Skip to main content
What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Applications Galore

Been feeling a little overwhelmed by the college application process, and I started to wonder, which colleges receive the most applications annually? Just curious to know what are the most popular choices among high school students.

a year ago

The colleges that receive the most applications annually can fluctuate each year, especially considering factors like COVID-19, which has affected the application trends of many schools. However, several universities are consistently among those receiving the most applications.

The University of California schools tend to receive a large number of applications annually due to their popularity and the extensive array of programs they offer. Specifically, UCLA has been known to receive the most applications every year. In fact, they recently broke records by receiving over 100,000 undergraduate applications. Following it closely are UC Berkeley and UC San Diego.

On the East Coast in the U.S., the universities that receive a large number of applications usually include New York University (NYU), Boston University, and Northeastern University. These schools are known for their location in or near major cities and the diversity of programs they offer.

Some of the highly selective Ivy League schools, such as Harvard and Columbia also tend to receive a lot of applications, although the absolute numbers aren't as high because of their exclusivity and competitiveness.

It's important to note that a high number of applications could mean more competition, but this doesn't necessarily mean that these schools are the best fit for every student. Always consider factors such as the available programs, campus culture, location, and financial aid availability when choosing which colleges to apply to.

a year ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.