What Families Need to Know

Between tuition, books, meal plans, and dorm rooms, college can be an expensive proposition. It’s no wonder that families look for every opportunity to cut costs. Let’s look at two resources for college aid: the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The time for seniors to begin completing the necessary financial aid forms for college is fall of the senior year. 

What is the FAFSA?

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a required form to be considered for any “need” based financial aid such as grants, work-study, and federal student loans. Completing the FAFSA may trigger additional scholarship opportunities at your student’s college and may help with outside scholarship opportunities. 

We highly recommend that all of our families complete the FAFSA for the first year of college enrollment, even if they don’t think they qualify for need-based aid. The FAFSA will use 2025 tax information, and tax information will be exported directly into the FAFSA from the IRS. We recommend that you submit the form as soon as possible in October or November. In the college portal after the student applies, a college may list its FAFSA deadline. 

What is the CSS Profile?

Some highly selective schools require an additional form called the CSS Profile. This form is lengthier and more detailed. It is used to determine who is eligible to receive institutional aid. The CSS Profile and a list of all schools that require it can be found on the College Board website. This form requires a registration fee as well as an additional fee per school. 

How do I Prepare for the FAFSA?

Before you start your FAFSA, you must create separate accounts (FSA IDs) for the student and one parent if the parents filed a joint tax return in 2025.  If the parents did not file a joint tax return in 2025, both parents may need to create an account (FSA ID).  You can create your account/FSA ID now.

As part of the FAFSA process, students will identify contributors who will receive an invitation to provide information for the student’s FAFSA. In most cases, contributors will be the student’s parent or parents. A contributor is not necessarily responsible for paying for the student’s college education, but they must complete their portion of the FAFSA to ensure the student is considered for federal financial aid. See more information here on who is considered a Contributor to a student’s FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/parent-info

The FAFSA is not difficult to complete for most families. To make your FAFSA experience easier, we recommend that you prepare materials ahead of time. This list is a good place to start.