Access and Equity

No matter where you are in the college application process, we’re here to help and provide the resources you need to make the best decision for you.

In 2019, Common App joined forces with Reach Higher, a college access initiative started by former First Lady Michelle Obama during her time at the White House. We're proud to continue that work with Reach Higher as part of the access and equity team at Common App.

Supporting those who support students

Through our support and outreach to the school counseling community, we help thousands of under-resourced educators scale their efforts to reach students who need them the most. We celebrate the school counseling profession through programs like School Counselor of the Year, and ready-to-use resources like Common App Ready. 

We work tirelessly to provide those who support students with the tools and resources they need to help students navigate the college application process.

Celebrating success

Applying to and getting into college is a big deal and deserves to be celebrated. We lift up and celebrate the success of students like you every day. With our Better Make Room campaign, we lift up the stories of students making the commitment to higher education and work to connect students to others who have gone on to achieve great things. 

Events like College Signing Day celebrate and shine a spotlight on high school seniors and transfer students. Schools, colleges, and organizations join the celebration by hosting events in local communities all over the country. 

Preparing for what's next

Every year, Common App and Reach Higher help answer students’ most pressing college application questions through services like our free UpNext texting platform.

We know applying to college is only the first step in your journey. We’re working with educators, policymakers, and student advocacy groups to help students get to and through college. We combat important issues like ‘summer melt’ by hosting our Beating the Odds Summits.