We are so excited to announce the new colleges you can apply to on Common App 🥳 Screenshot this post to scan the QR code… you don’t want to miss this!
ALT The image is a promotional graphic for Common App featuring a green map of the United States on a blue ocean background with simplified wave patterns. Each state is labeled with its two-letter abbreviation.
New universities and community colleges on Common App
Wallace University - Louisiana
Monsters University - Monstropolis
Greendale Community College - Colorado
University of Los Angeles - California
Cyprus-Rhodes University - Ohio
Hillman College - Virginia
California University of Liberal Arts - California
UC Sunnydale - California
Middleton University - Pennsylvania
Beaverton University - Beaverton
The left side is a dark blue section containing the Common App logo, a call to action that reads "Your future starts here," a QR code, and “Each year, more than 1 million students use Common App to explore and apply to college. While you cannot apply to these fictional institutions, you can apply to over 1,100 real member colleges and universities worldwide on Common App!”
FAFSA season is here! 💸
For many students, filing the FAFSA opens the door to grants, scholarships, work-study & more. Even if you’re unsure, submit it—many colleges use FAFSA for their own aid decisions.
✔ File early
✔ Have your FSA ID ready
✔ Add multiple colleges
Every data point tells a story. And in our newest applicant data through December 1, the story shows us that the demand for higher education is still rising, especially within historically underrepresented communities.
Access our full Deadline Update: commonapp.org/files/DAR/dead…
ALT Infographic detailing first-year application trends through December 1. As of December 1, applicant and application counts are up from 2024-25 to 2025-26. The number of first-year applicants increased by 4%.
ALT Infographic detailing first-year application trends through December 1. First-generation applicants are substantially up. First-gen applicants +11%. Continuing-gen applicants +1%.
ALT Infographic detailing first-year application trends through December 1. Low-income applicants are up. Applicants based on median income by ZIP code, below median +11%. Applicants based on eligibility for a Common App fee waiver, eligible +9%.
New insights from our first application deadline update of the season! Here are a few highlights from our findings as Common App applicant and application counts continue to grow 👇
Access our full report: go.commonapp.org/Nov-25-Dead…
ALT “As of November 1, applicant and application counts are up from 2024-25 to 2025-26.” is written in black text over the white portion of a white and teal background. “The number of first-year applicants increased by 5%.” is written in white text over the teal portion of the same background. There is a bookmark in the top right corner that reads Nov 1.
ALT “First-generation applicants are substantially up.” is written in black text over an orange background. There is a lighter orange square with “First-gen applicants +12%” in large text and “Continuing-gen applicants +2%” in smaller text.
ALT “Low-income applicants are up”is written in black text over the white portion of a white, green, and blue background. A dark green bar chart is divided into two parts, with the bottom labeled "Below Median" showing a 12% increase, and the top labeled "Above Median" with a 5% increase over the light green background. A dark blue chart is split into "Eligible" at the bottom, showing a 10% increase, and "Not eligible" at the top, demonstrating a 4% increase.
ALT “Applicants were applying to 5% more Common App members in 2025–26 than in 2024–25.” is written in black test over a light blue background. A section with a white background below shows two rows of stylized documents, representing applications per applicant. The top row contains five light blue icons indicating 4.68 applications per applicant in 2024-25. The bottom has five darker blue icons indicating 4.90 in 2025-26.
Thank you to all of our veterans and their families 🤝
By partnering with MilGears, military-connected students have access to resources to help them find their right fit ⭐️
Learn more about our military-connected resources here: commonapp.org/plan/your-path…
ALT Two people in military uniforms fist-bumping each other. Under this image is text that reads “Happy Veterans Day” over a teal-to-green gradient.
ALT “Did you know ~6,400 of our transfer applicants were military affiliated in 2024-2025? Of those students: 4.4k were veterans, 60% identified as first-gen, 34% were transferring from a community college, 12k applications were submitted.” This text appears in several multicolored boxes.
You in your Common App essay: the streets raised me 😤
#SesameStreetDay
ALT Big Bird and Miley Cyrus on the set of Sesame Street. They are standing next to each other smiling and looking at the camera. White text with a blue background over Big Bird reads “my finished Common App” and “me” appears next to Miley.
More and more first-gen students are applying to college and we can’t wait to see what they do next 🎉
We 💚 to #CelebrateFirstGen today and every day!
ALT “Happy first-gen day!” appears in multicolored font over an image of a student wearing a blazer, tie, dress shirt, and slacks. They also have on a graduation cap and stole, and are sitting on a bench outside while smiling at the camera.
ALT “As of Nov 6, 2025, 349,222 incoming first-gen students submitted a first-year application on Common App! That’s compared to the 304,190 first-gen students who submitted an application this time last year!” This text appears in white over a green background. There are two rows of 11 illustrated students where 8 out of 22 are colored in in a different shade.
ALT “As of November 6, 2025, 5.16 is the average number of first-year applications submitted by each first-gen student. Applying to 1 college is still the most popular option for first-gen students!” There illustrations of 5 full envelopes and a portion of a sixth, which corresponds with the 5.16 statistic.
Our new research brief explores how interest and success in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) fields vary state by state 📊
Dive into what is happening in your community and in your state’s STEMM education here: commonapp.org/files/DAR/Comm…
ALT “5,500+ data points reported. By tracking the enrollments and degree attainment of STEMM-interested applicants, we reveal key STEMM workforce insights for every state in the U.S.” appears in white text over a blue background. There is an illustration of the United States composed of dots next to this text.
ALT “Engineering degree pathway example in Virginia. Out of every 100 Virginia applicants interested in engineering, 62 enroll in-state, with 21 of those ultimately earning an engineering degree.” There are three illustrated gears with dotted accents in the center and an arrow pointing out if them that has the word “in-state” running along its pathway.
ALT “The states with the highest percentage of applicants interested in engineering. The national average is 16%.” This text appears next to pie charts that correspond to the following percentages and states: 21% Tennessee, 21% Alabama, 21% Arizona, 20% Texas, 20% Colorado.”
ALT “The state with the highest percentage of in-state enrollees interested in health who earn a degree in that subject: Pennsylvania 37%” This text appears next to a heart that is partially filled and is composed of dots.
The Nov. 1 college app deadline is almost here! ⏰
Students like Fafa, Andy & Ryan share their top Common App tips in order to hit SUBMIT with confidence. A great boost for anyone applying this week! 💙
Direct admissions works—helping more students access college. 🎓 In 2024–25, 119 Common App member institutions offered direct admission to 733K+ students. Recipients had 32% higher application rates; 22% added a new college.