Welcome to the Common App Media Center
Learn more about our recent work to improve access and equity in college admissions. Are you a reporter or member of the media looking for resources for a story? Access recent coverage and press releases from Common App, as well as learn about our latest research and data insights on application trends from across the more than 1 million students and 900 colleges and universities using Common App each year.
Contact our media relations team by filling out the form below.
Recent news coverage
Inside Higher Ed (November 12, 2020): Common App Will No Longer Ask Veterans About Their Discharge
CBS News (November 12, 2020): College applications slide, especially for low-income students
Wall Street Journal(November 10,2020): College-Admissions Season Was Already Stressful. Pandemic Made It Chaotic.
Wall Street Journal (September 30, 2020): College Common App Drops Question About Discipline, Citing Racial Disparities
Forbes (September 30, 2020): Common App Will No Longer Ask About Discipline Records
The 74 (September 15, 2020): How the Common App, the College Advising Corps and an AI Chatbot Are Saving the College Dreams of Low-Income Students During the Pandemic
CNBC (August 26, 2020): Common App CEO: Here’s how to talk about the pandemic on your college applications
NPR (August 12, 2020) - How The Coronavirus Has Upended College Admissions
US News (August 3, 2020) - The Common App: Everything you need to know
New York Times (June 20, 2020) - A new option for college essays: ‘How I Spent My Quarantine.’
Inside Higher Ed (June 19, 2020) - In Support of DACA
TODAY (June 8, 2020) - What college admissions will look like next year in light of COVID-19
Inside Higher Ed (May 13, 2020)- Common App Adds Question on COVID-19
Campus Technology (April 29, 2020)- Common App Adds AI Help from AdmitHub for College Entry Process
Education Week (April 24, 2020) - 'Summer Melt' Could Be a Flood as Seniors Shift College Plans
Forbes (March 22, 2020)- Redesigning College Admission: COVID-19, Access And Equity
Washington Post (March 20, 2020)- Virus crisis slams college admissions: Some schools extend deadlines for students to accept offers
Business Insider (March 16, 2020) - SAT and ACT exams have been canceled amid the novel coronavirus outbreak through May, and students don't know what's next
Inside Higher Ed (August 19, 2019)- Has Admissions Changed Since the Scandal?
Washington Post (July 24, 2019) - Michelle Obama and a NOVA Community College grad shared a stage and a message
Good Morning America (July 23, 2019) - Michelle Obama's advice to 1st-gen college students: 'You are faster, quicker, smarter, sharper'
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education (July 23, 2019) - Michelle Obama’s Education Initiative Hosts Annual Summit
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education (April 30, 2019)- Reach Higher Initiative Celebrates 5 Years, College Signing Day
EdSurge (April 5, 2019)- Making the College Admissions Process Work for All Students
The EvoLLLution (April 1, 2019)- Meeting the Needs of the Changing Higher Education Enrollment Landscape
Washington Post (March 13, 2019)- Universities race to quell outrage over bribery and cheating scandal in admissions
US News (January 16, 2019)- When #MeToo and 'Ban the Box' Collide
Press releases
September 30, 2020- Common App removes School Discipline question for 2021-2022 application season
July 31, 2020- Common App Launches 2020-2021 Application Season on August 1
July 7, 2020- Common App Statement on Ice Guidance for International Students
June 10, 2020- Common App Welcomes 42 New Members for 2020-2021 Application Season
June 8, 2020- Common App Expands Integration Partnerships
January 15, 2020- Common App Announces more than $1.6 Million to Support Access and Equity Initiatives
October 31, 2019- Common App and Reach Higher to Join ‘Hack the Gates’ Convening to Radically Reimagine College Admissions
September 26, 2019- Common App Continues to Broaden its Reach, Expand Access, and Provide Insight into the College Admissions Process
August 1, 2019- Common App Launches New Brand to Kickoff 2019-2020 Application Season
April 11, 2019- The Common Application Welcomes New Members for 2019-2020 Application Season
September 27, 2018- Common App and Reach Higher Unite to Make College More Approachable
September 5, 2018- Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Selects The Common Application for College Scholarship Program
August 19, 2018- Change to Criminal History Question for 2019-2020 Application Year
August 14, 2018- The Common App Launches New Transfer Application to Improve College Access for Millions of Bachelor’s Degree Seekers
April 10, 2018- The Common Application Welcomes New Members for 2018-2019
Feb. 15th, 2018- The Common Application Announces Early Adopters of New Transfer Application
January 12, 2018- 2018-2019 Common Application Essay Prompts
August 11, 2017- Welcome New Members of The Common Application
November 18, 2017- Common App Members Awarded More Than $55 Million in Need-Based College Application Fee Waivers in 2016-2017
May 10, 2017- The Common Application to Release Landmark Solutions for Today’s Evolving Student Population
April 10, 2017- Key Innovations for 2017-2018 Common Application
April 6, 2017- Common App onTrack Named in Time Article on Money-Saving Apps
March 22, 2017- National Nudge Campaign Prompting Low-Income/First-Generation Students to Complete FAFSA Works
December 1, 2016- Early Decision Notifications: Tips for Students When They're Deferred
October 31, 2016- The Common App, Better Make Room Partnership to Provide College Info Through Text Messaging
October 7, 2016- Texting Campaign Focused on College Affordability Reaches Over Half a Million Students
September 29, 2016- New Tab Within the Common App Connects Students to Financial Aid and Scholarship Opportunities
September 19, 2016- Students Can Download Latest Version of Common App onTrack: It's free and available for iOS, Android
July 25, 2016- The Common Application and Strive for College Announce Partnership
June 27, 2016- Watch Account Rollover Video to Learn about this New Common App Feature
March 2, 2016- The Virtual Counselor Provides Expert Answers to College Planning Questions
Research and insights
Evolving the Application: Removing School Discipline from the Common App
Source: Common App
2019-2020 Common App Impact & Trends
Source: Common App
A majority of U.S. colleges admit most students who apply
Source: Pew Research Center
Nudging at a National Scale: Experimental Evidence from a FAFSA Completion Campaign
Source: EdPolicyWorks - University of Virginia
Source: Sidney D’Mello (PI), University of Colorado Boulder, Angela Duckworth (Co-PI), University of Pennsylvania
True Merit: Ensuring Our Brightest Students Have Access to Our Best Colleges and Universities
Source: The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Source: EdPolicyWorks - University of Virginia
Brand assets and leadership bios