How to Add Schools to Your FAFSA Form

You add schools to FAFSA through your Federal Student Aid account, and you can list up to 10 schools at no cost

When you fill out your FAFSA form online, you enter schools one at a time using their six-digit Federal School Code. The form lets you add, remove, or reorder schools whenever you want — even after you submit. Schools you list will receive your FAFSA information directly from the Department of Education, usually within a few days. You do not need to contact the schools yourself or send them anything extra.

The schools you add see your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or Student Aid Index (SAI), depending on which FAFSA year you are filing, and they use that number to build a financial aid package for you. Adding schools costs nothing, and there is no penalty for listing schools you are unsure about.

Key Takeaways

You can add up to 10 schools to one FAFSA form, and you can change your list at any time before or after you submit.
Find each school's six-digit Federal School Code on the FAFSA website or by searching the school's name in your Federal Student Aid account.
Schools receive your FAFSA data automatically within a few days of submission; you do not need to contact them or upload anything separately.
If you add a school after submitting your FAFSA, the school will still receive your information, though it may take longer to process.
Removing a school from your FAFSA does not affect your other schools or your financial aid from them.

Finding your school's Federal School Code

Every school that participates in federal student aid has a six-digit code. You can find it in two ways. The easiest is to log into your Federal Student Aid account at studentaid.gov, go to the FAFSA form, and start typing the school name in the school search box. The system will show you matching schools with their codes listed next to them.

If you cannot find the school that way — sometimes smaller schools or branch campuses do not appear immediately — visit the Federal School Code Search tool on studentaid.gov. Type the school name, city, or state, and the full list will appear. Write down the six-digit code before you go back to your FAFSA form.

Some schools have multiple codes for different campuses or programs. If you are attending a specific location or program, make sure you are using the code for that location, not the main campus code. The school's financial aid office can confirm the correct code if you are unsure.

Adding schools step by step

Log into your Federal Student Aid account at studentaid.gov using your FSA ID (username and password). Open your FAFSA form and scroll to the section labeled "Schools." Click the button to add a school.

Type the school name in the search box. The system will show matching schools with their codes. Click on the school you want. The code will fill in automatically, and the school will appear in your list. Repeat this process for each school you want to add, up to 10 total.

You can add schools in any order — the order does not matter for financial aid purposes. If you want to reorder them later (for example, to list your first choice first), you can drag and drop them in your list. When you are done adding schools, click "Save" or "Continue" to move forward in the form.

What happens after you add schools

Once you submit your FAFSA, the Department of Education sends your information to every school on your list. This usually takes three to five business days. Each school's financial aid office will receive your FAFSA data, including your income, family size, and Student Aid Index (SAI). They use this information to determine how much aid you may receive.

You do not need to do anything else to get your information to the schools. You will not receive a confirmation email from each school saying they got your FAFSA — that is normal. Schools process FAFSA data on their own schedule, and some may contact you weeks or months later with a financial aid offer.

If you want to know whether a school has received your FAFSA, you can contact the school's financial aid office directly. They can tell you the status and answer questions about their aid process.

Adding schools after you submit your FAFSA

You can add schools to your FAFSA at any time, even after you have submitted it. Log back into your Federal Student Aid account, open your FAFSA form, and add the new school the same way you did before. When you save your changes, the Department of Education will send your information to the new school automatically.

There is a small delay when you add a school after submission — it may take a week or longer for the school to receive your data, depending on how busy the system is. If you are close to a school's financial aid deadline, contact the school's financial aid office and let them know you have just added them to your FAFSA. They may be able to speed up the process or give you an extension.

Removing or changing schools on your FAFSA

If you decide you do not want to attend a school, or if you added it by mistake, you can remove it from your FAFSA at any time. Log into your account, open your FAFSA form, find the school in your list, and click the remove or delete button. Save your changes. The school will no longer receive your FAFSA information.

Removing a school does not affect your financial aid from other schools, and it does not change your FAFSA data. Schools you have already removed will not contact you about aid — they simply will not have received your FAFSA in the first place (if you removed them before submission) or will not receive updates (if you removed them after).

If you remove a school and then change your mind, you can add it back. Your FAFSA information will be sent to that school again, though there may be a processing delay.

Common mistakes when adding schools

The most common error is using the wrong school code. If you search for "State University" and multiple schools appear with similar names, make sure you are selecting the right campus or location. Using the wrong code means your FAFSA will go to the wrong school, and the school you actually want to attend will not have your information.

Another mistake is assuming you need to contact schools after adding them to your FAFSA. You do not. Schools receive your data automatically, and calling to tell them you submitted a FAFSA is unnecessary. However, if you are close to a financial aid deadline or have not heard from a school weeks after submitting, contacting them is reasonable.

Some people also add too many schools thinking it will increase their chances of aid. Adding 10 schools does not hurt, but adding schools you have no intention of attending wastes time later when you have to decide which one to attend. Add schools you are genuinely considering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add more than 10 schools to my FAFSA?

No, the FAFSA form allows a maximum of 10 schools per application. If you need to send your FAFSA to more than 10 schools, you will have to remove one and add another, or contact the schools directly to see if they have an alternative process. Most students do not need more than 10 schools.

Do schools know what other schools I added to my FAFSA?

No. Each school only sees your FAFSA data — your income, family information, and Student Aid Index. They do not see the list of other schools you applied to or added to your FAFSA. Your school list is private information between you and the Department of Education.

What if I cannot find my school's code?

Contact the school's financial aid office directly and ask for their six-digit Federal School Code. They will give it to you immediately. If the school does not have a code, it may not participate in federal student aid, and you would not be able to use FAFSA for that school.

How long does it take for schools to receive my FAFSA after I add them?

Usually three to five business days after you submit your FAFSA. If you add a school after submission, it may take a week or longer. Schools process FAFSA data on their own schedule, so some may contact you sooner than others.

Can I change the order of schools on my FAFSA?

Yes. You can drag and drop schools to reorder them in your list. The order does not affect your financial aid or how schools process your information — it is just for your own organization.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.