CSS Profile vs. FAFSA: How do they compare?

CSS Profile vs. FAFSA

How do the CSS Profile and FAFSA work?

The CSS Profile and FAFSA are both financial aid applications that determine your eligibility for different types of aid and how much money you can receive. The CSS Profile is generally used for private aid, while the FAFSA covers federal aid that comes directly from the Department of Education (DoE).

Not all schools accept both — in some cases, you may only be able to submit the FAFSA. But if both are available, submit them as soon as you can — even before you know which school you’re attending. This is because many schools and scholarship programs offer aid on a first-come, first-served basis.

What types of aid can I get?

Both applications cover different types of aid — though there are some overlaps.

The main difference between the CSS Profile and the FAFSA is that the FAFSA covers federal aid and the CSS Profile only covers private aid. In some cases, your school or private organizations might ask you to fill out the FAFSA or both to be considered for private aid, while others ask for only the CSS Profile.

What schools accept the CSS Profile and FAFSA?

The CSS Profile and FAFSA are accepted only at some schools. However, more schools accept the FAFSA than the CSS Profile. It’s uncommon for a school to only accept the CSS Profile.

What information do they consider?

The CSS Profile and FAFSA both consider your family’s finances. The main difference is that the CSS Profile asks for more details, including information about your family’s businesses, home equity and medical expenses. It also leaves room for you to explain special circumstances the application doesn’t address.

Filling out both gives your school a fuller picture of your family’s finances and can help you qualify for more aid.

How much do they cost?

Another major difference between the two applications is the cost.

The CSS Profile might seem like a worse deal at first glance. But it also opens you up to more free aid than the FAFSA, which has a much more limited grant selection. If a school requires the CSS Profile for all institutional grants, the application could more than pay for itself if it means you have to take out fewer student loans.

Who can qualify?

While most students are eligible for both, the FAFSA is more restrictive than the CSS Profile.

When are the deadlines?

The CSS Profile doesn’t have an an official deadline, while the federal deadline for the FAFSA is June 30th of the year you want to apply for aid — so June 30, 2021 for the 2020-2021 academic year. However, if you’re looking to fund the fall and spring semesters, you won’t want to wait until then to submit the FAFSA. That’s because this final deadline would only help you qualify for federal aid for the summer.

Some states also have their own FAFSA deadlines that are earlier than June 30th. And schools typically have their own deadlines for both the FAFSA and CSS Profile — usually on the same day.

School deadlines are often earlier than state and federal deadlines, so you might want to check with your financial aid office first.

How long does the application take?

Both are available as online applications, which you can complete over time. However, the CSS Profile typically takes a few hours, while the FAFSA generally takes less than an hour.

That’s partly because the FAFSA requires less documents and information than the CSS Profile. But it also has an IRS data-retrieval tool, which automatically pulls information from your family’s tax returns to complete a portion of the application.

If your parents are divorced or separated, you might have to fill out two separate CSS Profile applications depending on your school — doubling the time you have to spend.

How often do I have to apply?

When it comes to the CSS Profile, it depends on your school — some require you to renew it every year, while others only accept it one time. But you have to resubmit the FAFSA every year to be considered for federal aid.

Can I predict how much aid I’ll get?

There’s no way to tell exactly how much aid you’ll receive until you get your financial aid award letter from your school. But it’s easier to predict federal aid than private aid.

Bottom line

If your school accepts both the FAFSA and CSS Profile, consider filling out both. You’ll be considered for a wider range of financial aid and could pay less for your degree — both out of pocket and in student loans. While the CSS Profile takes some time and can be expensive, the potential savings could outweigh the cost if you qualify for more scholarships and grants.

You can learn more about your options to pay for school by reading our guide to student loans. Or check our article on expert advice for applying for financial aid.

Frequently asked questions

• Does the CSS Profile affect my FAFSA application?

  Generally, no. The CSS Profile and FAFSA are treated as separate applications and the information you provide in one shouldn’t affect the other. However, you might receive fewer federal loans if you get more grants and scholarships from your school — which you might receive thanks to the CSS Profile or FAFSA.

• Are either required?

  No, you aren’t required to fill out the CSS Profile or FAFSA to go to school. However, you won’t receive most types of financial aid if you choose to skip both — including loans, grants, scholarships and work-study. Unless you go to a school that uses another way to assess your eligibility for financial aid — or it offers a free ride to all students — then you’ll likely have to pay out of pocket.

• Do colleges need both the CSS Profile and FAFSA?

  It depends on your school — some schools that accept the FAFSA don’t accept the CSS Profile. Check with your school’s financial aid office to find out if you need to fill out both to be considered for institutional and federal aid.