13 hours ago - Education

New online system seeks to simplify college applications

Alex Golden

Illustration of a student at the center of a maze made from pencils. — Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios

Arkansas high school students now have a universal college application system, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced this week.

Why it matters: The ACCESS portal is intended to create a streamlined system that allows high school seniors to apply to higher education institutions with one form, one login and no application fees for up to five colleges, according to a news release.

What they're saying: "The Arkansas ACCESS Portal takes what used to be a confusing, repetitive college application process that would overwhelm students and families and streamlines it into a simple process," Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva said in a news release.

Flashback: Sanders signed the sweeping Arkansas ACCESS Act into law in 2025. The law created the Arkansas Direct Admissions Program, which includes a common application portal, beginning with high school students graduating in 2027.

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New online system seeks to simplify college applications

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