the student applied to using the CSS Profile.
Here are typical mistakes made when answering the CSS Profile questions:
- Glaring conflicts with FAFSA. Schools get both CSS and also the FAFSA, and they'll do a comparison and reconcile them. If there are significant differences, especially regarding the value of assets, the college asks for clarification.
- Don't omit pre-tax retirement contributions. This counts as income! Skipping this number is a very common reason the web price calculator results don't suit your award as well.
- Give your best estimates for home value. You may use online tools or recent valuations. The goal is to to not be significantly off either in direction. Be reasonable – schools will notice if you report 0 appreciation during the last 20 years!
- 529s should always be listed being a parent investment when the parent owns it and also the student is a beneficiary. All 529s are parent investments, even those for siblings.
- All real estate should be listed, be it your primary residence or a rental property.
- Any retirement account in a student's name is reported as a student asset.
Make sure you monitor each school's applicant portal to help keep an eye out for additional documentation. This is correct even though you submit the CSS through IDOC – the school's application portal is more specific and always trumps IDOC's requirements.
You Can Handle CSS Profile Questions!
As you fill out the CSS profile, take your time and become as accurate as you possibly can. Read and follow directions carefully.
The hover question marks can give you a lot of clarifying information, and you can also contact the College Board via chat, phone, or email.
However, if you have CSS Profile questions, call the school!
Each school has its own process and procedure, so the answer you get in one school might not apply to all the CSS schools your student is applying to.
Be sure to contact each with the questions you have which means you be sure.
Many schools that need the CSS Profile for a freshman don't require you to complete it again for sophomores and beyond, so do not do it again if you don't have to!
Keep in your mind, however, that every individual student applying to a CSS school will need their very own individual profile, even if you filled it out this past year or previously for an older student. Plus, your situation might have changed.
How We are able to Help
If you need assistance, watch our step-by-step CSS Profile Walkthrough. And, if you want even more help or have a really complicated situation, we recommend you take a look at our CSS Profile Review.
After submitting your data you'll get a written review along with a video recording with feedback in your CSS Profile explaining any issues found and suggestions for further assistance, as needed.
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We will help you discover the all the schools which are likely to offer your student money! Take a look at our College Insights tool today!