For college-bound seniors, few things are as difficult as waiting for college decision release dates. Even if you’ve already heard back from your early action (non-binding) schools, you’ll want to wait to make a final choice until all of your regular decision notifications are in. Of course, if you applied to a school via early decision (binding) and were accepted, then you’ve already made your choice and you know exactly where you’re heading in the fall. For all other students, here’s everything you need to know about college decision dates in 2025.
When do college decisions come out?
It depends. If you applied early action or early decision, you’ll typically receive notifications in December. For schools that you applied via regular decision, you can expect to receive admission decisions during the spring (usually March or April, but sometimes even earlier in February).
Most colleges and universities have their own admission decision release dates. (All Ivy League schools release their decisions on a designated day, known as Ivy Day.)
It can be tempting to log into your student portal a few dozen times per day to check your application status. For the sake of your nerves, try to limit yourself to checking just a couple of times each day. Logging in too often may feed into your anxiety.
Instead, focus on you during this time. Practice stress reduction techniques and distract yourself by doing things you enjoy, like spending time with friends.
College Regular Decision Dates (Fall 2025 Freshman Admission)
Below, you can find the 2025 college decision release dates for Ivy League schools, top 50 national universities, and other schools that are popular among KD students. If you’ve applied to schools that aren’t listed here, you can look for the release date on the school’s website. If you Google it, be sure to check the source website instead of relying on AI-generated answers, as these can sometimes be inaccurate or misleading.
Ivy League
Every year, all Ivy League schools release their decisions on the same day within the same time window. This day is known as Ivy Day, and it’s typically the last Thursday in March.
At the time of publication, the date of Ivy Day for 2025 has not been officially confirmed. However, it’s widely expected to be March 27, 2025—the last Thursday of the month. You can expect Ivy League decisions to hit your student portal by either 5 PM or 7 PM ET on Ivy Day.
This information is applicable to the following schools:
- Brown University
- Columbia University
- Cornell University
- Dartmouth College
- Harvard University
- Princeton University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Yale University
Top 50 National Universities
The top 50 national universities include all eight Ivy League schools, as well as other high-performing, selective schools. You’ll note that some college decision release dates are specific dates, like April 1, while others are a more general range (like mid-March or early April).
- Princeton University – Expected to be March 27 (Ivy Day)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – Mid-March
- Harvard University – Expected to be March 27 (Ivy Day)
- Stanford University – Early April
- Yale University – Regular Decision candidates will be posted online via the Yale Admissions Status Portal by April 1
- University of Chicago – Late March
- Johns Hopkins University – March 21
- University of Pennsylvania – Expected to be March 27 (Ivy Day)
- California Institute of Technology (CalTech) – Mid-March
- Duke University – Late March
- Northwestern University – Late March
- Dartmouth College – Expected to be March 27 (Ivy Day)
- Brown University – Expected to be March 27 (Ivy Day)
- Vanderbilt University – Late March
- Rice University – April 1
- Washington University in St. Louis – April 1
- Cornell University – Expected to be March 27 (Ivy Day)
- Columbia University – Expected to be March 27 (Ivy Day)
- University of Notre Dame – Late March
- University of California, Berkeley – Late March
- University of California, Los Angeles – Late March
- Carnegie Mellon University – April 1
- Emory University – April 1
- Georgetown University – April 1
- New York University – April 1
- University of Michigan–Ann Arbor – Early April
- University of Southern California – April 1
- University of Virginia – April 1
- University of Florida – March 14
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – March 31
- Wake Forest University – April 1
- Tufts University – April 1
- University of California, Santa Barbara – Mid-March
- University of California, Irvine – March 1 through 31
- University of California, San Diego – March 1 through 31
- Boston College – April 1
- University of Rochester – April 1
- University of California, Davis – Late March
- University of Texas at Austin – No later than February 15
- University of Wisconsin—Madison – On or before March 31
- Boston University – Late March
- University of Illinois Urbana—Champaign – February 28
- William & Mary – By April 1
- Brandeis University – April 1
- Case Western Reserve University – March 20
- Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) – Late March
- Northeastern University – April 1
- Tulane University – April 1
- The Ohio State University – March 7
- University of Georgia – Mid-March
Other Popular Choices Among KD Students
KD College Prep is based in Texas (although we prep students in more than 40 states across the country), so it’s not a big surprise that many of the top destinations for our students are colleges and universities located in Texas.
