| Unless you're very wealthy, when you apply for | | | | and other educational organizations. This is the same |
| college you need to explore financial aid opportunities. | | | | organization that administers the SAT tests. |
| But the process can seem confusing, and before you | | | | The College Board administers the CSS / Financial Aid |
| seek the assistance of your college financial aid | | | | PROFILE (or as most people say, the CSS Profile). It is |
| advisor you should know how the system works. | | | | similar to the FAFSA but the information is used |
| Two of the terms you will hear are "FAFSA" and | | | | differently. Schools use the CSS Profile information to |
| "CSS Profile." Both are applications that you fill out with | | | | determine how much non-federal financial aid you will |
| your financial and personal information. The information | | | | receive. This includes institutional grants and |
| is used by the college to help determine how much | | | | scholarships - that is, money that the college basically |
| financial aid you will receive. But what's the difference? | | | | pays to itself to help you lower your cost of |
| Do you have to submit both? | | | | attendance (COA). Your COA will include tuition, room |
| FAFSA | | | | and board, books, travel expenses, and other |
| The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (known | | | | expenses associated with attending college. |
| as the FAFSA) is a form that you fill out annually to | | | | The CSS Profile is an Internet-based application |
| determine your eligibility for federal student financial aid | | | | system. There is a charge to fill out the CSS Profile |
| including Pell grants, Stafford loans, PLUS loans, and | | | | application - an initial fee of $25 that includes sending |
| work-study programs. The program is administered by | | | | your application to one school, plus a fee of $16 for |
| Federal Student Aid, which is an office of the U.S. | | | | every additional school or college that you want your |
| Department of Education. Its mission is to ensure that | | | | information sent to. |
| all eligible individuals can benefit from federally funded | | | | Which Colleges Use the CSS Profile? |
| or federally guaranteed financial assistance for college | | | | Almost 600 colleges, universities, graduate schools, and |
| education. The form is available online at the FAFSA | | | | professional schools use the information collected on |
| website. As its name implies, the application is free. It | | | | the CSS Profile to determine eligibility for nonfederal |
| may be filled out either on paper or online. | | | | student aid funds. Many private colleges, which have |
| Most accredited career colleges are eligible to | | | | institutional financial aid funds, rely upon the CSS Profile |
| administer federal Title IV education grants, and they | | | | to assist them in determining how much institutional |
| will ask you to fill out the FAFSA before your first | | | | financial aid to award. It is likely that a private college |
| tuition payment is due. | | | | will ask students to complete both the FAFSA and the |
| The CSS / Financial Aid PROFILE | | | | CSS Profile applications. |
| The College Board is a not-for-profit membership | | | | Many career colleges and public universities do not |
| association whose mission is to connect students to | | | | have institutional funds to distribute, and these schools |
| college success and opportunity. The association | | | | may not require the CSS Profile. |
| includes more than 5,400 schools, colleges, universities, | | | | How Is the Information Used? |