Common App is a not-for-profit membership organisation running a single application platform used by over 1 million students each year to apply to more than 1,000 colleges and universities.
Common App is a not-for-profit membership organisation founded in 1975 that builds the infrastructure behind the undergraduate admissions process in the United States. Its core product is a single application platform through which students can apply to more than 1,000 colleges and universities worldwide, connecting applicants, school counsellors and recommenders with a network of public and private institutions. The organisation's stated purpose is to widen college access by streamlining applications and removing systemic barriers, particularly for underserved and first-generation students.
The platform is used by more than 1 million students each year across all 50 U.S. states and 18 countries. The member network includes over 250 public universities, 12 historically black colleges and universities and more than 400 institutions that do not charge an application fee. Roughly one-third of users annually are first-generation applicants.
Technical work centres on education technology and application platform infrastructure, including integration with student information systems and the management of digital admissions workflows at scale. Engineering and product staff operate within a mission-driven organisation focused on access, equity and integrity in college admissions, with an emphasis on reducing the complexity and cost of applying to multiple institutions.
Common App has operated for nearly 50 years and maintains a geographic presence across the United States and internationally. Further detail is available at https://commonapp.org/.
