Common App Direct Admissions

How Common App Direct Admissions works

Participating colleges set their requirements, including a minimum GPA for students in their home state. Common App then finds first-generation and lower-income students who meet these GPA and residency requirements using their Common App responses.

Common App then emails eligible students with their direct admissions offer(s). Students in some states may receive offers from more than one college.

The email contains information to help students learn more about their offer(s), including any academic program exclusions or other requirements. It also has details on how to accept the offer, which includes submitting their Common App.

If a student chooses to apply with this non-binding admissions offer, they don’t have to pay an application fee and aren’t required to enroll if they apply. Colleges will review student applications to verify their accuracy. The colleges will also ensure the students' applications meet their admission requirements and any college-specific program and major exceptions. For more details, check out our Direct Admissions FAQs.

Based on 3 years of pilot programs
Common App has piloted a direct admissions program since 2021. The 2022-2023 pilot offered admission to nearly 30,000 students at 14 participating colleges. Results showed the impacts were strongest for Black or African American, Latinx, and first-generation students.

Learn more in “Taking a closer look at Common App Direct Admissions.”

Participating colleges and universities

Arkansas
Hendrix College

California
Mount Saint Mary's University Los Angeles
Woodbury University

Colorado
Regis University

Florida
Eckerd College
Stetson University

Georgia
Brenau University
Georgia State University

Illinois
Millikin University
Western Illinois University

Indiana
University of Evansville
University of Saint Francis

Kentucky
Thomas More University

Massachusetts
Hampshire College
Lasell University
Lesley University
Regis College
University of Massachusetts Boston
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Western New England University

Maryland
Capitol Technology University
Towson University
University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Michigan
Central Michigan University

Minnesota
Augsburg University
The College of St. Scholastica
Concordia University, St. Paul

Missouri
Truman State University

North Carolina
Wingate University

New Jersey
Centenary University
Kean University
Montclair State University
Rider University
Stockton University

Nevada
University of Nevada, Reno

New York
Iona University
Mercy University
Nazareth University
New York Institute of Technology (NYIT)
Niagara University
Paul Smith's College
St. Thomas Aquinas College
SUNY Buffalo State University
The New School
Wagner College
Wells College

Ohio
College of Wooster
Wittenberg University

Oklahoma
Oral Roberts University

Oregon
Oregon Tech
Portland State University

Pennsylvania
Allegheny College
Arcadia University
Immaculata University
Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)
Neumann University
Rosemont College
York College of Pennsylvania

Rhode Island
Salve Regina University

South Carolina
Spartanburg Methodist College

Tennessee
The University of Memphis

Texas
Austin College
Houston Christian University
St. Edward's University

Virginia
Christopher Newport University
George Mason University
Marymount University
University of Lynchburg
Virginia Commonwealth University

Washington
Whitworth University

Wisconsin
St. Norbert College

Common App Direct Admissions

How Common App Direct Admissions works

Participating colleges and universities

For more help, check out our Direct Admission FAQs