After you’ve narrowed down your list of schools and know which ones you want to apply to, you’ll need to make a note of their college application deadlines. It’s always best to get your applications done well in advance. This allows you plenty of time to double-check everything and ensure that your essays are the best they can possibly be.
Below, you can see the college application deadlines for Ivy League schools, the Top 50 Best National Universities, and other colleges that are popular among KD College Prep students. If you’re having trouble deciphering the types of college application deadlines and deciding which one is right for you, keep scrolling down to our handy reference guide.
Please note that, while uncommon, it’s possible for a university to change its college application deadlines for any given year. It’s always a good idea to verify current deadlines on the school website. In addition, different deadlines than those listed below will apply if you plan on matriculating in the spring instead of the fall, and if other circumstances apply (e.g. international student or transfer student).
Navigate through this article:
College Application Deadlines For Popular Colleges
Ivy League Schools
- Brown University – Early Decision: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 3.
- Columbia University – Early Decision: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 2.
- Cornell University – Early Decision: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 2.
- Dartmouth College – Early Decision: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 2.
- Harvard University – Restrictive Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 1.
- Princeton University – Early Decision: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: May, 1.
- University of Pennsylvania – Early Decision: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 5.
- Yale University – Single-Choice Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Feb. 15.
Top 50 National Universities
- Princeton University – Single-Choice Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: May 1.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 6.
- Harvard University –Restrictive Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 1.
- Stanford University – Restrictive Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 5.
- Yale University –Single-Choice Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Feb. 15.
- University of Chicago – Early Action and Early Decision I: Nov. 1. Early Decision II and Regular Decision: Jan. 6.
- Johns Hopkins University – Early Decision I: Nov. 1, Early Decision II and Regular Decision: Jan. 2.
- University of Pennsylvania – Early Decision: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 5.
- California Institute of Technology (CalTech) – Restrictive Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 3.
- Duke University – Early Decision: Nov. 4, Regular Decision: Jan. 2.
- Northwestern University – Early Decision: Nov. 4, Regular Decision: Jan. 2.
- Dartmouth College – Early Decision: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 2.
- Brown University – Early Decision: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 3.
- Vanderbilt University – Early Decision: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 5.
- Rice University – Early Decision: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 1.
- Washington University in St. Louis – Early Decision I: Nov. 1, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision: Jan. 2.
- Cornell University – Early Decision: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 2.
- Columbia University – Early Decision: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 2.
- University of Notre Dame – Restrictive Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 3.
- University of California, Berkeley – Regular Decision: Nov. 30.
- University of California, Los Angeles – Regular Decision: Dec. 2.
- Carnegie Mellon University – Early Decision I: Nov, 1, Early Decision II and Regular Decision: Jan. 2.
- Emory University – Early Decision I: Nov. 1, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision: Jan. 1.
- Georgetown University – Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 10.
- New York University – Early Decision I: Nov. 1, Early Decision II: Jan. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 5.
- University of Michigan–Ann Arbor – Early Action: Nov. 1, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance students: Dec. 1, Regular Decision: Feb. 1.
- University of Southern California – Early Action: Nov. 1. Regular Decision: Dec. 1 for select programs, Jan. 15 for all others.
- University of Virginia – Early Decision and Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 5.
- University of Florida – Early Decision: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan 15.
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Early Action: Oct. 15, Regular Decision: Jan. 15.
- Wake Forest University – Early Decision I: Nov. 15, Early Decision II and Regular Decision: Jan. 1.
- Tufts University – Early Decision I: Nov. 4, Early Decision II and Regular Decision: Jan. 6.
- University of California, Santa Barbara – Regular Decision: Dec. 2.
- University of California, Irvine – Regular Decision: Dec 2.
- University of California, San Diego – Regular Decision: Nov. 30.
- Boston College – Early Decision I: Nov. 1, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision: Jan. 3.
- University of Rochester – Early Decision I: Nov. 1, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision: Jan. 5.
- University of California, Davis – Regular Decision: Nov. 30.
