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CSS Profile Schools: Which Colleges Require the CSS Profile

169 undergraduate colleges use the CSS Profile to award their own financial aid for 2026-27. 150 ask US applicants to file it, 129 ask international applicants, and 125 also want a Noncustodial Profile from a second parent. Every other college uses the FAFSA alone. 115 of them publish an Early Decision or Early Action round in their Common Data Set, 67 close it on November 1, and the CSS Profile is normally due the same day. Filter the full list below by state or by who has to file.

What the CSS Profile is, in four points

It unlocks the college's own money

The FAFSA decides federal and most state aid. The CSS Profile, run by College Board, is what these colleges use to award their own need-based grants, and it asks for more detail than the FAFSA so each school can apply its own formula. Most colleges on this list want both forms. Do you need both?

Deadlines follow your admission round

It opens October 1. Each college sets its own due date, and it usually sits close to the application deadline for your round: November for Early Decision and Early Action, January or February for Regular Decision. Our application deadlines table shows each school’s rounds.

Fee waivers are automatic

There is a fee for the first college and a smaller one for each additional school. College Board waives it automatically for eligible first-year applicants based on the information you enter, including family income, so there is no separate waiver form.

Divorced or separated parents

125 of these colleges also require a Noncustodial Profile from the other parent. Colleges can waive it in documented situations; the request goes to the college, not to College Board.

All 169 CSS Profile colleges for 2026-27

The states with the most CSS Profile colleges are New York (22), Massachusetts (18) and Pennsylvania (18). 19 colleges use the Profile for international applicants only, so check the US applicants column first if you are a US student.

