The U.S. job market is becoming increasingly competitive, and a college degree may be more necessary today than ever before. Rising educational attainment among American adults partially reflects the changing demands of the workplace. The share of the U.S. adult population with at least a four-year college degree climbed from 27.5% to 31.3% over the last 10 years.

As more Americans are seeking higher education, some colleges and universities are reporting tremendous spikes in the number of undergraduate applicants. Dozens of four-year schools across the country are reporting that applications have more than doubled in the last decade.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed 10-year changes in the number of applications in over 1,500 postsecondary schools to identify the 100 colleges where applications rose the most. Applications at the vast majority of schools on this list increased by over 150% from 2006 to 2016.

Click here to see the colleges where applications are on the rise.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

100. University of Maine, Maine
> 10-year increase in applications: 127.1%
> 2015-16 applications: 12,952
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 12,488
> Acceptance rate: 90%

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99. Shaw University, North Carolina
> 10-year increase in applications: 127.4%
> 2015-16 applications: 9,608
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 1,847
> Acceptance rate: 49%

98. Quinnipiac University, Connecticut
> 10-year increase in applications: 127.8%
> 2015-16 applications: 23,492
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 10,962
> Acceptance rate: 76%

97. University of California-Davis, California
> 10-year increase in applications: 128.0%
> 2015-16 applications: 68,553
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 37,381
> Acceptance rate: 42%

96. West Virginia State University, West Virginia
> 10-year increase in applications: 128.5%
> 2015-16 applications: 3,462
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,040
> Acceptance rate: 96%

95. University of California-Los Angeles, California
> 10-year increase in applications: 130.0%
> 2015-16 applications: 97,112
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 44,794
> Acceptance rate: 18%

94. DePaul University, Illinois
> 10-year increase in applications: 130.1%
> 2015-16 applications: 22,502
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 27,943
> Acceptance rate: 70%

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93. Texas Christian University, Texas
> 10-year increase in applications: 130.2%
> 2015-16 applications: 19,972
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 10,910
> Acceptance rate: 38%

92. The University of West Florida, Florida
> 10-year increase in applications: 130.9%
> 2015-16 applications: 7,475
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 16,163
> Acceptance rate: 41%

91. William Paterson University of New Jersey, New Jersey
> 10-year increase in applications: 132.0%
> 2015-16 applications: 10,791
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 13,156
> Acceptance rate: 76%

90. University of North Alabama, Alabama
> 10-year increase in applications: 134.7%
> 2015-16 applications: 4,408
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 8,050
> Acceptance rate: 56%

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89. Ohio State University-Main Campus, Ohio
> 10-year increase in applications: 135.7%
> 2015-16 applications: 44,845
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 63,735
> Acceptance rate: 54%

88. Nova Southeastern University, Florida
> 10-year increase in applications: 136.2%
> 2015-16 applications: 6,532
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 27,202
> Acceptance rate: 53%

87. Texas Woman’s University, Texas
> 10-year increase in applications: 138.4%
> 2015-16 applications: 5,412
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 18,160
> Acceptance rate: 86%

86. Austin Peay State University, Tennessee
> 10-year increase in applications: 138.5%
> 2015-16 applications: 6,220
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 11,853
> Acceptance rate: 89%

85. Xavier University, Ohio
> 10-year increase in applications: 140.1%
> 2015-16 applications: 13,213
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 7,361
> Acceptance rate: 69%

84. Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma
> 10-year increase in applications: 140.7%
> 2015-16 applications: 3,131
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,074
> Acceptance rate: 91%

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83. Florida International University, Florida
> 10-year increase in applications: 142.2%
> 2015-16 applications: 21,809
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 66,721
> Acceptance rate: 50%

82. Mississippi State University, Mississippi
> 10-year increase in applications: 142.5%
> 2015-16 applications: 14,012
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 23,317
> Acceptance rate: 56%

81. University of Indianapolis, Indiana
> 10-year increase in applications: 143.0%
> 2015-16 applications: 7,301
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,484
> Acceptance rate: 86%

80. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus, Arkansas
> 10-year increase in applications: 144.2%
> 2015-16 applications: 3,460
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,025
> Acceptance rate: 69%

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79. Fordham University, New York
> 10-year increase in applications: 146.8%
> 2015-16 applications: 44,816
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 17,624
> Acceptance rate: 45%

78. University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Massachusetts
> 10-year increase in applications: 149.0%
> 2015-16 applications: 11,321
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 21,519
> Acceptance rate: 61%

77. Washington State University, Washington
> 10-year increase in applications: 149.3%
> 2015-16 applications: 23,223
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 33,328
> Acceptance rate: 72%

76. Boise State University, Idaho
> 10-year increase in applications: 149.4%
> 2015-16 applications: 8,330
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 28,888
> Acceptance rate: 82%

