NACAC reports hundreds of really great colleges have space available for fall 2016

Drexel University has space available for fall 2016.

According to the annual National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) College Openings Update, over 400 colleges and universities still have space available for qualified freshman and/or transfer students for fall 2016. And many of these schools also have financial aid and housing to offer.

Now in its 29^th year, the Update is a wonderful search tool for counselors, parents and teachers as they work with students who have not yet completed the college application and admission process.  The listing applies equally for students who may have gotten a late start on their applications as well as for those who weren’t totally satisfied with admissions results received by the May 1 response deadline observed by many colleges.

And there are some amazing opportunities still available.

For example, Arizona State University, Belmont University (TN), Drexel University (PA), Hofstra University (NY), Pennsylvania State University,  Ohio Wesleyan University, the Rochester Institute of Technology (NY), the University of Arizona, the University of Oregon, the University of San Diego (CA), the University of Utah and West Virginia University are posting space available for the fall.

And Chapman University, Gonzaga University, Syracuse University, the University of Florida, and the University of Massachusetts Boston have spaces for transfers.

Locally, Catholic University and the University of the District of Columbia are still accepting applications from prospective freshmen as well as from transfer students.

In Maryland, Frostburg State University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Stevenson University, Loyola Maryland University, Notre Dame of Maryland University, St. John’s College, and Salisbury University indicate they will consider qualified freshman and transfer students.

To the south, Emory and Henry College, Longwood University, Lynchburg College, Marymount University, Radford University, Randolph College, Randolph-Macon College, Roanoke College, Shenandoah University, and Sweet Briar College also show space and resources left for students still looking for fall 2016 placement.

Note that this list is highly fluid.  "Admission is an ongoing process for many institutions,” NACAC CEO Joyce E. Smith noted in a press release.


Over the next several weeks, colleges will finish reviewing their incoming classes for vacancies and if they want to publicize openings, they will add their names to the Update.  Already, the list has risen from 344 colleges when survey data was first published to 438 colleges and universities, as of this publication.  So keep checking back!

In addition to the NACAC survey, colleges still accepting applications may be found by searching the College Board, Common Application and Universal College Application (UCA) websites (specific instructions are found here). As of May 13, 2016, the Common App shows 266 members still open to new applicants, including Eckerd College, the Florida Institute of Technology, HoodCollege, the University of New Haven and Xavier University. The UCA lists 34 colleges and universities still accepting first-year students for fall 2016, including RPI, the University of Tampa and the University of Wyoming.

The bottom line is that you need to move quickly.  Colleges will only entertain applications as long as they have space available.  

For the most up-to-date information on specific colleges, contact the admissions offices of the schools directly.  You may be surprised how glad they are to hear from you!