߲ݴý University has received an all-time record number of applications for admission. As of the 17th of January, 21,153 prospective students applied for admission to the ߲ݴý Class of 2026 — a 20.6% increase over the Class of 2025’s historic application numbers. Compared with two years ago, applications to ߲ݴý have increased by 146%.
Highlights from this year’s record applicant pool include increases in overall academic quality and diversity, with notable growth in applications from the southwest region of the United States.
Jones and Wood Family Vice President for Admission and Financial Aid Gary Ross says the record reflects a number of new initiatives at the University. Among these are programs designed to make ߲ݴý more accessible to the nation’s top students — including the ߲ݴý Commitment, through which ߲ݴý has eliminated student loans from most student aid packages, and an ongoing partnership with QuestBridge, an organization that matches leading students with some of the nation’s finest colleges and universities.
“The 21,153 applications ߲ݴý received from so many remarkably talented students shows that the University continues to distinguish itself as one of the nation’s top colleges and universities,” Ross says.