How to Add Schools to Your FAFSA Form

You add schools to your FAFSA by searching for them by name or code in the school section of your form, then selecting each one you want to include

The FAFSA form asks you to list the colleges and universities you want your financial aid information sent to. You can add up to 10 schools on the form itself. The process is the same whether you are filling out the FAFSA online at studentaid.gov or using the mobile app — you search for each school, confirm it is the right campus, and select it. The schools you list will receive your FAFSA information directly from the Department of Education, and they use it to calculate your financial aid package.

You do not have to list all the schools you are considering. You only need to add the ones you want to receive your FAFSA data. You can add schools at any time while your FAFSA is open, and you can change which schools are listed until the important date for each school passes.

Key Takeaways

You can list up to 10 schools on your FAFSA form, and the Department of Education sends your information to each one automatically.
Search for schools by name or by their six-digit Federal School Code, which you can find on the school's financial aid website or by searching the Federal School Code database.
If a school has multiple campuses, make sure you select the exact campus where you plan to attend, because different campuses may have different financial aid offices.
You can add or remove schools from your FAFSA at any time before the school's important date, and you can add more schools after you submit if you think of additional options.

How to search for and add a school on studentaid.gov

Log into your FAFSA account at studentaid.gov and go to the Schools section. You will see a search box that says "Search for a school". Type the name of the school you want to add — you can type the full name like "University of Michigan" or just part of it like "Michigan". The form will show you a list of schools that match what you typed.

Look through the list and click on the school you want. If the school has more than one campus, you will see them listed separately — for example, "University of California, Berkeley" and "University of California, Los Angeles" are two different entries. Select the exact campus where you plan to attend. Once you click on it, the school will be added to your form. Repeat this process for each school you want to include, up to 10 total.

Finding a school's Federal School Code

Every school that participates in federal student aid has a six-digit Federal School Code. If you know the code, you can type it directly into the search box instead of searching by name. The code is faster if you are adding many schools or if the school name is common and produces a long list of results.

You can find a school's Federal School Code on its financial aid website, usually in a section called "FAFSA Information" or "Cost of Attendance". You can also search the Federal School Code database at studentaid.gov by clicking "School Code Search" in the Schools section. Type the school name and state, and the database will show you the code and confirm which campus it belongs to.

What to do if you cannot find a school on the FAFSA

If you search for a school and it does not appear in the list, the school may not participate in federal student aid programs. Not all schools are may be able to access to receive FAFSA information — some trade schools, online programs, and international schools do not participate. Check the school's website to see if it is FAFSA-may be able to access, or contact the school's financial aid office directly to ask.

If the school does participate but you still cannot find it, try searching by a different name. Some schools go by a shortened name or have changed their official name recently. For example, searching "State University" might not work, but "University of State" might. If you still have trouble, call the school's financial aid office and ask them for their Federal School Code — they can give it to you over the phone.

Adding schools after you submit your FAFSA

You can add more schools to your FAFSA even after you submit it. Log back into your account, go to the Schools section, and add new schools the same way you added the first ones. Your updated FAFSA will be sent to the new schools you add. This is useful if you think of additional schools you want to consider, or if you are on a waiting list and want to add backup options.

Keep in mind that each school has its own FAFSA important date. If you add a school after its important date has passed, that school will still receive your FAFSA information, but you may miss the important date for that school's financial aid. Check each school's website for its FAFSA important date before you add it.

Removing schools from your FAFSA

You can remove a school from your FAFSA at any time. Go to the Schools section, find the school you want to remove, and click the delete or remove button next to it. The school will no longer receive your FAFSA information. Removing a school does not affect your FAFSA or your aid at other schools.

You might remove a school if you decide not to attend, if you added it by mistake, or if you want to make room to add a different school. Since you can list up to 10 schools, you only need to remove one if you want to add an 11th school.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add more than 10 schools to my FAFSA?

No, the FAFSA form allows you to list a maximum of 10 schools. If you want to send your FAFSA information to more than 10 schools, you will need to remove one school and add another. You can change which schools are listed at any time.

Do schools know what other schools I listed on my FAFSA?

No. Each school only sees its own FAFSA information. Schools cannot see the list of other schools you sent your FAFSA to, and they do not share that information with each other. Your school list is private.

What if I add a school but then decide not to attend?

You can remove the school from your FAFSA at any time. Removing it does not hurt your chances at other schools or affect your financial aid elsewhere. You can also just leave it on the list — schools do not penalize you for receiving FAFSA information and then not attending.

Do I have to add schools in a certain order?

No. The order you list schools on your FAFSA does not matter. Schools do not know where they rank on your list, and the order does not affect how much financial aid you receive.

What if a school's name changed or it merged with another school?

Search for the school by its current name. If you cannot find it, try searching by the old name or by the city where it is located. If the school merged, it may now be listed under a different name. Contact the school's financial aid office if you are unsure which entry to select.

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.