Exploring Life & Business with Robert Mason of The Common Black College Application

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Mason.

Hi Robert, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story is one of perseverance, purpose, and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of education. I grew up in challenging circumstances, facing many of the obstacles that too often derail the dreams of young people. Like many others, I experienced setbacks, made mistakes, and had moments when the path forward seemed uncertain. Yet, throughout my life, there were people who believed in me and opportunities that reinforced a simple truth: education can change the trajectory of a person’s life. That realization inspired me to create the Common Black College Application (CBCA). My goal was simple: remove barriers and make the college application process more accessible. What started as an idea to help students apply to multiple HBCUs through a single application has grown into an international platform that has had a cultural impact. Ultimately, helping to break the cycle of poverty the lives of millions of students around the world.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it has not been a smooth road. In fact, the challenges I faced along the way became the foundation for everything I would eventually accomplish. I was raised by a single parent in the Lincoln Terrace Projects, where opportunities were often limited and adversity was a part of everyday life. Like many young people growing up in similar circumstances, I had to navigate personal hardships and difficult decisions while trying to find my place in the world. The struggles didn’t end when I became an adult. In 2000, when I started the Common Black College Application (CBCA), I was facing one of the most difficult periods of my life. I had been fired from my job, evicted from my apartment, and had only a few thousand dollars in the bank. Most people would have viewed those circumstances as a reason to give up. Instead, I saw them as an opportunity to pursue a vision that I believed could change lives.

As you know, we’re big fans of The Common Black College Application. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Common Black College Application (CBCA) was founded in 2000 with a simple but powerful mission: to remove barriers and expand educational opportunities for students. We believe that a student’s future should not be determined by their zip code, family income, or access to resources.

The CBCA is a national college admissions platform that allows students to apply to multiple Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through a single application. What makes us unique is that we don’t just simplify the admissions process—we create opportunities. The completion of the CBCA can open the door to college acceptances, financial aid packages, and scholarship opportunities from multiple institutions.
Since our founding, more than 500,000 students from around the world have completed the CBCA. Thousands of those students have become first-generation college graduates, educators, business owners, doctors, lawyers, engineers, and community leaders. For many families, the CBCA has helped break the cycle of poverty by making higher education more accessible.

What sets the CBCA apart is our unwavering commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. HBCUs have long served as engines of economic mobility and social change, and we are proud to support their enrollment efforts while connecting students with institutions where they can thrive academically and personally.
Our work extends beyond the application itself. We partner with school districts, community organizations, faith-based groups, and corporations to provide students with access to higher education. Through promotional partnerships, educational workshops, and outreach initiatives, we strive to ensure that students not only apply to college but understand the opportunities available to them.

Brand-wise, what I am most proud of is our impact. Numbers are important, but the true measure of our success is found in the stories of the students whose lives have been changed. I have had the privilege of meeting students who believed college was out of reach, only to receive multiple acceptance letters and scholarship offers because they completed the CBCA. Watching those students walk across a college graduation stage is the greatest reward for our work.
The CBCA is more than a college application. It is a movement dedicated to educational access, equity, and opportunity. We are committed to helping students realize their potential while strengthening the legacy and future of HBCUs.
If I want your readers to remember one thing, it is this: education has the power to change lives, families, and entire communities. The Common Black College Application exists to make that opportunity more accessible for every student who dares to dream.

We have also created the Common Scholarship Application (CSA). The Common Scholarship Application (CSA) was created to address another significant barrier facing students—the complexity of finding and applying for scholarships. Just as the Common Black College Application streamlined the college admissions process, the CSA simplifies the scholarship application process by allowing students to complete a single application and be considered for multiple scholarship opportunities.
Our mission is to help students and their families reduce the financial burden of higher education by connecting them with scholarships that can make college more affordable and accessible. Too often, students miss out on scholarship opportunities because they are unaware of them or are overwhelmed by the time and effort required to complete multiple applications. The CSA was designed to change that.
What makes the CSA unique is its commitment to access and equity. We work with corporations, foundations, nonprofits, fraternities and sororities, faith-based organizations, and individual donors to help them reach deserving students from diverse backgrounds. Scholarship providers benefit from a streamlined application and review process, while students gain access to multiple funding opportunities through one platform.
Beyond simply awarding scholarships, the CSA is about creating opportunities and changing lives. Every scholarship awarded represents a student who can focus more on their education and less on the financial challenges of pursuing a college degree.
The CSA complements the work of the Common Black College Application by supporting students throughout their educational journey. Together, the two platforms help students gain admission to college and identify resources to help pay for their education.
At its heart, the Common Scholarship Application reflects a simple belief: talent is universal, but opportunity is not. Our goal is to help close that gap by making scholarship opportunities more transparent, more accessible, and more equitable for students across the country.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
There are many ways that individuals, organizations, and institutions can work with and support the Common Black College Application (CBCA), and each partnership helps us expand educational opportunities for students.
For school districts, high schools, and community-based organizations, we partner to provide students with access to the CBCA through customized initiatives and promotional programs that remove financial barriers and encourage college enrollment. We also offer educational workshops for students, parents, and counselors on college admissions, financial aid, scholarships, and the value of attending an HBCU.

Colleges and universities collaborate with us by becoming CBCA Member Institutions, allowing them to connect with a diverse pool of students from across the country and around the world who are interested in pursuing higher education.
Corporate and foundation partners can support our mission through sponsorships and strategic partnerships that help fund student access initiatives, scholarship programs, and educational outreach efforts. Companies looking to invest in the future workforce have an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by supporting educational equity and college access.
For individuals, one of the best ways to support our mission is simply by spreading the word. Parents, educators, alumni, clergy, and community leaders can encourage students to complete the CBCA and help us ensure that more young people are aware of the opportunities available to them. Sharing our message through social media and within local communities helps us reach students who may not otherwise consider college a viable option.

At its core, the CBCA is about building partnerships that change lives. No one organization can solve the challenges facing higher education alone, but together, we can create pathways to success for the next generation of students.
I often say that the Common Black College Application is more than an application—it’s a movement. Every partnership, every collaboration, and every student we serve brings us one step closer to our mission of making higher education more accessible and ensuring that opportunity is available to all.

Pricing:

• Students pay $20 to apply to over 50 HBCUs.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://commonblackcollegeapp.com
• Instagram: @commonblkcollap
• Facebook: Common Black College Application
• LinkedIn: Robert Mason
• Twitter: @commonblkcollap
• Youtube: Common Black College Application