The FAFSA form is something all prospective college students are familiar with. FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and it’s a standardized application that can be used to apply for financial aid. It covers need-based aid like grants, as well as Federal student loans.
Why would it matter if private colleges use FAFSA?
You may be wondering why it matters if private colleges use FAFSA. It isn’t the only way to apply for financial aid, so what’s the big deal? There are two reasons why people prefer FAFSA to the CSS Profile, which is the other major financial aid application.
First, FAFSA is a much simpler application that doesn’t pry as much into your family’s finances.
Some people prefer an application that feels less intrusive. While your family income and assets are taken into account, things like debt and home equity aren’t part of the FAFSA application.
This matters because those numbers affect your expected family contribution, and the expected family contribution will affect how much need-based aid you’re eligible for. Of course, some people just don’t like having their private financial information looked at by strangers.
The second reason people prefer FAFSA is that it’s used by all public universities in the country.
So, if every school you apply to uses FAFSA, you only have to fill out one financial aid application. Since filling these out can be time-consuming, it’s nice to only do it once.
Do private colleges use FAFSA?
Some do, and some don’t. There are about 270 private colleges that use FAFSA. That sounds like a lot, but it’s actually a minority. Most private colleges in the US do not use FAFSA and instead, use the CSS Profile. Because the profile takes things like outstanding debts and home equity into account, it’s arguably a more accurate assessment of a student’s financial needs.
On the other hand, it’s a more involved application and can feel somewhat invasive. For these reasons, many people don’t like filling out the CSS Profile application. Nevertheless, it remains popular with private colleges.
You’ll just need to check and see which application your college uses. Public universities tend to have standardized application processes, which automatically direct you to the online FAFSA application. Private universities, however, usually each have their own application process.
Still, the financial aid application is often included in the application process, or at the very least, you’ll receive instructions once you’re admitted to the school. If you need to know right away, you can always ask the school which application they use for the financial aid process, even before you start the process or are admitted to their school.
Many private colleges use the FAFSA, but most don’t. If you’re applying to private colleges, you may have to fill out the CSS Profile instead of or in addition to the FAFSA.