Is CSS required?

Do private schools require to file out a CSS PROFILE?

It depends on the school. You have to look at the financial aid website if each school. Most schools that say they “meet need” do require it.

No school requires students fill out CSS Profile (or FAFSA).

If your family knows it will be full pay and isn’t applying for aid, you don’t need to fill out aid forms.

Do you think Bill Gates filled out CSS Profile when his kids went to college? Do you think Donald Trump did? Lol…no.

You need to look at the school your considering. They will tell you if a CSS is required. The majority of the schools that my son considered required them but not all.

Check YOUR college websites. You will find out what is required for financial aid consideration. If the Profile is required, it will be listed there…with a DEADLINE for submission. If you want to apply for need based aid, and the Profile is required…do it.

Collegeboard has a list of the profile schools. If you choose not to fill it out, you may not get a SAR.

Correction- not get financial aid.

Also, some schools require students to fill out the FAFSA for scholarships, even those that are not need based. Our D is on a full ride, but the FAFSA is required each year as part of the scholarship renewal. Odd but we’ve been told it is to allow the student, in a crisis or unexpected need for travel/spending, to access the federal loan they can only disperse to them if they have filled the FAFSA. I would check on this and the CSS for each school even if you intend to be full pay (i.e. ask will they not consider you for scholarships without these being filed).

My kiddo had a merit award…no need considered at all…it was a music preformance award. He has to complete the fafsa every year. He didn’t get a dime of need based aid.

And he was selected for verification every year too. So we had to send in supporting documentation.

And some schools will consider the application incomplete if the financial aid forms are not completed.