How to add schools to your FAFSA

You add schools to your FAFSA by logging into your account on fafsa.gov, going to the "Schools" section, and entering each school's Federal School Code. The form lets you list up to 10 schools at once. You can add schools while you're filling out the form, or go back and add them later — the schools you list will receive your information once you submit. If you're applying to more than 10 schools, you can add additional ones after you submit your initial FAFSA.

The schools you add don't see that you've applied to other schools. Each school receives only your FAFSA data and your answers to questions — they don't get a list of your other choices. This means you can safely add safety schools, reach schools, and everything in between without worrying that one school will know you're also considering others.

Key Takeaways

  • You find each school's Federal School Code on the school's financial aid website or by searching the Federal School Code database on fafsa.gov.
  • Schools receive your FAFSA information only after you submit your form, and they see only their own school code — not the other schools you listed.
  • You can add up to 10 schools during your initial FAFSA submission, then add more schools afterward if you need to.
  • Removing a school from your FAFSA after submission requires logging back in and deleting it from your school list.
  • If a school's code doesn't appear in the search, contact the school's financial aid office directly to confirm the code or ask if they use a different process.

Finding your school's Federal School Code

Every school that participates in federal student aid has a six-digit Federal School Code. You'll need this code to add the school to your FAFSA. The fastest way to find it is to go to fafsa.gov, click on the "Find Your School Code" link, and search by school name or state. The search tool will show you the code immediately.

If the search doesn't return your school, or if you're unsure whether you have the right code, contact the school's financial aid office directly. They can give you the exact code and confirm whether the school participates in federal aid programs. Some very small schools, trade schools, or international schools may not participate, and the financial aid office will tell you that too.

Adding schools during your FAFSA submission

When you're working through your FAFSA form on fafsa.gov, you'll reach a section labeled "Schools." This is where you enter the Federal School Codes for the schools you want to attend. You can type in the code, or search by school name — the form will auto-fill once it finds a match.

Add schools as you go, or wait until you've finished all the other sections and come back to schools at the end. Either way works. The form saves your progress, so if you close it and come back later, your school list will still be there. You don't have to add all 10 schools at once — you can add a few now and more later.

What happens after you submit your FAFSA

Once you submit your FAFSA, the schools you listed begin receiving your information within a few days. Each school gets your FAFSA data and uses it to calculate how much aid you may receive from them. The schools do not see each other's names on your list — each school sees only its own code and your answers.

If you decide to add more schools after submission, log back into fafsa.gov, go to the "Schools" section, and add the new codes. These additional schools will receive your information just as the first ones did. You can add schools throughout the application cycle, though schools may have their own deadlines for when they need to receive your FAFSA data in order to award aid.

Removing or changing schools on your FAFSA

If you want to remove a school from your FAFSA after you've submitted it, log back into your account on fafsa.gov, find the "Schools" section, and delete the school code. The school will no longer receive your information going forward. However, if the school already received your FAFSA data before you removed it, deleting the code from your form won't erase what they already have — you may need to contact the school directly if you want them to disregard your application.

You can also change schools by removing one code and adding a different one. There's no limit to how many times you can edit your school list before or after submission, so don't worry about making a mistake. Just log in, make the change, and save it.

Adding schools if you're using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool

If you're using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to fill in your tax information on the FAFSA, you can still add schools at any point in the process. The tool only pulls your tax data — it doesn't affect your school list. Add schools before you use the tool, after you use it, or in between. The order doesn't matter.

Some students wait to add schools until after they've completed the tax section, because they want to finish one major part before moving on. Others add schools first and then handle taxes. Both approaches work equally well.

Schools that don't show up in the search

If you search for a school and it doesn't appear, the school may not participate in federal student aid programs, or it may be listed under a different name than you're searching for. Try searching by the school's official legal name, or search by city and state to see all schools in that area.

If you still can't find it, contact the school's financial aid office. They'll tell you whether they participate in federal aid and provide the correct code if they do. Some schools also have their own separate aid processes that don't use the FAFSA, so the financial aid office can explain what you need to do instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add schools to my FAFSA after I submit it?

Yes. Log back into fafsa.gov, go to the "Schools" section, and add new school codes. The schools will receive your information once you save the changes. You can add schools throughout the year, though individual schools may have their own deadlines for receiving FAFSA data.

Will the schools I list see the other schools I'm applying to?

No. Each school receives only your FAFSA information and your answers to questions. They do not see the names or codes of any other schools on your list. Your school choices are private.

What if I don't know my school's Federal School Code?

Search for it on fafsa.gov using the "Find Your School Code" tool, or contact the school's financial aid office directly. They can provide the code and confirm that the school participates in federal aid programs.

Can I add more than 10 schools to my FAFSA?

The form allows 10 schools during your initial submission. If you need to add more, submit your FAFSA first, then log back in and add additional schools. There's no hard limit on the total number of schools you can list over time.

What if I add a school by mistake?

Log back into fafsa.gov, find the school in your "Schools" section, and delete it. If the school already received your information before you deleted the code, contact the school directly if you want them to remove your application from their system.