75. New Jersey Institute of Technology, New Jersey
> 10-year increase in applications: 149.8%
> 2015-16 applications: 7,222
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 12,914
> Acceptance rate: 59%

74. University of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama
> 10-year increase in applications: 151.2%
> 2015-16 applications: 4,545
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 9,206
> Acceptance rate: 76%

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73. Saint Edward’s University, Texas
> 10-year increase in applications: 152.2%
> 2015-16 applications: 6,046
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,045
> Acceptance rate: 74%

72. University of Arkansas, Arkansas
> 10-year increase in applications: 155.1%
> 2015-16 applications: 21,539
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 29,612
> Acceptance rate: 63%

71. California State University-Monterey Bay, California
> 10-year increase in applications: 155.3%
> 2015-16 applications: 16,258
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 7,808
> Acceptance rate: 35%

70. Butler University, Indiana
> 10-year increase in applications: 156.1%
> 2015-16 applications: 12,937
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,056
> Acceptance rate: 73%

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69. Montana State University, Montana
> 10-year increase in applications: 158.1%
> 2015-16 applications: 15,996
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 17,390
> Acceptance rate: 83%

68. Azusa Pacific University, California
> 10-year increase in applications: 158.5%
> 2015-16 applications: 8,030
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 11,631
> Acceptance rate: 61%

67. Saint Ambrose University, Iowa
> 10-year increase in applications: 159.0%
> 2015-16 applications: 4,426
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 3,666
> Acceptance rate: 64%

66. North Carolina Central University, North Carolina
> 10-year increase in applications: 159.3%
> 2015-16 applications: 8,613
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 9,346
> Acceptance rate: 67%

65. Cornerstone University, Michigan
> 10-year increase in applications: 161.0%
> 2015-16 applications: 2,895
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 3,260
> Acceptance rate: 63%

64. University of Michigan-Flint, Michigan
> 10-year increase in applications: 161.5%
> 2015-16 applications: 4,033
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 9,914
> Acceptance rate: 65%

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63. The University of Tampa, Florida
> 10-year increase in applications: 163.7%
> 2015-16 applications: 19,947
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 9,067
> Acceptance rate: 48%

62. Berklee College of Music, Massachusetts
> 10-year increase in applications: 163.8%
> 2015-16 applications: 9,224
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 7,035
> Acceptance rate: 34%

61. University of Mississippi, Mississippi
> 10-year increase in applications: 164.9%
> 2015-16 applications: 17,918
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 25,966
> Acceptance rate: 78%

60. Lewis University, Illinois
> 10-year increase in applications: 166.6%
> 2015-16 applications: 6,199
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 8,258
> Acceptance rate: 59%

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59. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York
> 10-year increase in applications: 169.4%
> 2015-16 applications: 18,524
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 7,064
> Acceptance rate: 44%

58. University of Massachusetts-Boston, Massachusetts
> 10-year increase in applications: 169.7%
> 2015-16 applications: 9,886
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 21,391
> Acceptance rate: 69%

57. Stevenson University, Maryland
> 10-year increase in applications: 170.4%
> 2015-16 applications: 5,856
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,912
> Acceptance rate: 61%

56. Cleveland State University, Ohio
> 10-year increase in applications: 170.9%
> 2015-16 applications: 8,528
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 20,452
> Acceptance rate: 87%

55. Robert Morris University, Pennsylvania
> 10-year increase in applications: 173.2%
> 2015-16 applications: 7,164
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,110
> Acceptance rate: 80%

54. University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Washington
> 10-year increase in applications: 173.3%
> 2015-16 applications: 43,517
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 50,374
> Acceptance rate: 45%

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53. The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas
> 10-year increase in applications: 174.0%
> 2015-16 applications: 12,686
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 27,579
> Acceptance rate: 68%

52. West Texas A & M University, Texas
> 10-year increase in applications: 177.1%
> 2015-16 applications: 6,163
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 11,386
> Acceptance rate: 60%

51. Vanderbilt University, Tennessee
> 10-year increase in applications: 178.2%
> 2015-16 applications: 32,442
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 13,389
> Acceptance rate: 11%

50. Abilene Christian University, Texas
> 10-year increase in applications: 180.0%
> 2015-16 applications: 10,252
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,131
> Acceptance rate: 51%

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49. Seton Hall University, New Jersey
> 10-year increase in applications: 187.5%
> 2015-16 applications: 15,427
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 11,015
> Acceptance rate: 67%

48. Tarleton State University, Texas
> 10-year increase in applications: 188.1%
> 2015-16 applications: 9,583
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 14,293
> Acceptance rate: 50%

47. Limestone College, South Carolina
> 10-year increase in applications: 191.7%
> 2015-16 applications: 3,060
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 3,527
> Acceptance rate: 48%

