Americans may be questioning the relevance and value of higher education, but students are still applying to colleges in droves.
A report released Thursday by Common App, an online portal that lets students apply to more than 1,150 colleges and universities, shows 1.5 million students submitted more than 10.7 million applications in the 2025-2026 cycle, a 6 percent increase from the previous year.
Some of the greatest interest comes from applicants from low-income households and those who would be the first in their families to go to college, representing an 8 percent and 6 percent increase in applications, respectively. Applications from both groups have steadily climbed over the past decade, according to Common App.
On the flip side, fewer international students are applying amid stricter immigration rules under President Donald Trump’s administration. Applications from overseas were down 10 percent year over year, with double-digit declines from Africa and Asia.
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