At Avalon, we keep a close eye on the shifting landscape of higher education to ensure our students have a competitive edge. The latest Common App data (for the 2025–26 cycle) gives some insight into how the admissions world is evolving.
As of March 1, 9.4 million applications were submitted through the Common Application—a 5% increase from last year and a staggering 2.1 million increase compared to just four years ago. Not only are more students applying, they’re also applying to more schools, with an average of 6.59 applications per student.
2026 Admission Trends Overview
- The AI Impact: Colleges are increasingly aware of AI in essays. The advice is to lean into specificity, identity, and a unique point of view. Some schools are even using AI for internal workflow and second reads: but humans still make final decisions.
- A “Southern Surge”: There has been a significant increase in applications to Southern universities due to Greek life, sports, and weather. Some of these schools are shifting from “likely” to “target” or “reach” status.
- Major-Specific Admissions: For STEM and Business, colleges now explicitly look for alignment between your high school activities and your intended major.
- Standardized Testing: While over 2,000 schools remain test-optional, many highly selective schools (the “Ivy Plus” group) have returned to requiring scores.
Here are the three things Avalon families should note:
1. The “Test-Optional” Landscape is Shifting
For the first time since the pandemic, more students are choosing to submit standardized test scores than not. Nearly 784,000 students submitted scores this cycle—a 22.9% jump in two years. Only about 5% of Common App member schools actually require scores, but the tide has been turning there too, with more and more schools returning to pre-pandemic policies. And with several Ivy League and large state institutions reinstating testing requirements, students are feeling the pressure to prove their academic mettle via SAT or ACT scores. Even at test-optional schools, a strong score can still be a powerful differentiator.
2. A Dip in International Applications
In a surprising turn, international applications are down 9% overall. While interest in the U.S. remains high in some areas, other regions saw significant declines — namely with African applicants (down 16%) and Asian applicants (down 10%). For domestic applicants, this may shift the competitive balance at institutions that traditionally host large international cohorts.
3. Regional and Demographic Growth
Texas has officially surpassed New York as the state with the most applicants, and Alabama and Mississippi are showing the highest growth-rate in terms of applicant volume. There’s also been a 6% increase in first-generation applicants and an 8% increase in Black applicants, reflecting an increasingly diverse pool of students pursuing higher education.
The Bottom Line: The “application inflation” trend continues, making it more important than ever to have a balanced, strategic college list and for students to find unique ways to stand out from the crowd. With more students submitting scores and applying to a higher volume of schools, a focused and authentic application is your best path to success.