The team at Great College Advice gets this question all the time: “How many colleges should I apply to?” The short answer is simple: at least one. But before you dismiss that as a weak attempt at humor — consider: you can attend only one college (or, if you transfer, one at a time).
If you’ve found the perfect match and are confident in your choice, applying to only one college might work. But for most students—especially in today’s competitive admissions environment—it’s wiser to cast a broader yet strategic net.
Why Most Students Apply to Multiple Colleges
There are many reasons to apply to more than one school:
- Some schools on your list may be much harder to get into than others, so you want to spread your risk.
- You might not yet know which school is your clear favorite by the time your application deadlines arrive.
- Financial aid is a factor — you may want multiple offers to compare need- or merit-based aid packages.
- For better or worse, high achieving students aiming for highly selective universities are applying to more schools as a risk mitigation strategy.
In short: Applying broadly can give you more options, but the key is to apply wisely, not wildly. Our goal is to help the student make those decisions before the applications are sent out. This not only helps to limit the list, but it eliminates some uncertainty. If the student can narrow the list to certain types of colleges that resemble one another, then this eliminates the possibility that they will end up attending the “wrong” university.
So… How Many Colleges Should You Apply To?
Our recommendation for the majority of our students: aim for around 8 to 12 colleges. Here’s why that range makes sense:
- Less than 5 – You risk not getting enough offers if you don’t include any backup (“likely”) schools.
- More than 15 – You might spread yourself too thin: less time per application, weaker essays, more stress.
- 8–12 is balanced – Gives you enough options to cover reach, target, and likely schools while still doing quality work on each.
Here’s a rough breakdown of your list:
- Reach schools (2–3): These are schools where your credentials might be slightly below the typical admit, or competition is extremely high with very low acceptance rates.
- Target schools (3–5): Schools where you’re reasonably well aligned with admitted students’ stats and you’d be happy attending.
- Likely schools (2–4): Schools where your credentials are above average for admitted students and you feel confident you’d be admitted.
With this structure, a list of 8–12 might look like: 2 reaches, 4 targets, 2 likely (that’s 8), or 3 reaches, 5 targets, 4 likely (that’s 12). Adjust based on your comfort zone, finances, geographic preferences, etc.
We often tell students: “Spend the time to make each application a gem. Quality beats quantity.”
Why This Balanced Approach Matters
- You’ll reduce stress and enhance quality
When you apply to too many schools, you may end up rushing essays, duplicating material without customizing it, and feeling burnt out. With ~8–12 applications, you can personalize each, tailor your narrative, and show genuine interest.
- You’ll cover your bases without over-applying
You want to ensure you have options. Reach schools give you a chance at your dream. Targets give you solid possibilities. Likely schools offer safety nets. Without likely options, you could end up with no choices.
- You’ll be strategic about money and fit
Applying to colleges costs both time and money (application fees, travel for visits, etc.). You also want to compare financial aid offers. A manageable list lets you research each school’s culture, programs, scholarship history, and make a well-informed decision.
- Data shows high-achieving students are applying to more colleges
And this matters because it raises the baseline of competition — meaning your strategy must be thoughtful. Here’s what the data shows:
- According to the Common App, the average number of applications submitted by applicants rose from 4.63 in the 2013-14 season to 6.8 in the 2024-2025 application cycle.
- The proportion of applicants applying to more than ten colleges roughly doubled, from 8% to 17% between 2014-15 and 2021-22. Common App
- Critically: “[H]igh-volume application behavior is first and foremost a phenomenon of selective college admissions.” Common App In other words: the students who tend to apply to many schools are those with higher test scores and credentials. For example, applicants who applied to 15 or more schools had average SAT/ACT scores higher by about 130 points compared with those who applied to fewer than five.
- From a 2025 survey of the Class of 2028 at Duke: 75% of respondents reported they applied to 10 or more universities. A whopping 26% said they applied to over 20 schools during their college application process. Duke Chronicle
Source: Duke Chronicle
Compare the Duke survey to the broader Common App pool of applicants from earlier where only 2% of applicants applied to 20+ colleges. These trends show that it’s not just “everyone applies to a gazillion schools”—it’s especially very competitive, high-achieving students casting wide nets. Thus kids, feeling the pressure of rejection, apply to more colleges. That raises the stakes: if you are competitive, you still need a strategy; if you’re less sure, you definitely need a smart list.
Tips for Building Your List
- Reflect on your priorities of what you’re looking for in a college: location, size, majors, cost, campus culture — know what you care about before you build your list.
- Use admissions data wisely: Look up admit rates, published profiles of admitted students, financial aid trends and compare these to your own profile.
- Visit or virtual-visit: For many schools, you’ll get a better feel from a campus tour or online session.
- Balance wisely: Aim for 2–3 reach, 3–5 target, 2–4 likely. Adjust if you have special constraints (e.g., budget, out-of-state vs. in-state).
- Customize each application: Write specific, genuine essays for each school. Highlight programs or aspects that resonate with you.
- Keep finances in mind: Don’t just apply to schools with high sticker prices and limited aid. Some “less selective” schools offer great merit scholarships.
- Apply early if possible: Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA) can give you a better chance at selective schools — and reduce pressure later.
Choose more wisely, be realistic about your chances (neither too optimistic nor too pessimistic). Spend the time developing a very solid application to the colleges you really, really want to attend. And have the confidence that you will get a great education no matter where you land. In the end, the number of applications each student fills out depends on who they are, what they want, and what they need.
Final Thoughts on How Many Colleges You Should Apply To
Yes—you can apply to just one school, especially if you’ve found your perfect fit and are certain. But for the vast majority of students, that’s a high-risk strategy. On the other hand, applying to 20+ schools often dilutes your efforts and raises costs without necessarily improving outcomes.
At Great College Advice, we believe applying to around 8–12 schools—split into reach, target, and likely—is the sweet spot. It’s enough to give you strong options while still allowing you to thoughtfully craft each application and ultimately make a decision you’re excited about.
Need help curating your list, refining essays, or comparing schools? We’re here to make the process clearer and more confident.
If you’re wondering whether your current list is too big, too small, or just right — schedule a free consultation with our admissions team. Let’s make sure you’re applying strategically, not just broadly.
Since 2007, the expert team of college admissions consultants at Great College Advice has provided comprehensive guidance to thousands of students from across the United States and over 45 countries across the world. Great College Advice has offices in Colorado, New Jersey, Chicago, North Carolina and Massachusetts.
In addition to our one-on-one counseling, Great College Advice extends its support through one of the most active and resource-rich Facebook Groups for college-bound students and their families: College Admissions Experts. With over 100,000 members—students, parents, and experienced counselors—this vibrant forum offers peer support and expert advice like no other.
