The CSS Profile is a private survey developed by College Board, the creators of the SAT and other standardized tests. The CSS Profile is an independent survey of financial assets both for prospective students and their parents. While the CSS requests financial information, in some cases the survey requests information beyond what is required by the FAFSA.
The most significant difference between the FAFSA and CSS profile is that the CSS profile asks for more information about you and your family’s financial situation, which can be both good and bad. Some information that is not considered on the FAFSA, such as the value of your family’s small business, is considered an asset on the CSS profile.