Lana Oconnell
The College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile is an online service provided by College Board that allows undergraduate and graduate students—both domestic and international—to apply for financial aid from US colleges and universities. The CSS Profile helps institutions understand the financial need of students, taking their international status into account. The form is filled out with information from federal and bank documents to accurately show how much money is available to the student to pay for college.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can use it? | Domestic and international students |
| Purpose | To apply for financial aid |
| Fee | $25 for the first school, $16 for any additional school |
| Availability | Online |
| Frequency | Once every year |
| Documents required | Federal and bank documents |
| Applicability | Undergraduate and graduate students |
What You'll Learn
The CSS Profile is an online service provided by College Board
The CSS Profile is typically used by private colleges or institutions with large endowments and is available to all students, regardless of their citizenship status. International students can benefit from the CSS Profile as it provides access to institutional financial aid offered by many colleges. This aid can be in the form of scholarships, grants, or other types of assistance, helping to make higher education more accessible to international students.
The CSS Profile is an essential tool for students seeking financial assistance. It is a common financial aid application that acts as a "financial aid calculator form." Students input their financial information, and the form calculates the amount of aid they may be eligible for. This process ensures that students can make informed decisions about their education and finances. The CSS Profile is often used in conjunction with other applications, such as the FAFSA, to provide a more holistic understanding of a student's financial needs.
The College Board has made the CSS Profile user-friendly, with a mobile-optimized interface, and it is available in multiple languages. Students can complete the CSS Profile annually to ensure they have access to financial aid throughout their college career. Additionally, the College Board offers resources and support to help students navigate the process, including a step-by-step guide, FAQ section, and dashboard to track application status and payment receipts.
Overall, the CSS Profile, provided by College Board, is a valuable resource for international students seeking financial assistance for their education. It offers a streamlined and efficient way to apply for aid, unlocking access to millions of dollars in institutional financial aid annually and helping to make college more affordable for students worldwide.
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It allows international students to apply for financial aid
The College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile is an online service provided by College Board that allows international students to apply for financial aid. The CSS Profile helps colleges and universities in the US understand the financial need of the student, while taking their international status into account. It is more detailed than the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and is available earlier, making it a good option for Early Action and Early Decision applicants. It gives schools a better idea of the student's financial aid needs early on.
The CSS Profile acts as a "financial aid calculator form". It is filled with information from federal and bank documents to accurately show how much money students have available to pay for college. When submitted, applicants can be eligible for need-based aid after a college reviews their finances. It is recommended that international students complete the CSS Profile each year, as this helps their school get to know the financial makeup of students and see if they have become eligible for additional financial assistance.
Completing the CSS Profile can be a way for undergraduate and graduate international students to access certain institutional grants and scholarships that they may be eligible for based on their financial circumstances. It is worth noting that not all students will see financial assistance from the CSS Profile, and international students must apply for financial aid individually through each school or scholarship program.
To apply, students must pay a small fee to create a CSS Profile account on the College Board website. They will need to fill out information regarding their parent(s)/legal guardian(s), including their country of residence. If the student has a non-custodial parent, they will need to complete a separate CSS Profile account with the student's information and the respective parent's information.
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It costs between $16-25 USD per school to apply
The CSS Profile is a financial aid application used by hundreds of colleges and universities to award grants and scholarships. It is an additional form to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The CSS Profile costs between $16 and $25 USD per school to apply. The College Board, which developed the SAT, also offers this service. The fee is a small price to pay for the chance to receive financial aid.
The CSS Profile is an in-depth form that collects detailed information about a family's finances, such as medical expenses, home equity, and the value of family farms and small businesses. This information is used to calculate the expected family contribution, which helps determine the financial aid package a student may receive. The cost of submitting the CSS Profile varies depending on the number of schools a student applies to. Submitting to one school costs $25, while each additional school costs $16. Undergraduate students from low-income families can submit the CSS Profile for free.