Showing 169 of 169 colleges

Colleges that use the CSS Profile, with each college’s earliest early-round application deadline from its Common Data Set, whether US applicants, international applicants and noncustodial parents must file, IDOC use, and the College Board CSS code.
College
Adrian CollegeMichiganNot for US applicantsInternational
American UniversityDistrict of ColumbiaUSNoncustodialNov 1EAED
Amherst CollegeMassachusettsUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 7ED
Arizona State UniversityArizonaUSNoncustodial
Babson CollegeMassachusettsUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1EAED
Bard CollegeNew YorkUSNoncustodial
Barnard CollegeNew YorkUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 1ED
Bates CollegeMaineUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Beloit CollegeWisconsinNot for US applicantsInternationalNoncustodialDec 1EA
Bennington CollegeVermontUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 15EA
Bentley UniversityMassachusettsUSNoncustodialNov 15ED
Berklee College of MusicMassachusettsUSNoncustodialNov 1EA
Boston CollegeMassachusettsUSNoncustodialIDOCNov 1ED
Boston UniversityMassachusettsUSNoncustodialNov 1ED
Bowdoin CollegeMaineUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Boyce CollegeKentuckyUSInternational
Brandeis UniversityMassachusettsUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 3EAED
Brown UniversityRhode IslandUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1ED
Bryn Mawr CollegePennsylvaniaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Bucknell UniversityPennsylvaniaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1ED
California Institute of TechnologyCaliforniaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1REA
Carleton CollegeMinnesotaUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 15ED
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPennsylvaniaUSNoncustodialIDOCNov 1ED
Case Western Reserve UniversityOhioUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 1EAED
Centre CollegeKentuckyUSNov 1ED
Chapman UniversityCaliforniaUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 1EAED
Christendom CollegeVirginiaUSInternationalNoncustodial
Claremont McKenna CollegeCaliforniaUSNoncustodialIDOCNov 1ED
Cleveland Institute of MusicOhioUSInternational
Colby CollegeMaineUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOC
Colgate UniversityNew YorkUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1ED
College of the Holy CrossMassachusettsUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
College of William and MaryVirginiaUSNov 1ED
College of WoosterOhioUSInternationalNov 1ED
Colorado CollegeColoradoUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 1EAED
Columbia UniversityNew YorkUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOC
Connecticut CollegeConnecticutUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 15ED
Cornell UniversityNew YorkUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1ED
Curtis Institute of MusicPennsylvaniaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOC
Dartmouth CollegeNew HampshireUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1ED
Davidson CollegeNorth CarolinaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Denison UniversityOhioUSNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Dickinson CollegePennsylvaniaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Drexel UniversityPennsylvaniaUSInternationalNov 15EAED
Duke UniversityNorth CarolinaUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 1ED
Duquesne UniversityPennsylvaniaUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 15EA
Eastman School of Music (University of Rochester)New YorkUSInternationalNoncustodial
Emory UniversityGeorgiaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1ED
Fairfield UniversityConnecticutUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1EA
Fordham UniversityNew YorkUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 1EAED
Franklin and Marshall CollegePennsylvaniaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Furman UniversitySouth CarolinaNot for US applicantsInternationalNoncustodialNov 15ED
George Washington UniversityDistrict of ColumbiaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1ED
Georgetown UniversityDistrict of ColumbiaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1REA
Georgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgiaUSNov 1EA
Gettysburg CollegePennsylvaniaUSNov 15ED
Great Basin CollegeNevadaUSInternational
Grinnell CollegeIowaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 5ED
Grove City CollegePennsylvaniaUSInternational
Gustavus Adolphus CollegeMinnesotaNot for US applicantsInternationalNov 1EA
Hamilton CollegeNew YorkUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Harvard UniversityMassachusettsUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1REA
Harvey Mudd CollegeCaliforniaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Haverford CollegePennsylvaniaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Hendrix CollegeArkansasNot for US applicantsInternational
Hilbert CollegeNew YorkNot for US applicantsInternationalNoncustodial
Hillsdale CollegeMichiganUSNoncustodial
Hobart William Smith CollegesNew YorkUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 15EAED
Hubbard College of Administration of Tampa BayFloridaUS
Hult International Business SchoolMassachusettsNot for US applicantsInternational
Illinois Institute of TechnologyIllinoisNot for US applicantsInternationalNov 1ED
Illinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinoisUSInternationalNov 15EA
Johns Hopkins UniversityMarylandUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1ED
Johnson UniversityTennesseeNot for US applicantsInternationalNoncustodial
Kenyon CollegeOhioUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Lafayette CollegePennsylvaniaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Lake Forest CollegeIllinoisUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 1EAED
Lawrence UniversityWisconsinUSNoncustodial
Lehigh UniversityPennsylvaniaUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 1ED
