York College of Pennsylvania Partners with Common Application to Expand Student Access to Higher Education

 Today, York College of Pennsylvania joined Common App’s direct admissions program. This program will provide first-generation and low- and middle-income students who are college-interested with proactive admissions offers directly in the application. Common App’s direct admissions program also includes outreach and resources to families and counselors who have students receiving a direct admissions offer.

"York College is proud to participate in the Common App’s Direct Admission Program, enabling us to connect even more students with our exceptional education. By making our high-quality programs accessible at an affordable price, we are ensuring that students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to achieve their academic and career goals," said Brian Hazlett, Vice President for Enrollment Management at York College.

“We are excited for York College of Pennsylvania to join our direct admissions program, where even more students will now know that they are worthy and wanted on a college campus,” said Jenny Rickard, President & CEO of Common App. “Overall, direct admissions is about changing the narrative of a college education from one of scarcity to one of opportunity by ensuring students know that they are worthy and welcome on a college campus.”

Common App has piloted a direct admissions program since 2021, offering admission to students who created a Common App account and provided enough academic information– but had not yet completed all–of their open applications. Last year, the organization launched its full-scale program, offering over 400,000 first-generation and low-income students direct admissions from 71 colleges and universities. York College participated in the program for Fall 2024.  Results indicated that 3 out of 4 students who added a school to their college list upon receiving a direct admission offer applied to that school.

York College:
Established in 1787, York College of Pennsylvania is a private, four-year college located in the city of York, a hub of arts and industry between Baltimore and Philadelphia. Housed on 190 picturesque acres, the College is known for its focus on experiential learning and community engagement, serving over 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students in more than 70 baccalaureate majors, along with 30+ professional graduate degree and certificate programs. Deeply rooted in the liberal arts and recognized for excellence in its professional business, education, engineering, and nursing programs, York is ranked among the nation’s Best Value Schools by Niche. The College’s robust recreation and athletics program is among the best in the region and is home to 24 NCAA Division lll sports teams and 30+ intramural sports. A Princeton Review Best Northeastern College, York prides itself on its experienced, engaged faculty, its high-impact and student-centric philosophy, and its long-standing commitment to affordability and accessibility.

About Common App:
Common App is a not-for-profit member organization committed to the pursuit of access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process. Each year, more than one million students apply to college through the Common App’s online application. In January 2019, the Common App united with Reach Higher, the college access and success campaign started by former First Lady Michelle Obama during her time at the White House.

By joining forces, Common App and Reach Higher accelerated progress toward our joint goal of supporting all students, especially low-income and first-generation students, in achieving their higher education dreams.

Founded in 1975, Common App serves over 1,100 member colleges and universities worldwide. In 2023, the organization launched its Next Chapter, with the goal of closing its equity gap in low- and middle-income students applying to college by 2030. To learn more, visit commonapp.org and follow @CommonApp and #CommonApp on social media.