The first step to determining your eligibility for federal need-based financial aid is to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Incoming freshmen and transfer students are also ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Robert Farrington writes about higher education and student loans. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is usually the ...

The CSS Profile is a form some schools use to determine institutional financial aid. Used by more than 250 institutions nationwide, the CSS Profile asks more questions than the Free Application for ...

Priority filing dates for new and returning students as it relates to the CSS Profile and FAFSA. Note for Returning Students: You can submit the 2026-2027 FAFSA starting October 1, 2025. We will not ...

A new school year has just started, but it’s never a bad idea to plan for the next one, especially when you need help paying for your education. The best tool to get student financial aid is the ...

The CSS Profile can help you unlock non-federal funding opportunities for college. Every participating school sets its own deadline for the CSS Profile. Generally, the CSS Profile opens on October 1 ...