Fiscal Year 2024 annual report
Common App2024Explore Common App's inaugural annual report, showcasing 2024 achievements and our mission to close the equity gap in college admissions by 2030.
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Equity innovations guide
Common AppMay 2024Learn how we're working toward our mission to expand college access for low- and middle-income students through pilot programs like direct admissions, student context initiatives, financial aid resources, and research collaborations.
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Equity in admissions
Common AppFebruary 2024Find out about our goal to close the equity gap in students pursuing postsecondary opportunities by 2030. We will achieve this by reimagining college admissions and expanding access through partnerships and innovations.
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March 1 deadline update
Data Analytics and ResearchMarch 13, 2025First-year college application trends through March 1, 2025, show increases in applicants and applications, with notable growth among Latinx, Black/African American, and first-generation students. Test score reporters are also up for the first time since 2021-22.
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February 1 deadline update
Data Analytics and ResearchFebruary 13, 2025Applicant and application numbers are up through February 1, with Latinx and Black applicants, first-generation students, and low-income applicants showing the fastest growth. The Southwest region saw the most domestic growth.
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January 1 deadline update
Data Analytics and ResearchJanuary 16, 2025This update shows that applications and applicants are up overall, and growth is fastest among URM applicants. Domestically, growth is most rapid in the Southwest.
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December 1 deadline update
Data Analytics and ResearchDecember 9, 2024This update shows that applications and applicants are up overall and growth is fastest among URM applicants. First-generation and low-income applicants are also increasing substantially.
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November 1 deadline update
Data Analytics and ResearchNovember 20, 2024The report examines first-year college application trends as of November 1, showing a 6% applicant increase, driven by growth among underrepresented, first-gen, and low-income students.
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End-of-season report, 2023–2024: First-year application trends
Data Analytics and ResearchAugust 22, 2024This end-of-season report shows 1.4M applicants (+7%) submitted 9.5M applications (+11%). URM applicants rose 11%. Public institutions saw a 16% application increase, outpacing private at 5%.
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Deadline updates, 2023–2024: Test score reporting trends by demographic through March 1
Data Analytics and ResearchApril 5, 2024This report details test score reporting trends for college applications. It analyzes data by demographics, including first-generation status, race/ethnicity, and state. Overall, score reporting has decreased since 2019-20.
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February 1 deadline update
Data Analytics and ResearchFebruary 14, 2024Trends show growth in URM and international applicants, shifts in first-generation and fee waiver eligibility, geographic variations in applicant growth, and a notable rise in applicants opting not to report test scores.
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January 1 deadline update
Data Analytics and ResearchJanuary 14, 2024Trends through January 1 find increased applications overall, especially from URM, first-gen, fee-waiver-eligible, and international students. Trends are broken down by geography, test score reporting, and institutional characteristics.
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December 1 deadline update
Data Analytics and ResearchDecember 14, 2023An analysis of first-year college application trends through December 1. It covers overall platform usage, applicant demographics (race, income, etc.), test score reporting, and trends by member institutions.
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November 1 deadline update - supplement
Data Analytics and ResearchNovember 27, 2023This report supplements a prior Common App deadline update, comparing 2023-24 application trends to 2022-23.
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November 1 deadline update
Data Analytics and ResearchNovember 15, 2023This report analyzes first-year application trends through November 15. It shows that applications per applicant rose 17%. Underrepresented minority (URM) applicants increased 67%, while international applicants jumped 87%.
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Tracking persistence in STEMM: From application aspirations to college degrees
Data Analytics and ResearchFebruary 24, 2025This brief analyzes the persistence rates of students in STEMM fields, highlighting demographic disparities in degree completion among various racial and socioeconomic groups.
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Research summary: First-year applicant gender and pronoun trends from 2021–2023
Data Analytics and ResearchJanuary 10, 2025Data on gender identity and pronoun use from 2021-2023 was analyzed. Key findings: 2.5% of applicants identified as trans/nonbinary in 2023-24, a 14% increase. Students are increasingly disclosing gender.
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Advancing equitable scholarship awarding through outreach: Results from 2023–2024 partnerships
Data Analytics and ResearchOctober 31, 2024This brief analyzes the results of the partnership between Common App and Scholarship American and the efficacy of the measures taken during the 2023–2024 season to connect underrepresented students to scholarships.
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Advancing equitable scholarship awarding through scholarship outreach partnerships: Results from 2022–2023 partnerships
Data Analytics and ResearchJuly 25, 2024Common App partnered with Scholarship America and Equitable for the 2022-2023 season to boost scholarship access for underrepresented students. Tailored email outreach doubled application rates and boosted scholarship recipients by 5x, leading to $350K in extra funds.
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Application trends following the end of race-conscious admissions
Data Analytics and ResearchJune 12, 2024This report examines the impact of the Supreme Court's ruling against race-conscious admissions on college applications via Common App. It finds minimal significant changes in trends compared to prior years.
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Exploring the complexities of detailed parental education First-generation status in context • Part 3
Data Analytics and ResearchApril 4, 2024We highlight that first-generation status is a simplified measure of parental education and explore the insights gained by analyzing more detailed parental degree groupings.
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Differing definitions and their implications First-generation status in context • Part 2
Data Analytics and ResearchFebruary 8, 2024We examined how different definitions of first-generation status not only shift student counts but also alter the demographic profile and observed needs of this population.
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State-level application trends and insights
Common App2024Explore state-specific application trends and demographics for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Armed Forces, and U.S. territories for the 2023–2024 season.
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Trends in parental education & family structures over time First-generation status in context • Part 1
Data Analytics and ResearchNovember 8, 2023We explored how small differences in defining first-generation status—such as which degrees and whose degrees count—significantly impact who is classified as a first-generation student.
