Common App welcomes over 60 new colleges and universities for the 2021-2022 application season
By Emma Steele
March 25, 2021
Updated July 28, 2021
Students applying to college in 2021-2022 will soon have access to over 30 additional colleges and universities across the United States through the Common App online application system. Used by more than three million applicants, teachers, and counselors around the world every year, the Common App platform streamlines the college application process, providing resources and guidance to make college more accessible for students around the country.
“Key to our mission at Common App is lowering the logistical and systemic barriers to college access,” said Jenny Rickard, President & CEO of Common App. “Thanks to our diverse membership, all students, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to apply to the colleges or universities that will help them achieve their best future.”
“Key to our mission at Common App is lowering the logistical and systemic barriers to college access.Thanks to our diverse membership, all students, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to apply to the colleges or universities that will help them achieve their best future.”
Common App’s newest members include all of the public universities in Illinois, which have joined the platform as part of a state effort to increase college access led by Governor J.B. Pritzker. While three public universities in the state, Northern Illinois University, Chicago State University, and the University of Illinois Chicago, are already Common App members, the addition of the other public universities makes Illinois the first state in the nation to lead a coordinated effort that will enable students to apply to all public four-year institutions in the state through the Common App.
"Allowing students to apply with the Common App will make our institution even more accessible to students in Illinois, the Midwest, and nationally on a platform that is well recognized and provides access and convenience for prospective students," said Illinois State University Director of Admissions Jeff Mavros.
"Allowing students to apply with the Common App will make our institution even more accessible to students in Illinois, the Midwest, and nationally on a platform that is well recognized and provides access and convenience for prospective students."
In addition to providing a single, online application and 24/7/365 support for all students applying to member colleges and universities, the Common App connects applicants to a mobile app, financial aid and scholarship information, virtual mentors, online portfolios, and a vast library of counselor resources available in English and Spanish.
In January 2019, the Common App united with Reach Higher, the college access and success campaign started by former First Lady Michelle Obama during her time at the White House. Its core programming, including Better Make Room, UpNext, College Signing Day, Beating the Odds, school counselor support, and current grants continues as part of the Common App’s work with its member institutions, school counselors, and students.
“The University of Alabama is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research and service in order to make a positive difference in the community, the state and the world. Achieving excellence through respect and inclusivity begins with accessibility. UA is known for providing a simple and straightforward application for admission, and joining the Common App provides another method of accessibility for students who are ready to become leaders, innovators and legends,” said Dr. Amy Hutton, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management at The University of Alabama.
"UCC's animating vision is the provision of educational and career development opportunities to students seeking access to better and brighter futures, by understanding their needs, such as flexible pathways to quality teaching and learning, tuition discounts, respect as striving individuals, equitable treatment and consideration, an extensive range of academic programs offered in online and blended formats, and the curricular as well as the co-curricular support needed to pursue excellence,” said University of the Commonwealth Caribbean Global Campus President, Professor Dennis Gayle. “UCC's partnership with Common App is based on these shared principles, given their team's commitment to understanding student needs, while reassuring all interested students that their educational aspirations will be encouraged and supported - that no dream is out of reach for those prepared to work towards it."
New Members of The Common Application for 2021-2022 Application Season
Mid-Atlantic
Clarion University of Pennsylvania (PA)
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (PA)
Gordon College (MA)
Lincoln University (PA)
Manor College (PA)
Pennsylvania College of Art & Design (PA)
Towson University (MD)
Westfield State University (MA)
Worcester State University (MA)
Pratt Institute (NY)
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology (NY)
Villa Maria College (NY)
Mid-West
Blackburn College (IL)
Cleary University (MI)
Concordia University- Ann Arbor (MI)
Eastern Illinois University (IL)
Governors State University (IL)
Grace College (IN)
Greenville University (IL)
Illinois State University (IL)
Indiana State University (IN)
Indiana Tech (IN)
Lincoln College (IL)
Madonna University (MI)
Mount Saint Joseph University (OH)
Northeastern Illinois University (IL)
Rockford University (IL)
Saginaw Valley State University (MI)
Southern Illinois University Carbondale (IL)
Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville (IL)
University of Illinois at Springfield (IL)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (IL)
University of Northwestern, St. Paul (MN)
Western Illinois University (IL)
South
Austin Peay State University (TN)
Belmont Abbey College (NC)
Charleston Southern University (SC)
Chowan University (NC)
Claflin University (SC)
Evangel University (MO)
James Madison University (VA)
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FL)
Florida Memorial University (FL)
Mississippi College (MS)
Oral Roberts University (OK)
Saint Augustine’s University (NC)
St. Mary’s University (TX)
South Carolina State University (SC)
Texas A&M University-Commerce (TX)
Texas Wesleyan University (TX)
University of Alabama (AL)
University of North Georgia (GA)
Western Carolina University (NC)
Wingate University (NC)
West
Colorado Mesa University (CO)
Fort Lewis College (CO)
Colorado School of Mines (CO)
Oregon Institute of Technology (OR)
Portland State University (OR)
University of Saint Katherine (CA)
Washington State University (International students)
International
Bangor University
Lebanese American University
Tecnológico de Monterrey
University of the Commonwealth Caribbean