Loyola University MarylandMarylandUSInternationalNov 15EAED
Luther Classical CollegeWyomingUS
Macalester CollegeMinnesotaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1EAED
Manhattan School of MusicNew YorkUSInternationalNoncustodial
Marist CollegeNew YorkUSInternationalNoncustodial
Maryland Institute College of ArtMarylandNot for US applicantsInternationalNoncustodial
Marymount Manhattan CollegeNew YorkUSNoncustodial
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusettsUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1EA
Middlebury CollegeVermontUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1ED
Minerva UniversityCaliforniaUSInternationalNoncustodial
Mount Holyoke CollegeMassachusettsUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Muhlenberg CollegePennsylvaniaUS
Nevada State UniversityNevadaUSInternational
New Saint Andrews CollegeIdahoUSInternational
New York UniversityNew YorkUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 1ED
NewU UniversityDistrict of ColumbiaUSInternationalNoncustodial
Northeastern UniversityMassachusettsUSNoncustodialIDOCNov 1EAED
Northern Arizona UniversityArizonaUSNoncustodial
Northwestern UniversityIllinoisUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1ED
Norwich UniversityVermontNot for US applicantsInternational
Oberlin CollegeOhioUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 15ED
Occidental CollegeCaliforniaUSNoncustodialIDOCNov 1EAED
Patrick Henry CollegeVirginiaUSNoncustodial
Pitzer CollegeCaliforniaUSNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Pomona CollegeCaliforniaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 8ED
Providence CollegeRhode IslandUSInternationalNov 1EA
Reach UniversityCaliforniaUSInternationalNoncustodial
Reed CollegeOregonUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15EAED
Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteNew YorkUSNov 1ED
Rhodes CollegeTennesseeUSInternationalNov 1ED
Rice UniversityTexasUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1ED
Ringling College of Art and DesignFloridaNot for US applicantsInternational
Sacred Heart UniversityConnecticutUSInternationalNoncustodial
Saint Edward's UniversityTexasNot for US applicantsInternational
Samford UniversityAlabamaUSInternationalNoncustodial
San Francisco Conservatory of MusicCaliforniaUSInternationalNoncustodial
Santa Clara UniversityCaliforniaUSNov 1EAED
Scripps CollegeCaliforniaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Sewanee-The University of the SouthTennesseeUSInternational
Simon's Rock at Bard CollegeNew YorkUSNoncustodial
Skidmore CollegeNew YorkUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 1ED
Smith CollegeMassachusettsUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Southern Methodist UniversityTexasUSNoncustodialNov 1EAED
St. John's College (Annapolis)MarylandUSInternationalNoncustodial
St. John's College (Santa Fe)New MexicoUSInternationalNoncustodial
St. Olaf CollegeMinnesotaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOC
Stanford UniversityCaliforniaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1REA
Stetson UniversityFloridaNot for US applicantsInternationalDec 1ED
Stevens Institute of TechnologyNew JerseyUSInternationalIDOCNov 15ED
Swarthmore CollegePennsylvaniaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Syracuse UniversityNew YorkUSNoncustodialNov 1EAED
Texas Christian UniversityTexasUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 1EAED
The Juilliard SchoolNew YorkUSInternational
Thomas Aquinas CollegeCaliforniaNot for US applicantsInternationalNoncustodialIDOC
Thomas CollegeMaineNot for US applicantsInternational
Trinity CollegeConnecticutUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 15ED
Trinity UniversityTexasUSInternationalNov 1EAED
Trinity Washington UniversityDistrict of ColumbiaUS
Tufts UniversityMassachusettsUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 4ED
Tulane UniversityLouisianaUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 1ED
Union CollegeNew YorkUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 1EAED
University of DenverColoradoUSNoncustodialNov 1EAED
University of MiamiFloridaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1EAED
University of MichiganMichiganUSNoncustodialNov 1EA
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillNorth CarolinaUSOct 15EA
University of Notre DameIndianaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1REA
University of PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 1ED
University of RichmondVirginiaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1EAED
University of RochesterNew YorkUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1ED
University of ScrantonPennsylvaniaUSNov 15EA
University of Southern CaliforniaCaliforniaUSNoncustodialNov 1EA
University of VirginiaVirginiaUSNoncustodialIDOCNov 1EAED
Vanderbilt UniversityTennesseeUSInternationalNov 1ED
Vassar CollegeNew YorkUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Villanova UniversityPennsylvaniaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1EAED
Wake Forest UniversityNorth CarolinaUSNoncustodialIDOCNov 15EAED
Walla Walla UniversityWashingtonUSInternational
Wartburg CollegeIowaNot for US applicantsInternational
Washington and Lee UniversityVirginiaUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1ED
Washington University in St LouisMissouriUSInternationalNoncustodialNov 2EAED
Wellesley CollegeMassachusettsUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1ED
Wesleyan UniversityConnecticutUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Westminster UniversityUtahNot for US applicantsInternational
Whitman CollegeWashingtonUSNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Whitworth UniversityWashingtonNot for US applicantsInternational
William Jewell CollegeMissouriUSInternational
Williams CollegeMassachusettsUSNoncustodialIDOCNov 15ED
Worcester Polytechnic InstituteMassachusettsUSInternationalNoncustodial
Wyoming Catholic CollegeWyomingUSInternationalNoncustodial
Yale UniversityConnecticutUSInternationalNoncustodialIDOCNov 1REA

