The Coalition Application is a legitimate but secondary player in the US college admissions landscape. Here is what you need to know about when it matters.
What the Coalition Application Is
The Coalition for College Application was launched in 2016 by a consortium of colleges as an alternative to the Common Application. Its stated mission is to expand college access by making the application process available earlier and by encouraging students to build a digital portfolio of their work throughout high school. Students can create Coalition accounts as early as 9th grade.
The Locker Feature
The Coalition's 'Locker' allows students to store work samples, creative projects, essays, artwork, and other materials over time — building a portfolio throughout high school rather than scrambling to compile one in senior year. While potentially valuable for students with significant creative or project-based work, most applicants do not use this feature extensively.
Which Schools Accept the Coalition App
Approximately 150 schools participate in the Coalition, including Yale, University of Michigan, Rice, Emory, University of Virginia, University of North Carolina, Tulane, and others. The vast majority of these schools also accept the Common Application. Yale accepts both and treats them identically.
Practical Guidance: Which to Use
For most applicants: use the Common App as your primary platform — it covers 900+ schools. If a specific school on your list only accepts the Coalition (uncommon), complete that application separately. If a school accepts both, choose one and apply through it consistently. Do not submit through both platforms to the same school.