FAFSA won't let me delete old college or add new one - getting error messages

This is actually a known issue with the new digital FAFSA system this year. I work in financial aid at a community college and we've had dozens of students with the same problem. Try this workaround: instead of trying to delete the college first, add ALL the colleges you want in your list (including the new one), then remove the unwanted college. The system has a glitch where it won't let you delete when you're at your minimum college selection count.

omg same exact thing happened to me!! so frustrating!! i was trying to drop cincinnati and add ohio state and got the same error. ended up having to submit a correction form through my high school counselor. took like a week to process though :

THE ENTIRE FAFSA SYSTEM IS GARBAGE THIS YEAR!! I've had nothing but problems since day 1!! First the contributor issues, then SAI calculation errors, now this!! Department of Education clearly rushed this new system before it was ready. I've tried calling FSA like 6 times about various issues and either get disconnected or told they "don't have access to that part of the system" 🤬 So sick of this!!!

I had this exact issue and found a solution that worked! The problem happens when you try to make these changes on the "Review & Submit" page. Instead, go back to the beginning of your application (click on "Start FAFSA Form" again), then navigate to the "School Selection" section directly. Make your changes there, then save and continue through the rest of the application again. For some reason, the college list only properly updates when you do it through the main application flow, not the review page. Hope this helps!

I've been dealing with FAFSA issues all week and found a service called Claimyr that's been a lifesaver for getting through to actual FSA agents. I kept getting the runaround too until I tried it. They basically hold your place in line and call you when an agent is available so you don't waste hours on hold. Check out their demo: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ or their website claimyr.com - they connected me to an agent who could actually help with my verification issues in like 20 minutes.

have u tried using the mobile app instead of the website? sometimes the app works better for weird stuff like this. my girlfriend had issue adding tax info on website but app worked fine

Just an important note for everyone: if you make ANY changes to your FAFSA now, even just adding or removing a school, your application will go back into processing and could delay your aid package. Your SAI score won't change, but the schools won't receive your updated information until processing completes (which can take 3-5 business days). If you have tight deadlines, contact your school's financial aid office directly to let them know you're trying to add them but having technical issues.

So typical that they rolled out this "improved" FAFSA system that's actually 10x worse than before. My cousin is a college counselor and said they've had more problems this year than the previous 5 years combined. The whole dependent verification system is also completely broken - my friend's parents submitted their contributor info THREE TIMES and it still shows as incomplete! This college list bug is just one of like 50 major issues.

ok so weird suggestion but maybe try changing ur password then logging back in? this worked for me when i had issues with my verification docs not uploading properly. sometimes the system just needs a refresh or something idk

Glad to hear you got it resolved! For anyone else still struggling with this issue, I'd also recommend documenting everything when you call FSA - write down the date, time, representative name if they give it, and what they told you. I had to escalate my case through their complaint process because I kept getting different answers from different agents. Also, if you're applying to competitive programs or schools with early deadlines, most financial aid offices have been really understanding about FAFSA delays this year. Don't be afraid to reach out to them directly - they often have workarounds or can note your file that you're having technical difficulties.