Deadline update, 2024–2025: First-year application trends through December 1

By December 1, 2024, over 1,101,927 first-year applicants had applied to the Common App, submitting 5,393,569 applications, representing a 5% increase in applicants and an 8% rise in application volume. Students applied to an average of 4.89 colleges, up from 4.75 the previous year.

Some background on the students who applied:

• First-generation applicants increased by 15%, compared to a 1% growth rate among continuing-generation students.
• Low-income indicators were up. Applicants from below median income ZIP codes rose 9%. The number of students eligible for a Common App fee waiver increased by 10%. More than three times the 3% growth rate of their peers without fee waivers.
• International applicants increased by 4%, compared to a 5% growth among domestic students.

Overall, the 2024 data highlight steady growth in Common App applications, with robust increases among first-generation and low-income students. These shifts indicate progress toward broader access and equity in the college application process.