College applications and enrollment effects of the Common Application

Abstract

This paper measures college applicants' response to the expansion of the Common Application, an online platform that reduces the time costs of additional applications to its member colleges. When a local college becomes a member institution, applicants are more likely to use the Common Application, submit more applications, send more ACT score reports, and are more likely to enroll in member colleges. Low-income applicants respond more strongly and are also more likely to enroll in private colleges instead of public colleges. The results are consistent with behavioral responses rather than sensitivity to time costs.