How to List More Than 10 Colleges on the FAFSA
Most students apply for admission to ten or fewer colleges and universities. But some students want to apply to more. The problem arises when it is time to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA, because there's only space to list ten schools.
So how do you list more than ten schools on your FAFSA? We'll talk you through the process now.
Adding More Than 10 Schools to the FAFSA
The secret to making this work is adding and removing schools once your FAFSA is processed. It takes a little coordination but can be well worth the effort. Just follow these steps:
Log into FAFSA on the Web at fafsa.ed.gov and navigate to where you add your schools. Start by listing an in-state public university first since some states require a state school to be listed first to consider the student for state grants.
Next, list the colleges and universities with the earliest financial aid deadlines.
Wait until you receive your Student Aid Report (SAR). This is a sign that the schools on the FAFSA have received your information. (The schools' version of the SAR is called an ISIR, or Institutional Student Information Record.)
After you receive your SAR, log back into FAFSA and delete the original list of ten schools and substitute a new list of ten colleges and universities.
Repeat this process as many times as necessary to list all your schools, each time waiting until you receive a new SAR before listing the next batch.
It is also possible to add schools to your FAFSA using your SAR data release number (DRN). You can give the DRN to a school, and they can then add itself to your FAFSA, pulling down your FAFSA data. Alternatively, you can call the federal student aid information center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) and ask them to add the schools to your FAFSA. Again, they will need your DRN to do this.
Making FAFSA Corrections
If you need to update the other information on your FAFSA, such as correcting the income information after you file your federal income tax returns, don't worry. All of the schools that you previously listed on the FAFSA will have access to the updated information.
To make FAFSA corrections, navigate to the "Make Corrections" option from your "My FAFSA" Page. Then submit your changes, and you'll have updated your FAFSA submission.
Final Thoughts About the FAFSA
You can collect the information you need and plan to list the correct number of schools, but if you miss the submission deadline for the colleges on your list, it's all for nothing. Said differently, monitor the submission deadline for the schools on your list. This is essential.
And remember to check out the Cappex blog when you have other questions about the FAFSA and financial aid. We cover topics like sheltering family assets on the FAFSA, ensuring you've listed the correct marital status, and much more.
Of course, you can always continue your financial aid search on Cappex by creating a free account. When you do that, you'll be entered to win our $1,000 Easy Money Scholarship. We give that out monthly and never require a GPA or essay. Just click the button below to get started.
