Learn about the CSS Profile, a financial aid application used by roughly 200 colleges, universities, and scholarship agencies to determine eligibility for institutional financial aid funds, including what colleges require it, why colleges use it, how it differs from the FAFSA, and the cost. …

Review our tips on creating an account, completing the form, making corrections, listing colleges, filing the form as an undocumented student, filing the form with multiple children, and reporting items such as retirement, home value, home debt, and 529 accounts. …

Learn all about the CSS Profile including what the CBFinAid ID is, how to add schools after submitting, how to correct mistakes, how to report 529 accounts, and more. …

Learn how to find out when your financial aid applications, such as the FAFSA and CSS Profile, are due and why you should complete them as soon as possible once they are available. …

Topics include defining the SAI, the SAI formula, where to find your SAI, and multiple SAIs.…

Learn how the process works for twins, which 529 plans to report, who should be the custodial parent, how to include special circumstances, and more. …

Retirement savings are not reported on the FAFSA, but they are reported on the CSS Profile, meaning they could potentially affect your financial aid award at certain schools. …

Topics include completing financial aid applications, getting an FSA ID, who requires the CSS Profile, applying for financial aid without a Social Security number, who should complete the financial aid applications, the affect of 529 accounts on financial aid, the financial aid timeline, EFC Calculators, and helpful websites. …

Items needed include an FSA ID, a College Board username and password, a list of colleges where the student is applying, Social Security numbers, W-2 form(s), and untaxed income records. …

If parents are U.S. citizens living abroad, they can still create an FSA ID, but will need to convert income and assets into U.S. dollars. If parents are not U.S. citizens, they will not be able to create an FSA ID and will need to print out the signature page and mail it to the address indicated. …