- University of Texas at Austin – Early Decision: Oct. 15, Regular Decision: Dec 1.
- University of Wisconsin—Madison – Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 15.
- Boston University – Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 6.
- University of Illinois Urbana—Champaign – Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 5.
- William & Mary – Early Decision I: Nov. 1, Early Decision II and Regular Decision: Jan. 5.
- Brandeis University – Early Decision I: Nov. 1, Early Decision II and Regular Decision: Jan. 2.
- Case Western Reserve University – Early Action and Early Decision I: Nov. 1, Early Decision II and Regular Decision: Jan. 15.
- Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) – Early Action I for Georgia students: Oct. 15, Early Action I for non-Georgia students: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 6.
- Northeastern University – Early Action and Early Decision I: Nov. 1, Early Decision II and Regular Decision: Jan. 1.
- Tulane University – Early Decision I: Nov. 1, Early Action: Nov. 15, Early Decision II and Regular Decision: Jan. 15.
- The Ohio State University – Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Feb. 15.
- University of Georgia – Early Action: Oct. 15, Regular Decision: Jan. 1.
Other Popular Choices For KD Students
- The University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) – Priority Deadline: Dec 1, Regular Decision: May 1.
- University of North Texas (UNT) – Rolling admissions with Priority Date for scholarship consideration: March 1
- Texas A&M – Early Action Engineering Deadline: Oct. 15, Regular Decision: Dec. 1.
- Texas Christian University – Early Action & Early Decision I: Nov. 1, Regular Decision & Early Decision II: Feb. 1.
- Colorado School of Mines – Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 15.
- Pepperdine University – Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 15.
- Fordham University – Early Action and Early Decision: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan 3, BFA in Dance and BA in Theatre/Priority Performance Deadline: Nov. 1.
- University of Oklahoma (OU) – For consideration for scholarships: Dec. 15, Regular Decision: Feb. 1.
- Texas Tech University – Early Decision and scholarship consideration: Dec. 1. Admission and scholarship applications will continue to be accepted after the deadline, with no specified end date.
- Baylor University – Early Decision and Early Action: Nov 1, Regular Decision: Feb. 1.
- Southern Methodist University (SMU) – Early Action and Early Decision I: Nov. 1, Regular Decision and Early Decision II: Jan. 15.
- University of Alabama – Regular Decision and scholarship consideration: Jan. 10. Admission applications are considered on a space-available basis after Jan. 10.
- Purdue University – Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Jan. 15.
- Loyola University-Chicago – Priority Deadline: Dec. 1, Merit Scholarship Consideration: Feb. 1.
- Indiana University-Bloomington – Early Action: Nov. 1, Regular Decision: Feb. 1.
- Oklahoma State University – Rolling admission. Apply by Nov. 1 for Early Opportunity Scholarship consideration. The scholarship consideration hard deadline is Feb. 1.
- United States Military Academy West Point – Application window opens on Feb. 1. Applicants are urged to complete the application as soon as possible, as nominations, medical exams, and candidate fitness assessments are required.
- United States Air Force Academy – Regular Decision: December 31
- United States Naval Academy – You should begin the preliminary application during your junior year; no set deadline. Applications must be finalized by Jan. 31.
Application Deadlines Defined: How to Choose Wisely
College application deadlines can be confusing! You can use this reference guide to decipher the different types of deadlines. If you need personalized help with navigating the college application process, KD College Prep is here for you!
Early Action
Early Action (EA) gives you the option to apply early—that is, before the regular decision deadlines. It’s non-binding. Early Action could be right for you if you already have your applications ready early on in your senior year.
Applying Early Action can demonstrate enthusiasm and preparedness to colleges. In addition, you’ll get an earlier admission decision, which means less time staring at the mailbox and more time to celebrate your acceptance. For example, if you get your application in by November 1, you could be celebrating your acceptance before the end of the calendar year.
Watch the deadlines, because some colleges offer EA and some also offer EA II, which is another round of Early Action before regular deadlines hit.