46. Augsburg College, Minnesota
> 10-year increase in applications: 192.5%
> 2015-16 applications: 3,487
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,170
> Acceptance rate: 45%

45. University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado
> 10-year increase in applications: 192.5%
> 2015-16 applications: 9,695
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 16,339
> Acceptance rate: 93%

44. Purdue University-North Central Campus, Indiana
> 10-year increase in applications: 193.1%
> 2015-16 applications: 2,975
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 7,430
> Acceptance rate: 50%

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43. Dallas Baptist University, Texas
> 10-year increase in applications: 193.6%
> 2015-16 applications: 3,259
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,407
> Acceptance rate: 43%

42. Bemidji State University, Minnesota
> 10-year increase in applications: 193.8%
> 2015-16 applications: 4,137
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,396
> Acceptance rate: 64%

41. University of Tulsa, Oklahoma
> 10-year increase in applications: 197.4%
> 2015-16 applications: 8,089
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,065
> Acceptance rate: 37%

40. Chapman University, California
> 10-year increase in applications: 200.5%
> 2015-16 applications: 12,821
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 8,833
> Acceptance rate: 54%

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39. Creighton University, Nebraska
> 10-year increase in applications: 201.4%
> 2015-16 applications: 10,352
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 10,192
> Acceptance rate: 71%

38. Prairie View A & M University, Texas
> 10-year increase in applications: 201.5%
> 2015-16 applications: 5,660
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 9,435
> Acceptance rate: 85%

37. The University of Alabama, Alabama
> 10-year increase in applications: 205.4%
> 2015-16 applications: 38,237
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 41,507
> Acceptance rate: 53%

36. Case Western Reserve University, Ohio
> 10-year increase in applications: 207.9%
> 2015-16 applications: 23,115
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 12,178
> Acceptance rate: 35%

35. Mercy College, New York
> 10-year increase in applications: 213.6%
> 2015-16 applications: 6,617
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 14,763
> Acceptance rate: 78%

34. Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi, Texas
> 10-year increase in applications: 215.4%
> 2015-16 applications: 12,909
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 13,629
> Acceptance rate: 65%

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33. Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida
> 10-year increase in applications: 216.8%
> 2015-16 applications: 15,153
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 16,674
> Acceptance rate: 56%

32. Belmont University, Tennessee
> 10-year increase in applications: 220.5%
> 2015-16 applications: 7,263
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 7,880
> Acceptance rate: 81%

31. Monroe College, New York
> 10-year increase in applications: 221.3%
> 2015-16 applications: 5,153
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 11,985
> Acceptance rate: 53%

30. Molloy College, New York
> 10-year increase in applications: 223.7%
> 2015-16 applications: 4,030
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 8,674
> Acceptance rate: 77%

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29. Coastal Carolina University, South Carolina
> 10-year increase in applications: 227.3%
> 2015-16 applications: 17,768
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 11,743
> Acceptance rate: 61%

28. University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Arkansas
> 10-year increase in applications: 228.7%
> 2015-16 applications: 6,353
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 2,952
> Acceptance rate: 42%

27. Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, Georgia
> 10-year increase in applications: 230.0%
> 2015-16 applications: 30,528
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 28,743
> Acceptance rate: 26%

26. Utah State University, Utah
> 10-year increase in applications: 230.1%
> 2015-16 applications: 15,401
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 35,164
> Acceptance rate: 90%

25. University of Chicago, Illinois
> 10-year increase in applications: 249.2%
> 2015-16 applications: 31,484
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 17,229
> Acceptance rate: 8%

24. University of New Haven, Connecticut
> 10-year increase in applications: 251.4%
> 2015-16 applications: 10,720
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 7,774
> Acceptance rate: 81%

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23. University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Maryland
> 10-year increase in applications: 262.0%
> 2015-16 applications: 10,231
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,861
> Acceptance rate: 38%

22. Western Carolina University, North Carolina
> 10-year increase in applications: 268.6%
> 2015-16 applications: 18,297
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 11,795
> Acceptance rate: 41%

21. Saint Xavier University, Illinois
> 10-year increase in applications: 272.9%
> 2015-16 applications: 8,315
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,580
> Acceptance rate: 75%

20. Texas A & M University-Commerce, Texas
> 10-year increase in applications: 281.3%
> 2015-16 applications: 7,805
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 15,587
> Acceptance rate: 46%

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19. Colorado School of Mines, Colorado
> 10-year increase in applications: 282.1%
> 2015-16 applications: 12,284
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,992
> Acceptance rate: 40%

18. ECPI University, Virginia
> 10-year increase in applications: 288.7%
> 2015-16 applications: 4,812
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 17,942
> Acceptance rate: 71%

