FAFSA and CSS Profile

There are two financial aid applications that are standard to every American institution, regardless of your major or age. These applications are the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Links to an external site. and the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile Links to an external site.. Some schools will require both applications before they calculate your individual financial aid package, but nearly every school will require one or the other. Both applications will require information about your parent(s)'/guardian(s)' income and tax records if you are a dependent, or your own income and tax records if you are living independently from your parent(s)/guardian(s). The key difference between the FAFSA and CSS profile is that the FAFSA is free and offered through the federal government, while the CSS includes a fee and is offered through College Board.

To learn more about financial aid and CSS fee waivers, you can visit the Links to an external site.

• Big Future Financial Aid Checklist, Links to an external site.
• 12th Grade College Prep Checklist Links to an external site.,
• Federal Student Aid Financial Aid Toolkit Links to an external site., and
• College Board's College Scholarship Service (CSS) Links to an external site.