“Yes” means College Board lists the college as requiring that form for that group of applicants. The College Board list also includes graduate and professional schools, scholarship programs and campuses outside the United States; those are not shown here. A college missing from this table uses the FAFSA alone for need-based aid. Early deadline is the earliest Early Decision, Early Decision II, Early Action or Restrictive Early Action date in the college’s latest Common Data Set; “Regular only” means it publishes no early round, and “n/a” means we hold no filing for it. The CSS Profile is usually due the same day as the early application, but the aid office page has the final word.

Two forms, one list of dates to keep straight

A family applying to several CSS Profile colleges juggles a FAFSA date, a Profile date and often an IDOC date at every one of them. Solyo puts every application and financial aid date on one timeline and reminds you before each one, and the scholarship directory covers the outside money that neither form does. Filter the table above to your colleges first and they come along into your account.

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CSS Profile questions, answered

Which colleges require the CSS Profile?

169 undergraduate colleges appear on College Board's participating-institution list for the 2026-27 CSS Profile, and the table on this page lists every one of them. 150 ask US applicants to file it, 129 ask international applicants, and 19 use it for international applicants only. Most are private colleges and universities that award their own need-based grants. Any college not on the list uses the FAFSA alone for need-based aid.

What is the CSS Profile?

The CSS Profile is an online financial aid application run by College Board. Colleges use it to award their own institutional grants, which the FAFSA does not cover. It asks for more detail than the FAFSA, such as home equity at many schools, business and farm assets, and information about both parents, so each college can apply its own formula for what a family can pay.

Do I need to fill out both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile?

Usually, yes. The FAFSA is the only route to federal aid (Pell Grants, federal loans, work-study) and most state aid, so nearly every college on this list also asks for it. The CSS Profile is an additional form for the college’s own money. Filing one does not replace the other.

When is the CSS Profile due?

Each college sets its own CSS Profile deadline, and it tends to track the admission round you apply in: early applicants typically file in November, close to the Early Decision or Early Action deadline, while regular applicants typically file by January or February. The Profile opens on October 1 each year. Check the financial aid page of every school you apply to, because a late Profile can delay or reduce an aid offer.

Is there a fee waiver for the CSS Profile?

Yes. College Board charges a fee for the first college and a smaller fee for each additional one, and it grants fee waivers automatically to eligible first-year undergraduate applicants based on the information entered in the Profile, including family income and whether the student used an SAT fee waiver. The waiver is applied when you submit; you do not apply for it separately.

What is the noncustodial parent CSS Profile?

When a student’s parents are divorced, separated or never married, some colleges also ask the other parent to complete a separate Noncustodial Profile. 125 of the 169 colleges on this list require it. Colleges can waive it in documented situations, such as no contact with the parent, through a waiver request made to the college itself.

What is IDOC?

IDOC (Institutional Documentation Service) is College Board’s upload service for the documents a college wants alongside the CSS Profile, such as tax returns and W-2 forms. 67 of the colleges here collect documents through IDOC; the rest ask for them directly.

Is the CSS Profile required for international students?

At 129 of the 169 colleges here, yes. International applicants cannot file the FAFSA, so the CSS Profile is how many private colleges assess their need for institutional aid. 19 colleges on the list use the CSS Profile only for international applicants and rely on the FAFSA for everyone else.

Where this list comes from. College Board publishes the official CSS Profile participating institutions list. This page reproduces its undergraduate colleges for the 2026-27 Profile year, last synced September 24, 2026. College Board refreshes the list when each new Profile year opens on October 1, and participation rarely changes from one year to the next, but confirm on each college’s financial aid page before you file.

Source: College Board, CSS Profile Participating Institutions and Programs, 2026-27 Profile year, synced September 24, 2026. CSS Profile and IDOC are College Board services; Solyo is not affiliated with College Board. More on paying for college: how the CSS Profile works, state financial aid and private scholarships.