The Common App is a non-profit membership organization representing more than 1,000 diverse institutions of higher education. They connect applicants and those who support them to a wide array of public and private colleges and universities across all 50 U.S. states, and 20 countries.

The Common App allows you to apply to multiple schools at once. About 950 colleges and universities around the world accept the Common App. Applications typically open on August 1 and close on January 1. Some schools still maintain proprietary applications or use other application systems.