Create an Apple Developer account: Educational institution enrollment

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Misty Flowers

This article explains how to create an Apple Developer account and complete the educational institution enrollment process, including what information you'll need and what to expect during verification.

Before you start

This is a two-part series on all things about your Apple Developer account. Looking for something else? Check out the full set:

💡Quick answers

  • What information do I need to enroll? Your school's legal name, DUNS Number (9-digit identifier), website, mailing address, and contact information for a school administrator who can verify the enrollment.
  • Do we have to pay the yearly fee? No. Educational institutions qualify for the Developer Program Fee Waiver, which you request during enrollment. There is no yearly $99 renewal fee.
  • Who needs to verify the enrollment? A school administrator with decision-making authority, such as a Superintendent, Head of School, Assistant Superintendent, or Business Office director. This person must be available to respond to Apple's verification email.
  • How long does enrollment take? After you submit, Apple typically reviews within 1-2 weeks. The process is faster if you contact Apple Support weekly for status updates and if the verification person responds promptly to Apple's email.

In this article

Step-by-step enrollment

Step 1: Navigate to Apple Developer and sign in

  • Go to developer.apple.com.
  • Click the user icon in the top right.
  • Sign in with your Apple ID, or click "Create your Apple Account" to make one.

Step 2: Fill in contact information

  • Enter the first and last name of the main individual attached to the Apple ID.
  • For address, use your school's mailing address.
  • Click "Continue".

Step 3: Select organization type

  • Select "Accredited Educational Institution".
  • Click "Continue".

Step 4: Enter organization information

  • Legal Entity Name: Enter your school's official legal name (as it appears on official documents).
  • DUNS Number: Enter the 9-digit unique identifier for your organization. If you don't know it, search here.
  • Click "Continue".

⚠️ Important Note

The DUNS Number and Legal Entity Name must match exactly. If you receive an error, the name or DUNS Number may be incorrect. Try variations of your school's legal name (e.g., with or without abbreviations or "&" vs. "and").

Step 5: Complete final information

  • School Website: Enter your school's website URL.
  • Your Email: Enter a valid email address, then click "Send Code". Enter the verification code Apple sends to that email.

Step 6: Authorize a school representative

  • Check the box next to "My organization has given me authority to bind it to legal agreements".
  • Enter the name, position, email, and phone number of a school administrator authorized to sign legal agreements. This can be a Superintendent, Head of School, Assistant Superintendent, or Business Office director.

⚠️ Critical

After Apple reviews your initial submission, they will contact this administrator by email to verify the enrollment. This person must respond promptly and complete any requested information. If they delay or don't respond, Apple will void the enrollment. Make sure they are available and prepared to act quickly.

Step 7: Request the fee waiver

  • Select "Yes, I would like to request a Fee Waiver".
  • This qualifies your school for the Developer Program Fee Waiver, eliminating the yearly $99 renewal fee.

Step 8: Review and submit

  • Review all information on the confirmation page.
  • If any details are incorrect, click back to make corrections.
  • Click "Submit" at the bottom.

Step 9: Save your enrollment details

  • A confirmation screen will appear with your Enrollment ID, DUNS Number, and Legal Entity Name.
  • Take a screenshot and provide it to the administrator who is verifying the enrollment.

Monitoring your enrollment

Contact Apple Support weekly for status updates

Consistent follow-up speeds up Apple's review. Contact Apple Support at least once per week:

  • Log in to developer.apple.com.
  • Click "Support".
  • Click "Contact Us".
  • Click "View Topics".
  • Click "Membership and Account".
  • Select "Program Enrollment".
  • Choose the phone option and enter your phone number. Apple will call you within minutes.

After approval

Receive and confirm your approval

When your enrollment is approved:

  • Apple sends an approval email to your Apple ID email address.
  • Log in to Apple Developer to verify that your account has been upgraded.
  • Contact your Finalsite Project Manager to schedule a call with the Mobile App Team to set up your app in your Apple Account.

Common enrollment errors and FAQs

Error or issue What you'll see What to do
DUNS Number and Legal Entity Name don't match The information you provided does not match our records or Unable to verify organization Try variations of your school's legal name. Common differences: "Inc." vs no suffix; "District" vs "School District"; abbreviations vs full names; "&" vs "and". Check your DUNS lookup result for the exact wording Apple expects.
Using a personal Apple ID instead of creating a school account Enrollment goes through, but the account is tied to one person's Apple ID. If that person leaves, you lose access. Create a new Apple ID using a school email address (e.g., appmanager@school.org) before enrolling. Do not use a personal Apple ID.
Verification person doesn't respond to Apple's email You receive an email: Your enrollment has been cancelled or Enrollment request expired Notify the verification person BEFORE you submit the enrollment that Apple will email them within 1-2 weeks. Apple's email may land in spam; have them check their spam folder. If it expires, you'll need to restart enrollment and ensure they respond within Apple's deadline (typically 30 days).
Forgot to request the fee waiver No error message. Enrollment completes, but you'll receive an invoice for $99 when the year ends. You'll see it in your account: Membership expires [date]. Renewal fee: $99 Contact Apple Support and explain you should have requested a fee waiver during enrollment. They can often apply it retroactively for educational institutions. In the future, always select "Yes, I would like to request a Fee Waiver" during enrollment.
Selected the wrong organization type No error. Enrollment completes, but your account is classified as a different organization type (e.g., "Company" instead of "Educational Institution"). You won't qualify for the fee waiver. Contact Apple Support to request a re-classification to "Accredited Educational Institution." Provide proof of your school's educational status (accreditation letter, 501(c)(3) documentation, etc.).
Verification person's email or phone number has a typo Apple tries to contact the verification person but can't reach them. Their email bounces or the phone number is incorrect. You'll receive a notice: We were unable to reach the authorized representative Contact Apple Support immediately with the correct contact information. Apple will attempt to reach them again. Having the correct details upfront prevents this delay.
Left required fields blank before submitting This field is required appears below empty fields. The "Submit" button remains greyed out or disabled. Fill in every field on the form before clicking "Submit." If you're unsure about a field, review Step 5 or Step 6 of this article for guidance.
Don't know your school's legal entity name You're unsure whether to enter "Lincoln High School," "Lincoln School District," or something else. Guessing leads to DUNS mismatch errors later. Ask your business office or finance department. They have this on file for tax filings and federal grants. Match exactly what appears on official school documents and your DUNS lookup result.
You're unsure who qualifies as "authorized representative" You don't know who to list as the verification person. You pick someone but worry they won't be accepted by Apple. Choose someone in a decision-making role: Superintendent, Head of School, Assistant Superintendent, Business Manager, or Director. They must have authority to sign legal agreements on behalf of the school. When in doubt, ask your district's legal counsel.
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