Do we have to fill out the FAFSA and the CSS Profile?

Nick's answer is yes, both, whatever your income, because some colleges require a FAFSA on file before they will award merit aid, and merit aid is not tied to income at all. He explains that the FAFSA is free and usually opens October 1, that the CSS Profile is run by the College Board and used by about 200 mostly private colleges, and he describes a family who nearly skipped the FAFSA and whose daughter ended up with a merit package of more than $80,000 across four years.

Recorded November 2025. Deadlines and policies change; check the current year's dates.

Transcript

I'm Nick Standlea, the CEO of Test Prep Gurus. Today, we're tackling one of the most confusing but important parts of college admissions, the financial aid forms, FAFSA and CSS profile. Families often ask, "Do we really need to fill these out?" The answer is yes. Absolutely yes. In fact, I encourage every family, regardless of income, to complete both forms. You never know what aid grants or merit scholarships you might qualify for until you file. Just having the forms can unlock unexpected So, let's break that down. FAFSA stands for free application for federal student aid.

Almost every college requires it. It determines eligibility for federal grants, federal student loans, and work study programs. Some states and colleges also use FAFSA data to award their own aid. It's 100% completely free and it's usually released October 1st of each year. Though with recent FAFSA overhauls, timelines have shifted slightly. My advice, fill it out as soon as it opens. Many aid programs are first come, first served, so waiting can literally cost you thousands of dollars. The CSS profile. Now, the CSS profile is different. It's run by the College Board and used by about 200 mostly private colleges and universities.

Unlike FAFSA, the CSS digs deeper. It looks not just at income, but at assets, home equity, and sometimes even the family business. It's more time-consuming to complete, and it does come with a small fee, though fee waivers are available. But here's the thing. If a school requires the CSS profile and you don't submit it, you will not be considered for that school's institutional aid. And for many private schools, that's where the most generous grants and scholarships come from. So why fill out both? Even if you think you will not qualify for need-based aid, fill them out anyways.

Some colleges require FAFSA on file before they'll award merit aid. And merit aid isn't tied to income at all. It's tied to your students academic performance, namely test scores, GPA, and sometimes some other achievements. I've seen families making well into the six figures still save $25,000 or more per year because their student earned merit aid that required a FAFSA submission. Here's a quick story. A family that I worked with assumed their income was too high for aid. They almost skipped the FAFSA, but we encouraged them to file anyway. Their daughter ended up with a merit scholarship package worth over $80,000 across four years.

If they hadn't filed, she would not have been eligible. Timeline and strategy. So, here's the strategy. At the start of senior year, mark your calendar for the release dates of both the FAFSA and the CSS profile. Sit down as a family, gather tax returns, W-2s, bank statements, and get those forms filed as early as you possibly can. FAFSA deadlines vary by state, but federal aid can run out. CSS profile deadlines are set by each college, sometimes as early as November for early decision applicants. Missing these deadlines can mean missing out on thousands of dollars.

The big takeaway, parents, here's what I want you to remember. Completing the FAFSA and CSS profile is not optional. It's essential. And even if you think your income is too high, fill them out anyway. The potential upside, tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships and aid, is far too big to leave on the table and you really have nothing to lose. I'm CEO of Test Prep Gurus, Nick Standlea. Financial aid can be confusing, but it's also one of the most powerful levers families have to make college affordable. Don't miss your

More explainers for parents: https://www.prepgurus.com/13secrets (the free 13 Secrets to College Admission guide) and https://highschoolreach.com (look up any high school's college outcomes)