Single Choice or Restrictive Action
Single Choice/Restrictive Early Action is the same as EA, except that you can only apply early at one school. It’s also non-binding. This type of early action shows the school that it is your top choice. Each college can have different restrictions, so it’s important to read the fine print.
Early Decision
Early Decision (ED) means you will apply early and agree to enroll if accepted. This is the binding one, so think very carefully about your choice.
Early Decision is pretty similar to single choice early action in that you will apply early to only one university. It’s different in that if you’re accepted, that’s where you’re definitely going to college. You should only apply Early Decision if you are absolutely 110% certain that you know where you want to go to college. If the college accepts you, you’ve already committed to attending it.
It’s a fast and furious application, usually with college application deadlines in November and decisions in December.
Note: You might be able to apply for one Early Decision and several Early Actions at the same time. Check on the restrictions for the schools you are interested in. Early Action doesn’t come with any agreements to attend a school, while Early Decision does.
Regular Decision
Regular Decision is the most common type of college application deadline, with due dates ranging from December to March (and sometimes later) and college decisions in April. It’s non-binding.
Regular Decision is the route that most people go with applications. Plus, many schools offer only Regular Decision, with no other types of college application deadlines available.
Rolling Admission
Rolling admission means that there isn’t a hard-and-fast deadline for college applications. The college will accept applications until all spots are filled. Rolling admission is non-binding.
What’s great about rolling admission is that it allows you to apply both before and after the regular decision time frame. The application window could be open as late as August to August!
Colleges with rolling admissions usually communicate their decisions quickly, so there’s less time spent waiting. On the other hand, when all the spots are gone, there’s no possibility of getting accepted.
A further complication with rolling admission is that spots could fill up in certain majors before others, so you would need to check with the department as well as the admissions office to ensure there is still space.
To recap, here are the four major types of admission with their general college application deadlines.
- Early Action – Usually starts in November
- Early Decision – November
- Regular Decision – December-April
- Rolling Admission – August-August
The two “early” options usually respond in December. Regular Decision schools give you a response in or before April. Rolling gives you a quick decision whenever you apply as long as seats are available.
Remember, always contact a university’s admissions department for specific answers regarding college application deadlines.
How many colleges can I apply early to?
You are only allowed to apply Early Decision to one college. If accepted, you have already agreed to attend. It’s a binding decision, so be absolutely certain that you would like to attend that school if accepted.
What happens if you don’t get accepted Early Decision?
If you apply to a school on an Early Decision basis, it means that you have your heart set on attending that college. Getting rejected for your top choice can really sting, but do try to see it as a “when one door closes, another opens” situation. Perhaps your next top choice was really the better fit for you, after all.
Can I decline if I get accepted Early Decision?
Early Decision is binding. However, in limited circumstances, you may be able to decline. Every school has its own policies, but in general, if you experience a drastic life change, a substantial change in finances, or if you don’t receive the financial aid package that you expected, then the school may let you off the hook.
Is it better to apply for Early Decision or Regular Decision?
It depends! Remember that Early Decision is binding. If you are absolutely, positively certain that your top choice is the right school for you, then you may want to apply Early Decision. Applying Early Decision may improve your chances of being accepted, since the admissions officers can see that you are committed to that particular college. On the other hand, if you aren’t totally sure about where you want to go to school, then it’s better to apply Regular Decision.
When should I expect to hear back from colleges?
Each school follows their own timeline. In general, if you apply to a school with a rolling admissions policy, you may hear back within four to six weeks after submitting the application. If you applied Early Decision, you may hear back by December, January, or February. If you applied Regular Decision, you’ll likely hear back from mid-March through early April.
Need help with your college applications?
When you work with KD College Prep, you’ll get expert help to navigate the college applications process from start to finish. Choose from a range of college counseling programs designed to fit your needs, like the APPLY NOW! Boot Camp for seniors and Select™ Sessions that provide customized assistance. We can’t wait to see you become our next success story! Schedule your free consultation to learn more.