A guide to using the Common Black College App

Key Takeaways:

• The Common Black College App allows students to apply to several Historically Black Colleges and Universities at the same time.
• It costs $20 to apply to all participating institutions.
• Similar to the Common App, the CBCA saves students time and money.

The Common Black College App (CBCA) is much like the Common App – students can use it to apply to several schools at the same time, saving countless hours and potentially hundreds of dollars. There are more than 70 participating Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and a single application goes to all of them. Below, we’ve outlined some must-know information about the CBCA and provided a current list of all of the Member institutions.

What Is the Common Black College App?

The Common Black College App (CBCA) allows students to apply for multiple Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) at once, similar to the Common App. For a one-time fee of $20, students can apply to all participating institutions (over 70) with a single application.

How Do You Complete the CBCA?

To submit your CBCA, you need to sign up on the CBCA website and create an account through the student application portal. On the application itself, supply your personal details, contact information, intended major, a list of clubs, and college credits. You’ll also need to list your top four choices, as participating institutions want to gauge your level of interest.

Many participating institutions don’t require essays or letters of recommendation. However, you’re welcome to submit them if you’d like. For essays, you can find required topics on schools’ websites. The essay should be under 500 words and the CBCA website recommends typing it directly into the application rather than copy and pasting.

Students need to pay the $20 fee before their application is submitted. In addition, you need your school counselor to create an account through the CBCA to upload your official transcript.

What Schools Accept the CBCA?

According to the CBCA website, there are currently 71 HBCUs, or Member institutions, that accept the application, including:

1. Alabama A&M University
2. Alabama State University
3. Albany State University
4. Alcorn State University
5. Allen University
6. American Baptist College
7. Arkansas Baptist College
8. Benedict College
9. Bennett College
10. Bethune-Cookman University
11. Bluefield State University
12. Central State University
13. Cheyney University
14. Claflin University
15. Clark Atlanta University
16. Clinton College
17. Coppin State University
18. Delaware State University
19. Dillard University
20. Edward Waters University
21. Elizabeth City State University
22. Fayetteville State University
23. Florida Memorial University
24. Fort Valley State University
25. Grambling State University
26. Harris-Stowe State University
27. Huston-Tillotson University
28. Jarvis Christian University
29. Jackson State University
30. Johnson C. Smith University
31. Kentucky State University
32. Langston University
33. Lane College
34. Lincoln University (MO)
35. Le Moyne-Owen College
36. Lincoln University (PA)
37. Livingstone College
38. Mississippi Valley State University
39. Miles College
40. Morehouse College
41. Morris Brown College
42. Morris College
43. Morgan State University
44. Norfolk State University
45. North Carolina Central University
46. Paine College
47. Paul Quinn College
48. Philander Smith University
49. Rust College
50. Saint Augustine’s University
51. Selma University
52. Shaw University
53. Simmons College
54. South Carolina State University
55. Southern University and A&M College
56. Southern University at New Orleans
57. Stillman College
58. Talladega College
59. Tennessee State University
60. Texas College
61. Tougaloo College
62. University Of Arkansas – Pine Bluff
63. University of Maryland – Eastern Shore
64. University Of The Virgin Islands
65. Virginia State University
66. Virginia Union University
67. Voorhees University
68. West Virginia State University
69. Wilberforce University
70. Wiley University
71. Xavier University (LA)

The CBCA saves you time – you don’t have to complete several applications – and money, since you’re only paying a single fee. If you’re thinking about applying to even two of these schools, it’s worth using!

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