CAO firm makes €1m pre-tax profit on back on college applications in 2025
Gordon Deegan
Record numbers applying to the Central Applications Office (CAO) last year for third-level college places contributed to the company behind the CAO recording pre-tax profits of almost €1 million 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 per cent 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 1st 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 per cent from €3.19 million to €3.37 million last year.
The CAO firm recorded strong profits last year, driven by record numbers of applications, which rose by 6,525, or 8.5 per cent, to 83,424.
This year’s 88,817 applications surpassed last year's record, an increase of 6.5 per cent, or 5,393 applications.
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.
This year, the cost of making a normal CAO application was €50 while the online discounted rate was €35.
Operating profits at the CAO firm last year increased by 29 per cent 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”.
They also state that “information and communications technology comprise a significant proportion of operating costs; any increase in these costs may have an impact”.
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 €3.15 million to €3.62 million as the value of its investments increased from €4.9 million to €5.1 million.
The detailed figures show that CAO fees from applications increased from €2.97 million to €3.15 million last year, while 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 remained at 35 last year, including 12 seasonal or temporary employees, while staff costs rose slightly to €2.08 million.
Key management personnel received €425,527 last year, up from €399,737 paid out under that heading in 2024.
The firm’s accumulated profits at the end of December last stood at €11.32 million.