- The University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) – No later than February 15
- University of North Texas (UNT) – Rolling admission basis; no universal date for all applicants
- Texas A&M University (TAMU) – Admission decisions are made on an ongoing basis throughout the admission cycle. Students who qualify for Top 10% admission will typically receive a decision within three weeks of applying. Students in Holistic Review applying for fall admission will receive a decision between January 1 and late March
- Texas Christian University (TCU) – No later than April 1
- Colorado School of Mines – March 1
- Pepperdine University – April 1
- Fordham University – April 1
- University of Oklahoma (OU) – Within four to six weeks of applying through regular mail
- Texas Tech University – Admission decisions typically take two to four weeks following application submission
- Baylor University – April 10
- Southern Methodist University (SMU) – Mid-March
- University of Alabama – Early March to early April
- Purdue University – Between January 15 and March 31
- Loyola University-Chicago – Rolling admissions, but it can take up to six weeks to receive an admission decision
- Indiana University-Bloomington – By March 15
- Oklahoma State University (OSU) – Rolling admissions, but decisions start arriving in late January
- United States Military Academy West Point – Rolling admission basis; majority of admission decisions sent out by mid-April
- United States Air Force Academy – Rolling admission basis; between February and April
- United States Naval Academy – Rolling admission basis; most candidates notified by April 15
What is National College Decision Day?
National College Decision Day, which is normally celebrated on May 1st, is the holiday recognized by all high schools and universities in the U.S. It’s the typical deadline for high school seniors to commit to a university by confirming their acceptance and declining admission elsewhere.
While May 1st is the usual date of National College Decision Day, it’s subject to change from year to year if there are unexpected delays in the admissions process. One example is the delays in FAFSA availability and other setbacks during the 2023 – 2024 admissions cycle.
How do you get notified of college acceptance?
These days, the vast majority of college decision notifications are sent to applicants’ digital student portals. You can log into your student portal at any time to check on the status of your application, but don’t expect the decision until the official decision date (unless the school has a rolling admissions policy).
There are still some outliers that submit decisions via regular mail, but these are few and far between. (One example is the University of Oklahoma.)
What if I get accepted to multiple colleges?
Congratulations! It’s exciting to be accepted to more than one school. Now you can choose the one that fits you best. Even if you’ve been accepted by your top choice, you shouldn’t automatically accept that offer. Instead, spend some time reviewing all of your options to determine if your top school is still right for you.
There are many factors to consider when deciding which college is right for you. Degree availability, academic reputation, cost, and location are just a few things to consider as you make your choice.
Remember that, in some cases, you’ll only have about one month to make a decision, depending on the college decision release dates. If you’re on the fence at this point in the process, you may want to talk to your parents or guardians about scheduling additional college tours as soon as possible. Taking another tour of the campuses may help you come to a decision.
When do I need to commit to a college?
In most cases, you’ll need to confirm your acceptance by National College Decision Day, typically on May 1st in your senior year. There are some exceptions; some schools and programs require a decision sooner. In addition, if you’ve received an athletic offer, you may need to commit sooner. Write down deadlines on your calendar to keep track of them.
What if I get rejected by all the colleges I apply to?
First of all, remember that your self-worth is not based on college decisions. You’ve worked hard and should celebrate your accomplishments at this point in your academic career. Take a deep breath and do something to decompress, like watching a movie with a friend.
And then re-focus. There’s a place for you. Dive right back in to figure out what’s next for you. Keep in mind that many colleges review applications on a rolling basis. This means they may still accept some late applications for fall 2025 admission. You’ll want to identify these options and apply ASAP.
You can also take these steps:
- Talk to your high school guidance counselor or a KD College Prep expert about your options.
- Community college can be a great option. If you work hard on getting good grades there, you can apply to transfer your credits to a four-year school.
- Take a gap year with the goal of engaging in activities that will strengthen your applications next year.
- Research alternative options, such as trade schools.
But if you’re reading this prior to applying to college, then it’s important to note that the best way to avoid getting rejected by every college you apply to is to build a balanced college list. In other words, you shouldn’t apply to only top-tier colleges. You want to have a few safety and match schools already in the queue in case you’re rejected by your top choices.
How do I tell a college I’m not attending?
It’s usually pretty quick and easy to decline college admission offers. Check your student portal. Many schools have a button to click that allows you to decline admission right from the portal.
You should also check your admission notification, as it may explain the school’s preferred method of declining admission. Otherwise, send a brief but polite email thanking the school for accepting you, but indicating that you have decided to attend college elsewhere. You don’t need to provide the reason for your decision.
How do I respond to a college acceptance letter?
Committing to a college is usually as simple as it is to decline admission. There is usually a button to click on in your student portal that allows you to commit to that school. You’ll also need to submit your non-refundable deposit to secure your space.
Before looking for that button, however, it’s a good idea to review your notification again. Your notification of acceptance should provide directions for accepting admittance to the school. Be sure to follow those directions carefully if they deviate from this general guidance.
The process is a little different for soon-to-be college athletes. Be sure and communicate with the college coach about the school’s specific process.
Need help preparing for college?
KD College Prep works with students from 7th through 12th grade, helping them prepare for college. Contact us today to request a free consultation and learn more about our test prep programs and college counseling services.