The first step to filling out the CSS Profile is figuring out when the deadline is. This can be a little complicated since different schools and programs have different rules and deadlines. Generally, the best time to submit the CSS Profile is as soon as you can, after you’ve narrowed down the schools and scholarship programs you’re interested in.
When is the CSS Profile deadline for the 2020-2024 academic year?
There’s no universal CSS Profile deadline. Instead, it depends on your school and whether you’re applying as an early decision student, regular admission student or transfer student. Returning students might also have a separate deadline if your school requires you to to resubmit the CSS Profile each year.
Here’s how it typically breaks down for undergraduate students:
Early decision deadline: November
Regular decision deadline: January or February
Transfer student deadline: March
Returning student deadline: April
However, it works differently depending on the school. Some schools like the University of Michigan have different deadlines depending on the semester you plan on starting classes — regardless of the type of admission you applied for.
Priority vs. final deadlines
Many schools and programs have a priority deadline and a final deadline. Miss the priority deadline and the school will still review your application — but after all of the other applications it received by the priority deadline. This often means you won’t receive as much financial aid.
Some schools might only have a priority deadline, others might only have a final deadline and some schools have both.
CSS Profile deadlines for 7 schools
School
Early decision students
Regular admission students
Transfer students
Returning students
Boston University
Early decision: November 1st
Early decision II: January 6th
January 6th
Fall: March 1st
Spring: November 1st
March 1st
Catholic University of America
Early decision I priority: December 1st
Early decision II priority: February 1st
Final: April 1st
Priority: February 1st
Final: April 1st
Fall priority: February 1st
Fall final: April 1st
Spring priority: September 1st
Spring final: December 1st
Not required
Harvard
November 1st
February 1st
March 1st
May 1st
Johns Hopkins University
November 15th
January 15th
April 1st
January 15th
MIT
November 30th
February 15th
February 15th
April 15th
Vanderbilt University
Early decision priority: November 7th
Early decision II priority: January 2nd
Priority: February 1st
Priority: February 1st
Priority: April 15th
William and Mary
Early decision I priority: November 15th
Early decision I final: December 12th
Early decision II priority: January 15th
Early decision II final: March 1st
Priority: February 1st
Final: March 1st
Fall: March 1st
Spring: November 15th
April 15th
How can I find out when my school’s deadline is?
The easiest way to learn your school’s CSS Profile deadline is to visit the financial aid website. Make sure you’re looking at the right deadline for the right type of student. And pay attention to the priority deadline and final deadline.
If you have any questions, you might want to reach out to an administrator by email, phone or stopping by in person.
When should I submit the CSS Profile?
Ideally, you should submit the CSS Profile as soon as you can after the new application opens on October 1st. The College Board and many schools recommend that you submit it no later than two weeks before the priority deadline to make sure you’re considered for all aid. Some schools might even recommend submitting it earlier.
Missed the priority deadline? It might not be worth submitting it if it’s not required by your school. The CSS Profile isn’t free — it costs $16 for every school or scholarship program you send it to, unless you can qualify for a fee waiver.
Give yourself time to consider schools and programs to send it to
To keep that cost from getting out of hand, consider which schools and scholarship programs are most worth it. Look into factors like the percentage of students who receive financial aid as well as the school’s budget or endowment. Those that might not offer much aid might not be worth sending your application to in some cases.
Bottom line
While each school might have its own set of deadlines, the best time to submit the CSS Profile is as soon as you can after October 1st. If you can’t make it before the priority deadline, weigh the costs against your chances of getting aid from that school or scholarship program.
Many schools have the same deadlines for the CSS Profile and FAFSA applications. However, the CSS Profile doesn’t have one universal deadline for the year like the FAFSA does.
No, since the CSS Profile is an application for private aid, it only comes down to the school or scholarship organization.
It depends on your school — some might. Contact your school’s financial aid office for more details.
Anna Serio is a lead editor at Finder, specializing in consumer and business financing. A trusted lending expert and former certified commercial loan officer, Anna's written and edited more than 1,000 articles on Finder to help Americans strengthen their financial literacy. Her expertise and analysis on personal, student, business and car loans has been featured in publications like Business Insider, CNBC and Nasdaq, and has appeared on NBC and KADN. Anna holds an MA in Middle Eastern studies from the American University of Beirut and a BA in Creative Writing from Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College, CUNY.
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