Douglas Olsen
As an international student, you may need to complete a CSS (College Scholarship Service) Profile to access financial aid for your US undergraduate education. The CSS Profile is a financial aid application provided by the College Board, the organisation responsible for the SAT exam. It is designed to assess the financial need of students seeking admission to private colleges and universities for undergraduate courses, including international students. The application is tailored to each student's family and their financial needs and will only ask the questions that the school needs answers to in order to determine aid eligibility. The CSS Profile costs $25 USD for the first school and $16 USD for each additional school.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To provide financial aid to international students |
| Provider | College Board |
| Applicability | Undergraduate and graduate international students |
| Cost | $25 for the first school, $16 for each additional school |
| Requirements | Financial information from parents and student, tax returns, home address, language spoken, pseudonyms, demographic information, family information |
| Additional Information | Information is transferred to the US, and currency conversion is provided |
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What You'll Learn
Understanding the role of CSS Profile in the college admission process
The CSS Profile, or College Scholarship Service Profile, is a financial aid application provided by the College Board, the organisation responsible for the SAT exam. It is a valuable tool for international students seeking financial aid for their US undergraduate education. Colleges and universities use the information gathered from the CSS Profile to determine institutional aid and eligibility. The aid awarded can significantly impact a student’s ability to afford higher education, influencing financial responsibilities during and after college.
The CSS Profile is designed to assess the financial need of students seeking admission to private colleges and universities for undergraduate courses, including international students. It is more detailed than the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and is often required by private institutions, which may offer generous financial aid packages to international students. The CSS Profile is tailored to each student’s family and their financial needs, asking questions about family income, assets, and expenses in the context of the local economy. It also takes into consideration economic principles, such as the cost of living, savings allowances, and tax allowances.
The CSS Profile costs USD 25 for the first college application and USD 16 for each additional choice. There is no fee waiver available for international students. The application asks for personal information, such as a home address, language spoken, and demographic information, as well as family information, including details about parents, family members, and household members. It also asks students to indicate which schools and universities they are interested in, and these schools will receive the information provided in the profile.
Completing the CSS Profile is an important step in the college admission process for international students, as it opens the door for potential financial assistance from colleges and universities. It is 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.
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Eligibility criteria for institutional aid
The CSS Profile is a financial aid application used by colleges to determine eligibility for institutional financial aid. It is a detailed form that collects information about a student's financial situation, including their family's income, assets, and expenses. This information is used by colleges to understand the student's ability to pay for college and to determine eligibility for need-based financial assistance.
When completing the CSS Profile, students are required to submit financial details, including government and bank documents, tax returns, records of current income, untaxed income, benefits, and bank statements. The profile also considers economic principles such as the cost of living, savings allowances, and tax allowances in its calculations. Additionally, the CSS Profile may ask questions about any special or extenuating circumstances that could impact a family's ability to pay, such as medical expenses or changes in employment.
It's important to note that the CSS Profile is not the only factor considered by colleges when determining eligibility for institutional aid. Many colleges also have academic requirements, such as minimum GPA scores, standardized test scores, and English language proficiency test scores. For example, the University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 for undergraduates and 3.0 for postgraduates, along with ACT and SAT scores above a certain threshold.
Additionally, some institutions may have their own application processes or use alternative forms, such as the ISFAA. It is essential to review the specific requirements and eligibility criteria of the colleges you are applying to, as they may vary.
The CSS Profile is a valuable tool for international students seeking financial assistance, as it provides a unified platform used by hundreds of colleges and scholarship programs. By completing the CSS Profile and providing honest and accurate financial information, students can increase their chances of receiving institutional aid to support their education.
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Documents required for application
The CSS Profile application is used by colleges to collect information about an international student's financial situation in the context of their local economy. This includes details about your family's income, assets, and expenses. You will need to submit your most recent tax returns, W-2 forms, and other records of current-year income, as well as records of untaxed income and benefits, assets, and bank statements. You may also need to provide information on any special circumstances, such as high medical expenses or job loss, that might affect your family's ability to pay for college. Additionally, you may be asked to provide mortgage information and the value of any real estate owned by your parents, excluding the primary residence.
After submitting your CSS Profile, you may also need to send supporting documents to the school. These could include additional documentation required by individual colleges and universities, so it is recommended to check with the financial aid offices of the schools you are applying to for any specific requirements.
If you have a non-custodial parent, they will need to create a separate CSS Profile account, which is technically a "student account" with your parent's information. Similarly, if you have no contact with your non-custodial parent, you can request a Non-Custodial Waiver directly from the school.
It is important to note that the CSS Profile costs $25 USD to submit to one college and $16 USD for each additional choice. Missing the financial aid deadline will disqualify you from receiving any aid during your first year of school, so it is crucial to prioritize this deadline.
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Sections of the CSS Profile
The CSS Profile is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid. The application opens on October 1 each year, and it costs $25 USD to fill out and submit to one college, then $16 USD for each additional college. Most students complete the application in their senior year of high school.
The CSS Profile collects information about the student and their family's income, assets, and expenses in the context of their local economy. The form also takes into consideration economic principles such as the cost of living, savings allowances, and tax allowances.
One section of the CSS Profile is the "Student Status" section, which is one of the most common sections for parents to mistakenly answer about themselves instead of their student. Most high school seniors will not have legal dependents they support or be veterans.
Another section of the CSS Profile is the "Parent Expense Details" section, which includes questions to help determine the student's EFC (Expected Family Contribution). If a student has a non-custodial parent, that parent will need to complete a separate CSS Profile account, which is technically a "student account" with the parent's information.
A third section of the CSS Profile is the "Supplemental Questions" section, which is used to explain any circumstances that are not clearly expressed through the financial aid application, such as a change in employment or high medical expenses.
After submitting the CSS Profile, students may need to send supporting documents to the school through the Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC). Students can also add additional colleges at any time through their dashboard, but they will be charged for each additional school.
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Fee and deadline for submission
The CSS Profile costs $25 USD to fill out and submit to one college, then $16 USD for each additional college. The application fee is paid when you are ready to submit. Domestic undergraduate students whose family income is up to $100,000 are exempt from the fee.
There isn't a universal CSS Profile deadline. Each deadline is set by the schools you're applying to. For the 2023-24 school year, most schools' deadlines were between January 1 and March 31. The opening date for submitting the CSS Profile was October 1, 2022. It is recommended to submit the application as early as possible and no later than two weeks before the earliest deadline.
Missing the financial aid deadline means you will not qualify for any aid for your first year of school.
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Frequently asked questions
CSS Profile, or College Scholarship Service Profile, is an online service provided by College Board that allows students, including international students, to apply for financial aid non-federal financial aid. Colleges and universities use the information gathered from the CSS Profile to determine institutional aid and understand the financial circumstances of prospective students.
First, make an account on the College Board website. You will then need to gather your documents, including your most recently completed tax returns. The CSS Profile will ask for financial information from you and your parents. You will be able to enter the information in your home currency. The application will also ask for personal information, such as your home address, language spoken, and demographic information.
The CSS Profile costs $25 USD for your first school and $16 USD for any additional schools. There are no fee waivers available for international students.
