Private Universities & Out-of-State Schools

Private Universities

The Common Application

Many private colleges and universities use the Common Application for their admissions. The Common Application only requires you to fill out the application information once. There are more than 1,000 institutions that use the Common Application. The Common Application website offers a number of tools to help students prepare and fill out the application. Deadlines vary and most schools have Early Action and/or Early Decision deadlines.

The Coalition Application

The Coalition Application is used by over 150 private colleges and universities that work to make high education more affordable. Most students graduate within 4 years with little or no debt.

Other Applications

Some schools use independent applications for admission. Visit the school's website for specific application instructions and do not hesitate to contact the Office of Admission with any questions regarding the application process. You will find that some schools require online applications while others operate with paper forms. However, you will still need to send transcripts, test scores, and letters of recommendation to each of these independent schools unless otherwise noted. If you have questions about an application, contact your counselor.

Out-of-State Public Universities

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) schools have a reciprocal agreement with California to offer higher education at no more than 150% of in-state tuition. Learn more here: https://www.wiche.edu/tuition-savings/wue/

Out-of-state schools have varied deadlines including rolling admissions. Some accept applications as late as June for that fall's matriculation.

International Universities

Studying abroad is a popular choice for students at 4-year institutions, but can also be an affordable path to a Bachelor's degree. The cost of higher education in some European countries is less expensive than in the US, even for non-European citizens. Keep in mind, you will need to learn the local language (often once you are enrolled) and will need to budget for housing, meals and travel expenses.

For general information about going to college abroad, click here.

For a list of free or low-cost European universities that have programs taught in English, click here.