Labor will cut back on outside consultants and hike visa fees for foreign students to cover the extra cost of spending in the March budget.
Please login below to view content or subscribe now.
Membership Login
The report, which analyzes application data through March 1, 2025, reveals that 1,390,256 distinct first-year applicants submitted a total of 8,535,903 applications to 863 returning Common App member institutions—marking a 4% increase in applicants and a 6% increase in total applications compared to the same period last year.
One of the most significant trends is the substantial growth among underrepresented minority applicants, which increased by 12% over last year. Specifically:
- Latinx applicants rose by 13%
- Black or African American applicants increased by 10%
- The share of domestic applicants identifying as Black or African American grew from 13.3% to 14%
- White applicants’ share of the applicant pool continued its long-term decline, dropping from 48.2% to 45.7%
First-generation college students showed remarkable growth, with a 13% increase in applicants while continuing-generation applicants remained flat. Similarly, applicants eligible for Common App fee waivers increased by 9%, compared to just 2% for non-eligible students.
Students from lower-income communities also made strong gains:
- Applicants from ZIP codes with below-median household incomes increased by 8%
- Applicants from above-median income ZIP codes grew by only 3%
The report highlights several notable geographic patterns:
- The Southwestern region experienced the fastest growth at 34%
- Texas led state-level growth with a 37% increase in applicants
- District of Columbia applicants grew by 18%
- For the first time since 2019, domestic applicant growth (5%) outpaced international applicant growth, which declined by 1%
Applications to public institutions grew at 10%, significantly outpacing the 2% growth rate for private institutions. Additionally, less selective institutions (those with admit rates above 25%) saw application growth of 6-7%, while the most selective institutions (admit rates below 25%) experienced the slowest growth at 4%.
For the first time since the 2021-22 season, applicants reporting test scores (up 11%) outpaced those not reporting scores (down 1%). This reversal comes despite minimal change in the proportion of institutions requiring test scores (increasing only from 4% to 5% of member schools).
This comprehensive report offers valuable insights into college application trends as institutions finalize their incoming classes for the 2025-26 academic year. A more detailed analysis is expected in August when Common App releases its full end-of-cycle report.