International applications to U.S. colleges using the Common App dropped 10 percent, or roughly 16,000 students, during the 2025–26 application cycle. Applications from Asia declined 11 percent and those from Africa fell 17 percent, marking a sharp reversal after nearly a decade of international growth. At the same time, overall Common App applicants increased 2 percent, with particularly strong growth among Black, lower-income, small-town and rural applicants. The numbers su