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Most students seeking federal student aid should file the FAFSA. CSS Profile is an additional application used by participating colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal aid. Your family may need one or both: check the requirements and deadlines for every college on your list rather than assuming CSS Profile is universal.
What each application is used for
| Application | What it supports | Who sets the requirement | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAFSA | Federal student aid, including federal grants, work-study, and loans; states and colleges may also use it to determine some aid. Federal Student Aid | Federal, state, and institutional requirements and deadlines can differ. | No FAFSA fee is stated in the cited application guidance. |
| CSS Profile | Non-federal aid offered by participating colleges and scholarship programs. College Board says, “For federal aid you must complete the FAFSA.” College Board | Each institution or program decides whether it requires CSS Profile and when it is due. College Board | College Board lists $25 for the initial institution and $16 for each additional institution. Some applicants qualify for fee waivers. College Board |
How to decide which forms to file
- File FAFSA if you want to be considered for federal aid. Federal Student Aid advises submitting it even if a state deadline has passed, because missing that deadline does not itself remove eligibility for federal student aid. State or school aid may have earlier deadlines or extra forms. Federal Student Aid
- Check CSS Profile requirements for every college. Use the College Board guidance and confirm on each college’s financial-aid website. A college’s presence among participating institutions does not by itself mean every applicant must file.
- Record the form, aid year, and deadlines for each school. Note whether CSS Profile is required, its priority date, whether noncustodial-parent information is requested, and whether the school has another institutional form. Check state deadlines separately.
- Submit the appropriate forms by the earliest relevant deadline. A federal deadline may be later than a state or college deadline. College Board says CSS Profile deadlines vary by school and directs applicants to file by midnight Eastern Time on the earliest priority filing date. College Board
Choose the correct FAFSA and CSS Profile aid year
Applications are tied to specific school-year periods, so select the form matching when the student will attend. As of October 7, 2026, Federal Student Aid lists the 2026–27 FAFSA for attendance from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027; the federal submission deadline for that form is June 30, 2027. The official form cautions that state or college deadlines may be earlier or may require additional forms. 2026–27 FAFSA form
Federal Student Aid also says the 2027–28 FAFSA is available for attendance from July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2028. Check the current application and each school’s dates before filing, since deadlines and requirements are not interchangeable across aid years. Federal Student Aid: Filling Out the FAFSA
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FAFSA contributors
FAFSA dependency status determines whose information is needed. A contributor is someone required to provide information, sign the form, and consent to the transfer of federal tax information. Each contributor needs a separate StudentAid.gov account. A parent who contributes is not thereby required to pay for the student’s education. Federal Student Aid and dependency status guidance
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CSS Profile and divorced or separated parents
Some institutions may require divorced or separated parents to submit separate CSS Profile applications or may request information from a noncustodial parent. Rules differ by college. Contact each aid office about its process and any waiver option. A waiver request does not guarantee approval, and an institution may require its own form. College Board’s noncustodial-parent waiver request
CSS Profile fees and fee waivers
College Board lists a fee of $25 for the first institution and $16 for each additional institution. Its automatic fee-waiver categories include domestic undergraduate students whose family adjusted gross income is up to $100,000, students who qualified for an SAT fee waiver, and students who are orphans or wards of the court under age 24. Check eligibility in the application because it depends on the applicant’s circumstances. College Board fee waivers
If the automatic waiver does not apply, ask the college whether it offers a separate waiver process. Do this before a deadline if cost could affect whether you submit the form.
A practical checklist for each college
- Which aid year applies to the student’s planned attendance?
- Is FAFSA required or recommended, and what are the federal, state, and college deadlines?
- Does the college require CSS Profile for this applicant, and what is its priority date?
- Does the college require noncustodial-parent information, a separate parent application, or a waiver request?
- Are additional state or institutional forms needed?
- Does the student qualify for a CSS Profile fee waiver, or does the college have another waiver process?
Neither application can be described as universally easier or faster on the basis of a fair, current, like-for-like completion-time comparison. Decide based on the aid sought and the specific requirements of the student’s schools.
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