What is the CSS exactly?

<p>Im thinking about applying to Loyola - Maryland and I noticed on the application it said to fill out the CSS as well as the FAFSA. So what exactly is it?I looked as the collegboard website and also was surprised that they going to charge people just to fill out a form.</p>

<p>It's called the CSS Profile, and it requires various pieces of financial data that colleges massage to determine your need. They don't charge you to fill it out. They charge you to send it to colleges.</p>

<p>And FYI...the College Board charges you to send everything. It is not free (like the FAFSA). And if you make requests to have things sent at multiple times, you will pay multiple times.</p>

<p>Isnt it like 9 dollars to set up an account and 16 to send it to one school?</p>