FAFSA college list update finally working - was locked for weeks!
Just wanted to share some good news! After trying for almost 3 weeks straight, I can FINALLY add/edit colleges on my FAFSA application! The system kept giving me an error message saying "temporarily unavailable" whenever I tried to access the college selection section. I was about to miss my priority deadline for my dream school (Feb 15) and was seriously panicking. Not sure if they fixed something on the backend or what, but as of this morning, I'm able to add/remove schools normally. If anyone else has been stuck with this issue, maybe try logging in again today? Fingers crossed it stays working because I still need to add 4 more schools to my list!
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Carmen Vega
OMG thank you for posting this!!! I've been having the EXACT same problem since January 20th and was about to lose my mind. Just checked after seeing your post and YES IT'S WORKING FOR ME TOO!! My state grant deadline is coming up fast and I thought I was going to lose out on thousands. Did anybody else notice the whole "Contributors" section is working better too? That part was glitching out for me last week.
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Yes! The Contributors section is working better too. My mom's section kept showing as incomplete even though we finished it. Now it shows properly as completed. What a relief!
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QuantumQuester
still not working for me :( tried logging in 3 times today and cant add any schools
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Andre Moreau
•Try clearing your browser cache and cookies, then use a different browser. I found that Chrome was causing issues with the FAFSA portal, but Firefox worked perfectly. Also, if you're using a mobile device, switch to a desktop/laptop - the mobile interface has been particularly problematic this year with the college selection feature.
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Zoe Stavros
This is great news! I've been monitoring the FSA technical issues page for weeks because so many students at our high school have been struggling with this exact problem. A few additional tips that might help others: 1. If you're still having trouble, try accessing the site during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) 2. Make sure your SAI calculation is complete before trying to modify schools 3. If you get an error, don't keep trying repeatedly - wait at least 2 hours before attempting again 4. Double-check that all contributor sections show as completed before modifying the college list The good news is that many schools are aware of these FAFSA technical difficulties and have extended their priority deadlines. If you're worried about missing a deadline, reach out directly to the financial aid office at your schools. Most are being very accommodating this year!
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Jamal Harris
•Adding to these great tips - most schools HAVE extended deadlines, but don't assume! Always contact each school directly to confirm their current FAFSA deadline. I've seen some schools extend by 2 weeks, others by a full month, and a few are still holding firm to original dates. Documentation is key - save screenshots of any errors you encounter to share with financial aid offices if needed.
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Mei Chen
am i the only one STILL getting the stupid login loop?? i can get into my account but as soon as i try to view or edit my fafsa it kicks me back to login screen! so done with this garbage system
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Jamal Harris
•The login loop issue is actually separate from the college list problem, but equally frustrating! If you're experiencing the login loop, there's a specific fix: 1. Clear ALL browser data (not just cookies) 2. Close your browser completely 3. Restart your computer 4. Use a private/incognito window 5. Login with your FSA ID If that doesn't work, you'll need to contact FSA directly, which I know is nearly impossible right now. The phone lines have been overwhelmed for weeks.
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Andre Moreau
Just a technical update for everyone: FSA confirmed on their official Twitter account that they implemented fixes for the college list and contributor section issues yesterday evening. They're rolling out in phases, so some users will see the fix immediately while others might have to wait up to 48 hours. Important note: If you previously tried adding schools and received errors, those schools may NOT have been properly added to your application even if they appeared on your list temporarily. I strongly recommend everyone verify their complete college list once you regain access, and confirm all schools show a proper submission date in your FAFSA confirmation section. Also, for the 2025-2026 FAFSA, they're promising a complete system redesign to prevent these issues. Let's hope that's true!
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Thanks for this info! Just checked and all 6 of my schools are showing properly with submission dates. Such a relief!
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Carmen Vega
•OMG you're right!! 2 of the schools I thought I added back in January aren't actually on my list! Would have completely missed out on aid if I hadn't checked. THANK YOU!
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Liam Sullivan
same thing happened with css profile too btw. couldn't add schools for like a week in january. whole systems broken this year
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Zoe Stavros
•The CSS Profile and FAFSA issues are actually unrelated, though the timing coincidence is unfortunate. The CSS Profile had scheduled maintenance in January that ran longer than expected, while the FAFSA issues stem from the major redesign they implemented this year. But you're right that it's been an extremely challenging financial aid season for students!
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QuantumQuester
it worked!!!! cleared my cache and now i can add schools! adding all 10 right now before something else breaks lol
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Andre Moreau
•Glad it worked! Just as a heads-up, while you can list up to 10 schools on your FAFSA, you can always go back and swap schools out later if you need to add more. Many students don't realize you can remove schools that have already received your FAFSA data and add new ones.
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