The Common Application received 9.4 million applications to institutions of higher education nationwide for the 2025-26 application cycle — a 2.1 million increase compared to the 2021-22 application cycle. The 9.4 million applications were received from roughly 1.4 million individuals, meaning prospective undergraduate students are, on average, submitting applications to six or seven schools.
Beyond general application increases, similar trends exist across students of certain demographics. From the 2024-25 admission cycle to the 2025-26 cycle — according to statistics from the Common Application — college applications increased by 5 percent from underrepresented race and ethnicity groups, by 6 percent from first-generation students and by 6 percent from students eligible for a Common App fee waiver.
According to Applerouth — a college admissions tutoring company — two of the largest drivers behind the increase in college applications nationwide are the expansion of the Common Application and the enhancement of recruiting efforts amongst universities.
The Common Application allows a student to apply to over 1,000 schools using a single form, and at its inception in 1975, only 15 colleges and universities used the platform. Now, this number is approximately 1,100. Regarding college and universities’ recruiting efforts, Applerouth explained these efforts range from sending prospective students direct mail and advertisements via social media, to increasing financial accessibility for students from underrepresented socioeconomic groups.
The University is experiencing similar trends to the increase in applications nationwide — over the past five years, the University has seen a 61.3 percent increase in total applications. Additionally, the University implemented a test-optional policy in June 2020 for the 2020-21 application cycle — allowing high school students to apply to the University without submitting SAT or ACT scores.
According to University Spokesperson Bethanie Glover, the University implemented the test-optional policy during the pandemic due to “uncertainties surrounding accessible, reliable and equitable” resources for SAT and ACT test preparation for students. The University remains test-optional for the 2026-27 application cycle, having extended the policy most recently in March 2025, Glover wrote.
Data collected in March 2025 by Vice Provost for Enrollment Stephen Farmer and Ben Castleman, professor of Public Policy and Education, found that the policy greatly increased applications from underrepresented groups. The data showed that in March 2025, applications from first-generation students increased by 109 percent compared to in 2020.
Glover added that all public universities in the Commonwealth are currently test-optional, and that “none have indicated they plan to part from that approach.” She also noted the benefits of the policy.
“One benefit of test-optional admissions has been that it encourages applications from students who had not previously considered applying [to the University],” Glover wrote. “This is especially true for students in rural or underserved communities with less robust standardized test preparation programs.”
Looking back at national trends, there was a 1.4 percent increase in undergraduate enrollment at public four-year universities from Fall 2024 to Fall 2025. Despite these national enrollment trends, enrollment at the University has remained relatively stable, according to data from the University Office of Institutional Research and Analytics.
To keep enrollment steady, the 61.3 percent increase in undergraduate University applications over the past five years has been accompanied by a decreasing acceptance rate each year for the University. Four years ago, the acceptance rate was 28 percent for in-state students and 15 percent for out-of-state students. For the 2025-26 application cycle, the acceptance rate was 22 percent for in-state students and 10 percent for out-of-state students.
Over the past 10 years, University enrollment was lowest in 2016, then rose and fell again in 2020, reflecting the national decrease — according to Higher Ed Dive — in college enrollment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as many universities switched to online classes. Peak enrollment since 2016 for the University was in fall 2022, with a first-year enrollment of 4,020. The first-year enrollment in 2023 had 3,966 students, 2024 had 3,961 students and 2025 had 3,977 students. Overall, the University's enrollment trends have remained stable over the past decade, averaging just under 4,000 first-year students.
Breaking down enrollment and application trends to individual schools — specifically for the School of Architecture, the School of Nursing, the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Kinesiology major in the School of Education and Human Development, which require their students to be enrolled starting in their first-year — similar trends appear.
Each of the University’s schools with undergraduate programs have seen a sharp jump in the number of applications received. Since 2016, the College has seen a 93.9 percent increase in applications, the School of Architecture by 249.8 percent, the School of Nursing by 140.3 percent, the School of Engineering by 96.6 percent and for the Kinesiology major in the School of Education by 182.5 percent.
Although each school is seeing application increases by percentages close to or over 100 percent, enrollment in each school has remained relatively stable and acceptance rates continue to decline each year.
Sneha Patel, executive director of communications for the School of Architecture, said she sees the importance in maintaining steady enrollment while applications increase. Patel said that while it is not possible to speculate how this increase in applications might change the School of Architecture, the school hopes to maintain its strong relationships between students and staff.
“We pride ourselves in being a tight-knit community with strong relationships between students, faculty and staff — and we would want to maintain a size [at the School of Architecture] that allows for that to continue, with a focus [on] academic excellence and high-quality student experience overall,” Patel wrote.
Glover wrote that the University is pleased to see a record high number of applications from the 2025-26 application cycle. She noted that while unfortunately the University cannot accept all applicants, the University’s leadership is encouraged by the fact that prospective college students are looking to the University to continue their education.
Glover also mentioned the University's gratitude for continued interest in the All Virginia program. This program assists socioeconomically disadvantaged Virginia students — who typically have low rates of applications or enrollment in the University — with resources to apply to U.Va. Resources include providing those families with customized visits and tours to the University and "assisting students and families as they understand and access financial aid,” according to the program’s website.
“We are also grateful to see continued interest and applications from students who attend many of our All Virginia program schools,” Glover wrote. “Students who may not have believed U.Va was an option are encouraged to visit, learn more about U.Va.’s financial aid and to apply.”
Ruby Budetti is a staff writer on the news desk. She also works as a staffer for The Cavalier Daily social media team. She is a second-year student on the pre-Batten track and hopes to major in Public Policy and Leadership.
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