17. Regis University, Colorado
> 10-year increase in applications: 298.3%
> 2015-16 applications: 6,756
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 11,390
> Acceptance rate: 57%

16. Texas A & M International University, Texas
> 10-year increase in applications: 301.0%
> 2015-16 applications: 6,176
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 9,062
> Acceptance rate: 53%

15. Northern Arizona University, Arizona
> 10-year increase in applications: 302.2%
> 2015-16 applications: 36,511
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 33,186
> Acceptance rate: 78%

14. Colorado State University-Pueblo, Colorado
> 10-year increase in applications: 302.7%
> 2015-16 applications: 7,131
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 16,565
> Acceptance rate: 96%

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13. University of Memphis, Tennessee
> 10-year increase in applications: 308.7%
> 2015-16 applications: 21,392
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 24,106
> Acceptance rate: 57%

12. New York Institute of Technology, New York
> 10-year increase in applications: 310.9%
> 2015-16 applications: 10,084
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 9,111
> Acceptance rate: 73%

11. Auburn University at Montgomery, Alabama
> 10-year increase in applications: 313.8%
> 2015-16 applications: 2,905
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 5,996
> Acceptance rate: 77%

10. Southern Utah University, Utah
> 10-year increase in applications: 326.5%
> 2015-16 applications: 10,573
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 16,174
> Acceptance rate: 72%

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9. Roosevelt University, Illinois
> 10-year increase in applications: 331.2%
> 2015-16 applications: 5,994
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 6,020
> Acceptance rate: 73%

8. High Point University, North Carolina
> 10-year increase in applications: 333.4%
> 2015-16 applications: 9,683
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 4,837
> Acceptance rate: 79%

7. University of Denver, Colorado
> 10-year increase in applications: 336.4%
> 2015-16 applications: 20,322
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 13,722
> Acceptance rate: 53%

6. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, Colorado
> 10-year increase in applications: 357.0%
> 2015-16 applications: 12,252
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 30,135
> Acceptance rate: 61%

5. University of La Verne, California
> 10-year increase in applications: 392.8%
> 2015-16 applications: 8,072
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 10,150
> Acceptance rate: 48%

4. Tuskegee University, Alabama
> 10-year increase in applications: 426.3%
> 2015-16 applications: 10,342
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 3,172
> Acceptance rate: 50%

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3. Park University, Missouri
> 10-year increase in applications: 686.4%
> 2015-16 applications: 4,152
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 16,660
> Acceptance rate: 85%

2. National Louis University, Illinois
> 10-year increase in applications: 1667.4%
> 2015-16 applications: 1,520
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 7,110
> Acceptance rate: 76%

1. Grand Canyon University, Arizona
> 10-year increase in applications: 4210.5%
> 2015-16 applications: 34,096
> Total undergraduate enrollment: 111,211
> Acceptance rate: 57%

Detailed Findings and Methodology

The nationwide increase in applications is not solely a product of rising interest in higher education. Young Americans also appear to be applying to more schools.

The process of applying to multiple schools has become easier with the wider use of the Common Application — a standard form accepted by hundreds of higher education institutions. As more colleges and universities adopt the Common Application, it is not unusual for a single person to apply to more than a dozen schools.

The number of schools applied to per aspiring student has also likely increased as students have become more strategic in the application process. Today’s high school graduates are more likely to apply to both top-tier institutions and also hedge their bets by applying to schools with higher acceptance rates.

For many college applicants, getting into the best possible school is the most important consideration. Though there are no Ivy League schools on this list, there are a number of highly selective, top tier institutions — including Vanderbilt and the University of Chicago, which only accept 11% and 8% of applicants, respectively.

Other schools on this list, on the other hand, may be surging in popularity exactly because they are far less selective, accepting most applicants. Half a dozen of the schools on this list have acceptance rates of 90% or higher.

College can be very expensive, and for some prospective students, spending the least on tuition — or incurring the least amount of debt — is the most important consideration when deciding which schools to apply to. Over half of the schools on this list are public schools, many of which have steep tuition discounts for in-state students.

For other schools on this list, the application spike may be attributable to extra benefits and amenities not offered at competing institutions. For example, Seton Hall University in New Jersey recently started providing students with new, fully loaded laptops upon enrollment. The number of applications to Seton Hall was 188% higher in 2016 than it was in 2006.

In other cases, schools have added popular programs in recent years that largely account for the spike in applicants. One such school, National Louis University in Chicago, has reported one of the largest jumps in applicants since enacting Pathways, a program aimed at helping historically underserved populations obtain a college education.

Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 100 colleges with the largest 10-year percentage increase in applicants from the 2006-2007 school year to the 2016-2017 year. Only schools with at least 3,000 undergraduates in 2006 were included.

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