Usage of the Common App is continuing to grow and is expanding among a range of student groups. More than 1.2 million first-year applicants applied to 863 colleges for the 2024-25 school year, a 5% increase over the previous school year, the Common App announced earlier this month.
First-generation, Black, Latinx applicants, as well as students from low-income zip codes, also submitted more applications. First-generation applicants soared by 14%, while Latinx applicants grew by 13% and Black applicants by 12%. Here are some other key findings from the Common App report:
- Geographically, growth in the U.S. was highest in the Southwest and in large and small urban areas. With a 36% increase, Texas was the fastest-growing state while applicants from Washington, D.C. grew by 22%.
- Increased usage in the U.S. outpaced international growth for the first time since 2019.
- Half of this school year’s applicants have reported their test scores, a 10% increase. For the first time in recent years, more applicants reported their scores than did not.
- Applications to public colleges and universities grew by 11%, which outpaced the 3% growth for private institutions. Common App growth was smallest among highly selective schools.
Common App’s moonshot
In its annual report for 2024, the Common App detailed its “moonshot” goal of closing equity gaps by 2030. In the fall of 2023, the nonprofit organization launched its direct admissions program with 71 colleges and universities. These schools made proactive admissions offers to 400,000 first-generation and low- and middle-income students.
The Common App is also piloting a Student Context Inventory that allows applicants to provide more information about their circumstances and experiences. Students can list the jobs they work to support families, whether they are caring for siblings and serving as translators for family members.
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