The CSS Profile is particularly useful for international students seeking financial aid. Many colleges use the CSS Profile to provide institutional financial aid to international students. International students can use the CSS Profile to apply for financial aid at colleges that are members of the College Board. The CSS Profile is a good option for early action and early decision applicants, as it gives schools an early indication of their financial needs.
The CSS Profile is typically available online starting October 1 each year, although the opening date may vary, so it is advisable to check the website in early September. The form requires students to input information from federal and bank documents to accurately demonstrate their financial situation. Applicants should ensure they select the correct academic year and college or university when filling out the form.
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It helps colleges understand the financial need of the student
The CSS Profile is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to determine eligibility for non-federal financial aid. It is a more detailed application than the FAFSA and is available earlier, making it a good option for Early Action and Early Decision applicants. The CSS Profile is used by colleges to understand a student's financial need and award institutional aid. It takes a deep dive into a student's family finances, including income, expenses, financial assets, and current and previous tax information. This allows colleges to award aid to students with the most financial need.
The CSS Profile is particularly useful for international students applying for financial aid. Many colleges use the CSS Profile to help provide institutional financial aid to international students. The CSS Profile is more detailed than the FAFSA and allows students to describe unique or extenuating circumstances that affect their ability to pay. For example, it evaluates a family's medical bills and school costs for younger children, among other factors, to determine a family's expected contribution. This information helps colleges understand the financial need of the student and make more informed decisions about awarding financial aid.
The CSS Profile is typically available on October 1 each year and costs $25 to complete and submit to one college or scholarship program. Additional reports to other schools cost $16 each. However, the fee can be waived if the student's family has an adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less, or if the student is a first-year domestic undergraduate. The CSS Profile is administered by the College Board, the same group that develops the SAT exam.
Colleges that require the CSS Profile are mostly private colleges or other institutions with large endowments. Students can specify which colleges they want to receive their CSS Profile, and there is no limit to the number of schools a student can apply to, even under a fee waiver. The CSS Profile is an important tool for students seeking financial aid, as it can unlock opportunities for institutional scholarships and grants that may not be available through the FAFSA alone.
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It is more detailed than FAFSA and is available earlier
The CSS Profile is more detailed than the FAFSA. The CSS Profile takes a broader look at total income from all sources, including W-2 forms in addition to tax returns. It also requires you to report gifts or money paid on your behalf. The CSS Profile can award more aid in some cases because it asks for more contextual data about special circumstances, particularly health situations or job losses in a family. It is also used by schools that are the most generous with their financial aid. It gives colleges a more in-depth look at a family's financial need.
The CSS Profile is also available earlier than the FAFSA. It is a good option for Early Action and Early Decision applicants as it gives the schools they are applying to a better idea of their financial aid needs early on.
The CSS Profile is an online service provided by College Board that allows students, including international students, to apply for financial aid. It is a common financial aid application that acts as a "financial aid calculator form". It is filled out with information from federal and bank documents to accurately show how much money students have available to pay for college. When submitted, applicants can be applicable for need-based aid after a college reviews their finances.
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is used by all schools to allocate federal funds such as Direct Student Loans. It determines eligibility for need-based financial aid through the federal government, including Pell Grants, student loans, and work-study programs. The FAFSA focuses on total income derived from the tax return. The formula takes your adjusted gross income and adds any untaxed income on your tax return, including IRA contributions, self-employed retirement plan contributions, Roth IRA distributions, and untaxed interest income.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the CSS Profile is designed for both domestic and international students. It is an online service provided by College Board that allows students to apply for financial aid.
It costs $25 for the first school and $16 for any additional schools.
The CSS Profile helps colleges and universities in the US understand your financial need, while taking your international status into account. It acts as a "financial aid calculator form".
You can complete the CSS Profile by creating an account on the College Board website. You will need to provide information from federal and bank documents to show how much money you have available to pay for college.
