Record numbers applying to the Central Applications Office last year for third level college places contributed to the company behind the CAO recording pre-tax profits of almost €1m in 2025.
New figures show pre-tax profits at the asset-rich Central Applications Office (Universities and other Higher Education Institutions) CLG last year increased by 27% to €962,665.
The Galway-based CAO is currently dealing with some of its busiest days of the year with Leaving Cert students having until 3pm, September 1 to confirm acceptance of their first CAO offer of a college place for the next academic year.
The 2025 accounts show that the CAO enjoyed the profits as revenues rose by 5.5% from €3.19m to €3.37m last year.
The CAO firm last year recorded the strong profits on the back of record numbers making CAO applications as numbers increased by 6,525 or 8.5% to 83,424.
Last year’s record number of applications was surpassed this year with 88,817 applications made which was a 6.5% or 5,393 increase on last year.
Revenues will also be boosted in the current year as the CAO imposed a price increase of €5 for each of the deadlines applied to CAO applicants and this is the first time since 2018 that the CAO has enforced a price hike.
The cost of making a normal CAO application was €50 this year while the online discounted rate was €35.
Operating profits at the CAO firm last year increased by 29% from €561,055 to €725,377.
The company benefited from €237,288 in interest receivable and a €195,679 gain in investments to result in pre-tax profits of €962,665.
The CAO firm recorded a post tax profit of €859,474 after incurring a corporation tax charge of €103,191.
On the risks and uncertainties facing the company the directors state that “a rise in the overall cost of Higher Education may have an adverse effect on applicant numbers”.
“Information and communications technology comprise a significant proportion of operating costs, any increase in these costs may have an impact,” they also state.
Established in 1977 by the universities and the Higher Education Authority, the CAO is a private company.
During 2025, the CAO’s cash funds rose from €3.15m to €3.62m as the value of its investments increased from €4.9m to €5.1m.
The detailed figures show that the CAO fees from application fees last year increased from €2.97m to €3.15m while the income from secondments and assignments decreased marginally from €209,829 to €205,363.
The CAO’s income from ‘miscellaneous’ increased marginally to €17,656.
Staff numbers at the CAO last year remained at the same level at 35 that included 12 seasonal or temporary employees as staff costs rose slightly to €2.08m.
Key management personnel last year received €425,527- up from €399,737 paid out under that heading in 2024.
The firm’s accumulated profits at the end of December last stood at €11.32m.
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
