The movement toward a uniform methodology of determining parental ability to pay to be used over time by all institutions and agencies awarding financial aid funds is consistent with the goals and objectives of the College Scholarship Service (CSS). This paper describes a proposed system for a uniform methodology for measuring parental ability to pay for postsecondary educational costs for consideration by the membership of the CSS Assembly. In setting forth this proposal, a brief review of the CSS need analysis system is given. This comparative analysis demonstrates the substantial aspects of the CSS need analysis rationale that have been incorporated into the proposal outlined. The proposed methodology brings into being several characteristics long considered desirable by many financial aid administrators and agencies awarding student aid funds -- namely, a more simplified system in which the methodology can be readily understood by the users and in which accuracy of information is retained. (Author/JMF)