Does Changing Colleges on FAFSA After Deadline Affect Application?

I was thinking of switching the colleges listed on my FAFSA after the priority deadline. Does anyone know if this could cause issues with the applications? I don't want my aid to be delayed due to this change.

Ideally, you would have input all your desired colleges on the FAFSA by their priority deadlines. However, it is possible to change the colleges you have listed on your FAFSA after the priority deadline - although, yes, it could potentially affect your application.

Here's why: Each school you list on your FAFSA receives your financial information and considers you for the financial aid available at that institution. Most schools award aid on a first-come, first-serve basis and set a priority deadline to ensure all interested students are equitably given the opportunity to access limited funds.

If you add a school after this priority deadline, those funds could potentially have already been allocated to other students. Because of this, your financial aid package from the late-added school might consist of less grant or work-study aid, and more loans.

So while you're free to make changes after the deadline, know that it may impact your financial aid package's composition. That's not to say you won't receive any aid from that school, but the offer could look different than if you'd listed that school prior to the deadline.

In sum, making changes after the priority deadline might not necessarily 'delay' your aid, but it could possibly result in less favorable aid packages. As always, check with the individual school's financial aid offices for clarification on their specific policy.