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Early admission deadlines: Student trends and implications
Data Analytics and ResearchJuly 10, 2023Early applications rose to 58% in 2022-23. Asian and White students applied early more than Black/Latinx peers. Socioeconomic factors influenced early applications more than GPA or SAT.
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Common App for transfer: a four-year retrospective
Data Analytics and ResearchApril 24, 2023Transfer applicants via Common App are primarily from well-served groups: non-URM, high socioeconomic status, and continuing-generation students. Public flagships and selective universities receive most applications.
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Research summary: trends and disparities in extracurricular activity reporting
Data Analytics and ResearchApril 18, 2023Extracurricular reporting reveals disparities. White and Asian applicants report more activities than Black and Latinx. Higher SES applicants report more than lower SES. Disparities are most significant in athletics, academics, arts, and service.
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Beyond 'international': Understanding nuances of a diverse applicant pool
Data Analytics and ResearchMarch 28, 2023International applicants via Common App surged 63%, now 4-5% of all applicants. Applicant traits and behaviors vary widely by country, especially socioeconomic status and application strategies.
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First-year applications per applicant
Data Analytics and ResearchDecember 12, 2022Average college applications via Common App jumped from 4.63 in 2013-14 to 6.22 in 2021-22. High-volume applicants (15+ apps) tend to have higher test scores, apply to selective private schools, and are often international or fee waiver recipients.
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Unpacking applicant race and ethnicity, part 2
Data Analytics and ResearchOctober 17, 2022Within standard race/ethnicity categories, substantial disparities exist in applicant resources, college readiness, and application behaviors. Variations within categories often exceed differences between URM and non-URM applicants. Detailed backgrounds reveal hidden diversity.
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Unpacking applicant race and ethnicity, part 1
Data Analytics and ResearchOctober 17, 2022Focus on standard race/ethnicity categories obscures significant variations. For example, Asian applicant growth (+71%) masks "Other South Asia" surging (+169%), while Japan declined (-4%). Detailed data reveals dynamic shifts and hidden diversity within groups.
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Long-term progress toward diversifying the Common App applicant pool
Data Analytics and ResearchSeptember 15, 2022Common App applicant volume rose 72% (2013-22). Underrepresented minority (URM) applicants surged 131%, outpacing overall growth. First-gen (+90%) and fee waiver recipients (+110%) also saw higher increases, showing growing diversity.
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First-year admission plans: trends over time and applicant composition
Data Analytics and ResearchNovember 29, 2021Early admission plans (EA/ED) show disparities. Wealthier, non-first-gen, and non-URM students are overrepresented in early pools. Rolling Admission is most common at less selective schools. Early Decision, though less common, is mainly at selective schools.
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Growth and change: long-term trends in Common App membership
Data Analytics and ResearchOctober 19, 2021Common App membership grew 67% (2014-21), reaching 914 institutions. Public, Southern, and Midwestern schools joined, MSIs more than doubled. URM applicants rose (to 31%), but first-gen applicant growth was minimal.
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Applying to college in a test-optional landscape
Data Analytics and ResearchSeptember 8, 2021Test score reporting via Common App continues to decline. 45.1% of applicants reported scores as of March 1, 2024, down 1.9% from 2022-23. Trends vary by demographics, with first-gen and URM applicants reporting less often.
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Pandemic patterns in first-year applications
Data Analytics and ResearchAugust 30, 2021The pandemic deeply affected college applications. In essays, 20% of students shared their COVID-19 experiences, reflecting hardship and growth. Colleges delayed deadlines and went test-optional. Applicants applied later, and test scores were reported much lower than in prior years.
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A brief guide to Common Apps name, sex, and gender questions for member institutions
Source: Campus PrideMarch 7, 2023Changes to Common App's name, sex, and gender questions are detailed for colleges. Definitions of key terms like legal name, chosen name, and pronouns are given, along with inclusive practice recommendations.
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Nudging at a National Scale: Experimental Evidence from a FAFSA Completion Campaign
Source: EdPolicyWorks - University of VirginiaAugust 1, 2019A study involving over 800,000 students examined large-scale campaigns to boost FAFSA completion. The findings revealed no significant impact on financial aid receipt or college enrollment, suggesting that effective local nudge strategies may not scale successfully.
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Mindsets and the Learning Environment: A Big Biodata Approach to Mindsets, Learning Environments, and College Success
Source: Sidney D’Mello (PI), University of Colorado Boulder, Angela Duckworth (Co-PI), University of Pennsylvania June 2019The study analyzed 278,201 U.S. students, finding that mindsets and learning environments shape college success. Engagement in extracurriculars and supportive settings correlated with higher graduation rates.
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A majority of U.S. colleges admit most students who apply
Source: Pew Research CenterJune 2019In 2017, over half of U.S. four-year colleges admitted at least two-thirds of applicants, while only 3.4% had acceptance rates below 10%. Highly selective schools remain a small minority.
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True Merit: Ensuring Our Brightest Students Have Access to Our Best Colleges and Universities
Source: The Jack Kent Cooke FoundationJanuary 2016The "True Merit" report finds that only 3% of students at the most selective U.S. colleges come from the lowest income quartile, while 72% hail from the wealthiest. It advocates for admissions preferences for high-achieving, low-income students.
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Navigating the new normal: How the University of Georgia streamlined the application process and improved student and family communication during COVID-19
Common App2020COVID-19 pushed UGA to join Common App, leading to a 27.5% jump in early action apps. Test-optional policy increased in-state applications by 21% and boosted diversity. Data integration sped up decisions and improved satisfaction for all.
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