Equity in admissions

This report outlines Common App's commitment to closing the equity gap in college admissions by 2030. While low-income applicants have increased at nearly three times the rate of higher-income applicants since 2019, they remain significantly underrepresented in the applicant pool. To address this, Common App has launched the "Next Chapter" initiative, aiming to close the equity gap by increasing applications from low- and middle-income communities by 650,000 by 2030. This initiative includes partnerships with colleges, high school counselors, and advisors to expand outreach and support for these students.

The report also emphasizes the importance of understanding the applicant pool to meet this goal, noting that a third of applicants are first-generation students. Additionally, Common App has provided over $133 million in fee waivers to students in need during the 2022–2023 application season. The organization continues to invest in supporting students who have historically faced barriers in the admissions process.