It’s still early in application season, but North Carolina Central University (NCCU) has already seen a 57% boost in its application numbers from last year.
“Compared to then, we were at 9,629 applications last year on January 24,” said Michael Bailey, director of undergraduate admissions at NCCU. “This year we’re at 15,187.”
Michael Bailey, director of undergraduate admissions at North Carolina Central University.
“As you can imagine, that decision to go to Common App was pretty instrumental to raising our profile, our brand, across the state,” said Bailey. He added that NCCU senior leadership were keen to become a member of Common App to reach as many potential students across the country and even internationally as they could, but particularly to reach those in their home state.
“The numbers show more students are applying, which means our brand and name is undoubtedly getting out there,” said Bailey. “Students are using Common App as their platform to apply.”
When Common App was initially created over 40 years ago, the majority of its member institutions were private, many highly selective. But in the last decade, the nonprofit has worked to purposefully center more equitable access to postsecondary education by connecting with more Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). Now, 134 MSIs and 30 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), including NCCU, are members. This deliberate effort has increased not only the diversity of the applicants using the system to apply but the number of applicants connecting with HBCUs.
Elizabeth City State University (ECSU), a public HBCU in North Carolina, also joined the Common App last spring. Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Marcio Moreno said that although ECSU already offered three other methods for application, families and future students were inquiring about whether or not they could apply through the Common App.
