As you might already know, applying to college is a big step. The application process can be both exciting and stressful. Part of that stress comes from wondering when you’ll hear back from the colleges you applied to. Luckily, this guide is focused on early decision and early action release dates so you can stay in the loop! Check out the list below to find your college or university’s admission notification dates.
What is Early Decision?
When you apply to colleges, there are usually deadlines to apply early action, early decision, or both. However, it’s important to understand the difference between early action and early decision because one is binding while the other isn’t.
Early decision is a binding application, meaning in exchange for your early notification letter, you are required to attend that university. Under early decision, students can apply to only one school. However, they can usually apply to other schools early action and/or regular decision even if they have applied to one school early decision. In addition, some schools might allow students to apply early action, but restrict the types of applications they can submit to other schools.
See also: What happens if you are accepted early decision and change your mind?
When do early decision notifications come out?
Usually, applicants receive notifications for early decision at or around December 15 and toward the beginning of the year for early action. Find out the Early Decision release dates for your college of choice below, pulled from our supplemental essay list!
| American University | ED 1: December 31 ED 2: February 15 |
| Amherst College | Early to mid-December |
| Babson College | ED 1: mid-December ED 2: mid-February EA: January 15 |
| Barnard College | Mid-December |
| Baylor University | ED 1: December 15 ED 2: March 1 EA: January 15 |
| Boston College | ED 1: December 15 ED 2: February 15 |
| Boston University | ED 1: December 15 ED 2: February 15 |
| Bowdoin College | ED 1: Mid-December ED 2: Early February |
| Brandeis University | ED 1: December 15 ED 2: February 1 |
| Bucknell University | ED 1: Mid-December ED 2: Mid-February |
| California Institute of Technology | Mid-December |
| Carnegie Mellon University | ED: December 15 |
| Claremont McKenna College | ED 1: December 15 ED 2: February 15 |
| Columbia University | EA 1: May 1 EA 2: November 15 |
| Cornell University | Mid-December |
| Dartmouth College | Mid-December |
| Davidson College | ED 1: December 13 ED 2: February 1 |
| Duke University | Mid-December |
| Emory University | ED 1: December 15 ED 2: ED 2 February 15 |
| Fordham University | ED: December 20 EA: December 20 |
| George Washington University | ED 1: late December ED 2: late February |
| Georgetown University | EA: December 15 |
| Georgia Tech | EA 1: December 5 EA 2: January 30 |
| Harvard University | Mid-December |
| Harvey Mudd College | ED 1: December 15 ED 2: February 15 |
| Haverford College | ED 1: December 15 ED 2: Early February |
| Johns Hopkins University | ED 1: mid-December ED 2: mid-February |
| Lafayette University | ED 1: mid-December ED 2: mid-February |
| Lehigh University | ED 1: mid-December ED 2: mid-February |
| Loyola Marymount University | ED 1: mid-December ED 2: mid-February |
| Macalester College | ED 1: December 4 ED 2: January 29 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Mid-December |
| Northwestern University | Mid-December |
| Pennsylvania State University | December 24 |
| Pomona College | ED 1: December 15 ED 2: February 15 |
| Princeton University | Mid-December |
| Purdue University | January 15 |
| Reed College | ED 1: December ED 2: March EA: February |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | ED 1: December 13 ED 2: January 17 EA: January 31 |
| Rice University | Mid-December |
| Rutgers University | February 15 |
| Santa Clara University | ED 1: late December ED 2: mid-February EA: late December |
| Scripps College | ED 1: mid-December ED 2: mid-February |
| Stanford University | Mid-December |
| Stony Brook University | End of January |
| Swarthmore College | ED 1: mid-December ED 2: mid-February |
| Syracuse University | ED 1: late December 16 ED 2: mid-January |
| Texas A&M University | Mid-December |
| Trinity College | ED 1: mid-December ED 2: mid-February |
| Tufts University | ED 1: mid-December ED 2: mid-February |
| University of Chicago | ED 1: mid-December ED 2: mid-February EA: mid-December |
| University of Colorado Boulder | February 1 |
| University of Georgia | Early December |
| University of Illinois | January 30 |
| University of Michigan | ED: December 24 EA: January 30 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Mid-December |
| University of Richmond | January 23 |
| University of Rochester | ED 1: mid-December ED 2: early February |
| University of San Diego | Mid-December |
| University of San Francisco | ED: mid-December EA: late January |
| University of Southern California | December 15 |
| University of Texas | January 15 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | January 31 |
| Vanderbilt University | ED 1: mid-December ED 2: mid-February |
| Vassar College | ED 1: mid-December ED 2: early February |
| Villanova University | ED 1: December 1 ED 2: February 15 EA: January 20 |
| Wake Forest University | ED 1: Rolling basis ED 2: February 15 |
| Washington University | ED 1: December 12 ED 2: February 13 |
| Wellesley College | ED 1: mid-December ED 2: mid-February |
| Williams College | December 15 |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | ED 1: mid-December ED 2: mid-February |
What should you do while you wait?
Waiting for a response from the college of your choice can make you feel restless, so be sure to do something positive with your energy. Don’t let the Early Decision release dates loom over you to the point where your school performance begins to dip. Remember, colleges still keep track of your grades and behavior even after you apply, so it’s ideal for you to maintain or improve your current GPA.
Also, remember to fill out financial aid applications such as FAFSA and the CSS Profile. These forms help colleges determine your financial aid award, but you can still receive scholarships without them.
Expert Perspective
Jack Wang | Wealth Advisor, Innovative Advisory Group
Related: How many colleges should I apply to?
What you should do after you receive your application:
Once your notification letter comes in the mail, it’s decision time! Evaluate the colleges that have accepted you and the financial aid that they’re offering to see if they align with your expectations.
See also: How to choose a college
There are usually deadlines for enrollment, so keep tabs on that to make sure you get your deposit in on time. You can also defer college enrollment for a period of time even after being accepted if you want to save up or take some time before starting school again.
Don’t miss: Colleges with late application deadlines
Next Steps
Now that you have an acceptance or two in hand, make sure that you apply for all the scholarships you are eligible for! Best of luck on your academic journey!