The CSS Profile is officially live—but what exactly is it, who needs to complete it, and why can it have such a major impact on what your family pays for college?

In this episode of Ol' College Try, Peg Keough goes solo for a deep dive into the CSS Profile, the second financial aid form required by roughly 250 colleges and universities. Unlike the FAFSA, the CSS Profile takes a much deeper look at your family's finances—and individual colleges can use that information differently when determining your eligibility for institutional financial aid.

Peg breaks down the biggest differences between the FAFSA and CSS Profile, the financial situations families need to pay especially close attention to, and some of CAP's best practices for avoiding mistakes before you hit submit.

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In this episode, we cover:

📋 What the CSS Profile is—and why some colleges require both the FAFSA and CSS Profile

🏫 How to determine whether the colleges on your student's list require the CSS Profile

🔢 The difference between your federal SAI and the institutional SAI calculated by CSS Profile schools

🔍 Why the CSS Profile is more detailed and invasive than the FAFSA

👨‍👩‍👧 How the CSS Profile works differently for divorced and separated parents

👥 Why both the custodial and non-custodial parent may need to provide financial information

📝 When a non-custodial parent waiver may be appropriate

🏠 Why your primary home equity isn't included on the FAFSA—but may be considered by CSS Profile schools

💼 What business owners need to know about reporting the value of a family-owned business

👯 Why having multiple children in college can still benefit families at many CSS Profile schools

🔐 How to access the CSS Profile using your student's College Board credentials

💰 Why retirement accounts should not be included with your regular investments

⚠️ The CSS Profile question asking how much parents plan to contribute—and why families should answer it carefully

📣 How CAP approaches the Special Circumstances section and why Peg recommends thinking strategically about when to share changes in your financial situation

🎓 How parent-owned and grandparent-owned 529 plans should be treated differently

📄 Why some CSS Profile questions are required while others may be optional

🧾 Why families should be prepared to provide tax returns, W-2s, and other financial documents after submitting

💡 The three rules Peg recommends remembering when completing financial aid forms: be honest, don't overshare, and don't overestimate

Key Takeaway: The CSS Profile isn't just a longer FAFSA. It can look at parts of your financial life that the FAFSA doesn't—including home equity, business value, and, in many divorced families, the finances of both biological parents. At the same time, it can create important planning opportunities, particularly for families with multiple children in college or unique financial circumstances.

Before submitting, understand how the schools on your student's list use the CSS Profile, know your expected SAI, pay close attention to each school's priority financial aid deadline, and make sure you're reporting your family's information accurately without unnecessarily overestimating or oversharing.

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