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By December 1, 1,158,805 first-year applicants had submitted 6,237,325 applications to 916 colleges and universities—a 4% increase in applicants and a 9% rise in total applications compared to the same point last year. Students applied to an average of 5.38 colleges, up from 5.15, continuing a steady upward trend that reflects students broadening their options in an increasingly competitive landscape.
"Low-income applicants' growth outpaces their peers," the report states, with students reporting eligibility for Common App fee waivers growing 9% compared to just 2% among those not reporting fee waiver eligibility.
The data reveal widening participation among historically underrepresented groups. "Growth in applicants from below-median income ZIP codes continued to outpace their peers at 11% growth compared to this point in 2024-25 (versus 3%)," according to the report, which analyzes application trends through one of the most significant early deadlines in the college admissions calendar.
First-generation college applicants—defined as students whose parents have not obtained a bachelor's degree—increased 11% year-over-year, representing one of the sharpest demographic shifts in the data. By comparison, continuing-generation applicants grew just 1%.
"First-generation applicants continue to grow," the report emphasizes, noting the trend represents a significant expansion in college access efforts across institutions.
The geographic reach of these gains extended particularly to rural America. "The growth rate in applicants was greatest from rural areas," with rural applicants growing 13%, compared to 5% growth from metropolitan areas. Small town and micropolitan regions saw growth of 10% and 9% respectively, though metropolitan areas continue to account for the vast majority of the applicant pool.
The report finds that "Black or African American applicants and applicants identifying as Two or More Races are growing at the fastest rates," with Black or African American applicants up 13% and Two or More Races applicants up 10%.
Overall, underrepresented minority applicants—defined as those identifying as Black or African American, Latinx, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander—"increased by 9% compared to this point in 2024-25," the report states, outpacing the 4% growth among non-URM applicants.
The data show "the share of domestic applicants identifying as White at this point in the season declined from 48.9% in 2024-25 to 48.1% in 2025-26, a drop that represents the continuation of a long-term trend dating back to at least the 2013-2014 season," according to the analysis.
Significantly, the report notes, "these data suggest that there have been no meaningful deviations from pre-existing trends over the past decade in race/ethnicity reporting or population growth on the Common App platform after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling," referring to the 2023 decision that ended race-conscious admissions.
Regional variation remained pronounced.
"The Southwest continues to be the fastest-growing region among domestic applicants," the report states, with the Southwestern region growing at 12%—"twice the rate of the next fastest-growing region, driven by substantial growth in Texas (11%) and Oklahoma (14%)."
Texas, which surpassed New York last year as the state with the most applicants on the platform, continues to lead in volume with 99,714 applicants. "Arizona and Mississippi were the fastest-growing states compared to this point last season, each exhibiting 32% growth," the report notes.
While domestic trends showed robust growth, the report documents a concerning reversal in international enrollment patterns.
"The decline in international applicants, acknowledged in our 2024-25 End of Season Report, has intensified, with international applicants decreasing by 9% compared to this time during the 2024-25 application cycle," researchers found.
The drop represents a significant shift from recent years.
"The number of applicants from Asia, the largest region in terms of international applicant volume, fell by 10% compared to this point in 2024-25 after several years of sustained growth," the report states.
India, traditionally a major source of international students, saw particularly steep declines. "This decline was driven by a substantial 15% drop in applicants from India, which has historically had the second-most international applicants on the platform of any country behind China," according to the analysis.
African applications also fell sharply, with "applicants from Africa" decreasing "considerably (-16%), with a precipitous drop in applications from Ghana (-40%)."
The declines hit less selective institutions hardest.
"Declines in applications from international applicants were largest at institutions with admit rates between 50% and 74% (-18%) and those with admit rates of 75% or greater (-16%)," the report states.
Standardized test score submission continues its post-pandemic recovery, even as most institutions maintain test-optional policies.
"Growth rates among applicants reporting test scores continue to exceed the rate among those not reporting a score," with reporting applicants up 11% compared to a 2% decrease among non-reporters.
Currently, just 5% of Common App members require test scores, "essentially unchanged from last season," the report notes. Yet "the number of applicants reporting a test score continues to grow."
However, significant gaps persist across student populations. "First-generation applicants, applicants identifying as URM, applicants eligible for a Common App fee waiver, and those from below-median income ZIP codes were less likely to report a score," according to the data.
The report emphasizes that "while applicants reporting test scores have historically outnumbered those who do not early in the season, these trends tend to reverse by season's end, with a greater share of applicants ultimately not reporting test scores."
Growth in application volume was remarkably consistent across institutional selectivity bands, ranging from 7% at the most selective colleges—those admitting fewer than 25% of applicants—to 11% at highly selective institutions with admission rates between 25% and 49%.
"Applications to public and private institutions grew at similar rates (9% and 10%, respectively)," the report states, noting this "differs from trends observed through December 1, 2024, when the growth rate among applications to public institutions doubled that of private institutions."
More than half of applicants—58%—applied to both public and private institutions, up from 56% at the same point last season. However, "the number of applicants applying only to out-of-state institutions declined compared to this point in 2024-25 with a greater number of applicants applying to in-state institutions only or both in- and out-of-state institutions."
The Common Application deadline update series analyzes activity at 916 institutions that have maintained membership for at least five years, providing a consistent comparison across application cycles. The organization serves more than 1,000 colleges and universities and processed over 7 million applications during the 2024-25 cycle.
