Deadline update, 2025–2026: First-year application trends through December 1

Data Analytics and Research

December 11, 2025

By December 1, 1,158,805 first-year applicants had submitted 6,237,325 applications—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 slightly from 5.15, continuing the steady upward trend in application volume and reach.

Key findings include:

• Growth in early applications – Application activity continues to rise year over year, with more students submitting materials earlier in the cycle.
• More applications per student – The average number of applications per applicant increased, signaling that students are broadening their options and institutions may face higher review volumes.
• Shifts in applicant demographics – Growth in applications from low- and middle-income communities and first-generation students highlights the ongoing expansion of access efforts across institutions.
• Geographic variation in application trends – While overall volume increased in the United States, the number of international applicants decreased compared to this time last season.