Applying for FAFSA but not CSS Profile

<p>I submitted FAFSA a couple weeks ago since it is getting aid from the government. However, even though on my common app I said I was going to pursue financial aid, I decided to no longer submit a CSS Profile since it is from a private institution and I know I will not qualify. I am not exactly sure if I have to send both in to colleges. Is it okay to just send one in and not the other? I applied to schools such as NYU, Boston College, Tufts, etc. </p>

<p>Some schools require css to give aid. You need to check you list. </p>

<p>Govt (I think it was the CFPB) said just last week that schools can’t require the CSS if the student just wants federal loans or a pell grant, that only the FAFSA is required.</p>

<p>You mean you only want the loan? Otherwise, if you are qualified for federal aid, you are even more likely to get aid from the school that requires CSS profile.</p>

<p>Yes, a bunch of colleges just got dinged recently for implying on their websites that you must fill out CSS in order to get Pell Grants or take out federal loans. You do not. You can call your school’s financial aid office to discuss with them and let them know you aren’t going to fill out the CSS Profile, though. If you don’t quality for need based grants from your schools, you certainly won’t get a Pell Grant. But you could be eligible for federal loans.</p>

<p>Yes I only applied for FAFSA in hopes of being eligible for loans. I know for sure I will not be getting grants especially since I was just disqualified from Cal Grants. I figure, save the $12 per school for CSS and not get the financial aid from private institutions than spend it and still not get anything in return. </p>

<p>Actually, it’s $25 for the first school and $16 each for the others. ;)</p>

<p>To be on the safe side, run the net price calculator on each school’s website and see what you come up with. However, for schools that don’t meet need, such as BC and NYU, the NPC results will not necessarily be reliable.</p>

<p>I considered not sending in CSS this year. I have junior D, and D2 who will be a frosh next fall. After Frosh year for D1 I only filled out FAFSA, not CSS. We didn’t qualify for any need based money from Feds, or school. But my daughter is paying for a portion of her edu. with a small student loan. In order to get the Fed stu loan, you still have to do FAFSA, yearly. This year however, with 2 in school next fall I decided to fill out 2 FAFSA’s (one for each D) and the CSS profile for D2. Probably a waste of time, but what the heck. can’t hurt anything, and they both need the FAFSA for their student loan. It’s a total “racket” but we don’t make up the rules…we just have to play by them.</p>

<p>OP, Make sure let the school know that you filled out the FAFSA to get a loan. They might not check on that for you if they don’t see the CSS.</p>