College applications continued to rise nationwide in the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. The number of students applying to college was up 8% over last year, according to a report from the widely used Common App. The organization also reported a significant jump (14%) in the number of first-generation applicants, as well as increases in low-income applicants and an underrepresented minorities. And for the first time since 2021-’22, the number of applicants submitting standardized test scores increased, even though many institutions no longer require them. Interest in public universities continues to outpace private colleges, with public schools seeing an 13% increase in applications over last year, compared with a 3% increase for private institutions.
How did these trends play out in Arlington? The application data below was self-reported by students from H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program, Wakefield High School, Washington-Liberty High School and Yorktown High School, as well as the Arlington Career Center (ACC), whose full-time programs include Arlington Tech, the Academic Academy, the Program for Employment Preparedness (PEP) and the English Language Institute. The tuition and enrollment numbers below were drawn from U.S. News and World Report’s annual Best Colleges rankings. Note: Given that the acceptance data below was self-reported by APS students, school officials stress that they cannot verify its accuracy.
20. University of Wisconsin—Madison
Madison, WI
APS Students Applied: 126
APS Students Accepted: 37
Tuition & Fees: $42,103
Undergrad Enrollment: 37,817
19. University of Delaware
Newark, DE
APS Students Applied: 130
APS Students Accepted: 89
Tuition & Fees: $41,400
Undergrad Enrollment: 19,119
18. University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO
APS Students Applied: 140
APS Students Accepted: 81
Tuition & Fees: $43,622
Undergrad Enrollment: 32,100
17. Northern Virginia Community College
Annandale, VA
APS Students Applied: 150
APS Students Accepted: 144
Tuition & Fees: $5,565
Undergrad Enrollment: 15,551 full time; 37,322 part time
16. Marymount University
Arlington, VA
APS Students Applied: 153
APS Students Accepted: 85
Tuition & Fees: $40,120
Undergrad Enrollment: 2,216
15. University of Maryland—College Park
College Park, MD
APS Students Applied: 163
APS Students Accepted: 42
Tuition & Fees: $41,186
Undergrad Enrollment: 30,608
14. University of South Carolina—Columbia
Columbia, SC
APS Students Applied: 170
APS Students Accepted: 70
Tuition & Fees: $35,972
Undergrad Enrollment: 28,470
13. Christopher Newport University
Newport News, VA
APS Students Applied: 170
APS Students Accepted: 93
Tuition & Fees: $30,778
Undergrad Enrollment: 4,407
12. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
APS Students Applied: 172
APS Students Accepted: 10
Tuition & Fees: $41,211
Undergrad Enrollment: 20,880
11. University of Michigan—Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI
APS Students Applied: 183
APS Students Accepted: 25
Tuition & Fees: $63,081
Undergrad Enrollment: 33,730
10. Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA
APS Students Applied: 196
APS Students Accepted: 105
Tuition & Fees: $12,750
Undergrad Enrollment: 17,736
9. Clemson University
Clemson, SC
APS Students Applied: 205
APS Students Accepted: 77
Tuition & Fees: $39,498
Undergrad Enrollment: 22,875
8. University of Pittsburgh—Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA
APS Students Applied: 285
APS Students Accepted: 174
Tuition & Fees: $41,430
Undergrad Enrollment: 20,220
7. William and Mary
Williamsburg, VA
APS Students Applied: 297
APS Students Accepted: 85
Tuition & Fees: $26,019
Undergrad Enrollment: 6,963
6. Pennsylvania State University—Penn State Main Campus
University Park, PA
APS Students Applied: 376
APS Students Accepted: 219
Tuition & Fees: $41,790
Undergrad Enrollment: 42,223
5. Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
APS Students Applied: 412
APS Students Accepted: 245
Tuition & Fees: $16,720
Undergrad Enrollment: 21,205
4. George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
APS Students Applied: 551
APS Students Accepted: 315
Tuition & Fees: $14,220
Undergrad Enrollment: 27,666
3. University of Virginia—Main Campus
Charlottesville, VA
APS Students Applied: 686
APS Students Accepted: 126
Tuition & Fees: $23,118
Undergrad Enrollment: 17,618
2. James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
APS Students Applied: 694
APS Students Accepted: 369
Tuition & Fees: $13,918
Undergrad Enrollment: 21,008
1. Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA
APS Students Applied: 772
APS Students Accepted: 253
Tuition & Fees: $15,948
Undergrad Enrollment: 30,504