Information for Parents – CSS Profile

Creating an Account for Parent Use

To complete a CSS Profile application as a parent, you will use your student's College Board account. However, if you need to complete the CSS Profile as a noncustodial parent, you will need to create a College Board student account using your (the parent’s) information. Learn more about creating a student account as a noncustodial parent in the step-by-step below.

Parent Account Creation - Step-by-Step

Remember: a separate parent account is only needed to complete a noncustodial CSS Profile.

Double Check

Double-check and confirm that the student is applying to any institution that requires the CSS Profile for noncustodial parents. Only parents completing the noncustodial CSS Profile will create a separate account. A list of participating institutions is available online.

Participating Institutions

Sign In

Visit the home page of cssprofile.org. Click the "Sign In to" button on the home page for the appropriate application award year.

Create Account

Click "Create Account" under "Don’t have an account?"

Parent Information

Create your account using your (the parent’s) information, not the student’s information. This biggest source of confusion for parent account creation is using the student's information. Once you have created your account and are completing the CSS Profile, be careful to answer student sections with the student’s information and parent sections with the parent’s information.

Additional Resources

CSS Profile Custodial Parent Tutorial

Watch our tutorial on reporting parental information on the CSS Profile.

Reporting Parental Information

CSS Profile Noncustodial Parent Tutorial

Watch our tutorial on completing the CSS Profile for noncustodial parents.

Tutorial for Noncustodial Parents

Frequently Asked Questions

We've compiled some of our most frequently asked questions from parents or from students regarding the parent application.

How do I know if CSS Profile is required from both of my biological parents?

Some colleges require both of your biological parents—your custodial parent and your noncustodial parent—to complete separate applications. Review our list of participating colleges and check your college’s financial aid website for info and learn more by watching Completing the CSS Profile for the Noncustodial Parent.

Participating Institutions

What if I do not have any contact with my noncustodial parent?

A noncustodial parent is typically the parent the student did not live with most of the time during the past year. A CSS Profile Waiver Request for the Noncustodial Parent is available to provide to colleges. Each college will look at your waiver request and determine if they will waive the requirement for your noncustodial parent to submit a CSS Profile application.

Waiver Request for Noncustodial Parents

Is parent data secure? How is data transmitted?

The CSS Profile is only shared with institutions you select in the application process. Students may identify additional institutions after completing the application.Some institutions may require noncustodial parents to complete the CSS Profile. Noncustodial parents complete this information separately, and data transmitted confidentially to the selected institutions.