Through a pilot partnership with the Illinois Community College Board, Sandburg is one of the first community colleges in the country where students can apply through the Common App, a platform that streamlines the college application process while providing resources and guidance to make college more accessible for students.
This is the first targeted effort by Common App to include colleges such as Sandburg that offer primarily associate-level degrees. The partnership is part of Common App’s Next Chapter, which aims to increase access by closing the gap in low- and middle-income students applying through Common App.
Sandburg was joined by fellow Illinois institutions Sauk Valley Community College, Rend Lake College and Black Hawk College in the initial cohort for the 2024-25 application season. That group will expand to include three more Illinois community colleges — Lincoln Land Community College, Oakton College and Triton College — for 2025-26.
“Illinois community colleges have long served as accessible and affordable entry points into higher education,” Illinois Community College Board Executive Director Brian Durham said. “By joining Common App, these colleges are strengthening their commitment to access, opening new doors for students and making the pathway to higher education even more seamless and attainable.”
Prospective students can continue to apply directly to Sandburg at sandburg.edu/apply, but the collaboration with Common App means that students who use that platform can apply to multiple colleges — including Sandburg — at once.
“Being part of this initial community college cohort with Common App is a huge opportunity for Sandburg because it allows us to cast a much wider net for students who may enroll here,” said Gabi Hurtado, director of recruitment at Sandburg. “Having Sandburg as part of the Common App can help put us on the radar for students who either may not have realized it was a possibility for them or didn’t consider it as one of their first options.”
Each year, more than one million students apply to college through the Common App’s online application. 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 close the gap in low- and middle-income students applying, we need to expand the types of institutions students can connect with,” said Jenny Rickard, president & CEO of Common App. “Community colleges are critical to helping students, especially those from low- and middle-income communities, pursue their postsecondary dreams. We are excited both to help our members expand their reach and to provide our applicants even more opportunities to explore.”
To learn more about Sandburg’s partnership with Common App, contact our Welcome Center at 309.345.3500 or welcomecenter@sandburg.edu.
