"Prospective students had submitted 9.4 million applications to the 911 institutions included in the analysis, representing a 5 percent increase compared to this time last year and a whopping 2.1 million increase from just four years ago. The number of applications each applicant submits is also steadily rising, increasing 3 percent to 6.59 applications apiece."
"For the first time since before the pandemic, more students applying to start college in fall 2026 are choosing to submit test scores than not. This isn't based on any resurgence of colleges requiring test scores; the vast majority of institutions are still test optional, according to FairTest, a policy organization that advocates against standardized tests, and just six new institutions started requiring score submissions this admissions cycle."
"It correlates with a slight increase in the number of students who are taking standardized tests. In September, the SAT announced over two million students took the test, up significantly from a low of 1.51 million in 2021 and a slight increase from 2024. The number of students who took the ACT rose from 1.3 million in 2021 to 1.38 million in 2025."
Common App data through March 1 shows 9.4 million applications submitted to 911 institutions, representing a 5 percent increase year-over-year and a 2.1 million increase over four years. The average number of applications per applicant rose 3 percent to 6.59. A significant shift occurred in test score submission, with more students choosing to submit scores than not for the first time since before the pandemic, despite only 5 percent of Common App institutions requiring them. This trend correlates with increased standardized test participation, with over 2 million students taking the SAT in September 2024 and ACT participation rising from 1.3 million to 1.38 million between 2021 and 2025.
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
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