CSS Profile: Supporting Access, Strengthening Enrollment
Enrollment professionals know that financial aid is a critical driver of postsecondary access and student completion. College Board has a long history of partnering with high schools, colleges, and universities to lower financial barriers students face on their path to and through college.
CSS Profile® is rooted in a mission to connect students to institutional need-based aid, particularly for families who otherwise would be unable to afford higher education. The application is a vital tool for institutions seeking to allocate their institutional aid dollars strategically, which ensures those funds support students with the greatest need.
Grounded in Access, Aligned with Enrollment Strategy
By providing a comprehensive view of each student’s financial situation, CSS Profile enables colleges and universities to identify and support students who are most likely to benefit from institutional aid. These need-based dollars reduce financial barriers that may impact enrollment and retention.
Today, hundreds of institutions across the country use CSS Profile to better serve a wide range of student populations, including:
- U.S.-based and international applicants.
- Students from nontraditional or blended families.
- First-generation students and those with unique financial circumstances.
CSS Profile helps admissions and financial aid teams make more informed, mission-aligned aid decisions—essential for enrolling a class that reflects institutional priorities and values.
Shorter Application Experience Now in Year Two
Now in its second year of broad availability, a shorter CSS Profile option is giving institutions a way to reduce friction for students—without compromising application data integrity.
Over half of all schools participating in CSS Profile have adopted this streamlined option, which has proven especially effective for:
- Low-income students, who often face barriers in completing complex applications.
- Applicants with simpler financial situations, for whom a reduced set of questions suffices.
Institutions using the shorter form report fewer application drop-offs and a more seamless aid experience, which helps improve yield among admitted students who need aid to enroll.
Expanding Access Further in 2025–26
Starting this year, the shorter CSS Profile experience is available to even more families, including those with noncustodial parents. This enhancement will ensure that more students—regardless of family structure—can access a simplified financial aid process, helping reduce procedural barriers that may otherwise deter college-going.
By continuing to evolve CSS Profile, College Board makes it easier for institutions to meet enrollment goals while upholding their access missions.
Learn More
For additional information on the CSS Profile and how it supports your institutional goals, visit: