Class of 2026 Early Action & Early Decision Notification Dates
Summary
We’re rapidly approaching the end of the year, which means Early Action and Early Decision applicants will soon receive highly anticipated admissions decisions from some of the most selective universities in the US!
*We’re rapidly approaching the end of the year, which means Early Action and Early Decision applicants will soon receive highly anticipated admissions decisions from some of the most selective universities in the US! Keep checking your email and don't forget to also check your spam folders in case the notification gets sent there! Best of luck to everyone awaiting their decision! *
The pool of students vying for acceptance letters from top US universities grows each year, and Early Action and Early Decision give eager students a chance to apply, and receive decisions, earlier than those in the regular round. This year many universities introduced two rounds of Early Decision deadlines to tackle the massive number of applications they received. As test optional policies continued in many universities, most of the other Covid policies have been lifted.
Applying to a top university early can give students a competitive edge as it indicates to a university that they are that applicant’s ‘first choice’ and that, if applying Early Decision, the applicant is willing to forgo their regular round applications and agree to attend their first choice school as a priority. Further, early round admissions rates are higher than those in the regular round, often giving students an advantage when it comes to beating the highly competitive admissions odds at top US schools.
The college application process can be daunting, from studying for exams, writing personal statements, conducting interviews and everything in between — but Crimson students have an advantage thanks to the dedicated teams that guide them every step of the way. With many polished, well-rounded applications submitted by our students, Crimson is heading confidently into the upcoming weeks as EA and ED notification dates approach.
Class of 2026 EA and ED Decision Dates
| University | EA / ED Notification Date |
|---|---|
| Amherst College | Early-to-mid December |
| Babson College | EDI/EA mid-December; EDII mid-February |
| Barnard College | mid-December |
| Boston University | EDI mid-December; EDII mid-February |
| Brown University | mid-December |
| Caltech | EA mid-December |
| Carnegie Mellon University | EDI December 15; EDII February 1 |
| Cornell University | mid-December |
| Columbia University | mid-December |
| Dartmouth College | mid-December |
| Duke University | mid-December |
| Emory University | EDI December 15; EDII February 15 |
| George Washington University | EDI late-December; EDII late February |
| Georgetown University | EA December 15 |
| Harvard University | Restricted EA mid-December |
| Harvey Mudd College | EDI December 15; EDII February 15 |
| Johns Hopkins University | EDI December 16; EDII February 17 |
| MIT | EA Mid-February |
| New York University | EDI December 15; EDII February 15 |
| Northeastern University | EDI December 15; EA February 1; EDII March 1 |
| Northwestern University | mid-December |
| Pomona College | EDI December 15; EDII February 15 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) | EDI December 15; EDII January 15 |
| Stanford University | Restricted EA mid-December |
| Swarthmore University | EDI mid-December; EDII mid-February |
| Tufts University | EDI mid-December; EDII mid-February |
| University of Chicago | EA/EDI mid-December; EDII mid-February |
| University of Miami | EDI mid-December; EA late January; EDII late February |
| University of Michigan | EA late January |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | EA January 31 |
| University of Pennsylvania | mid-December |
| University of Virginia (UVA) | ED December 15; EA February 15 |
| Vanderbilt University | EDI mid-December; EDII mid-February |
| Washington University in St. Louis | EDI December 16; EDII February 17 |
| Williams College | December 15 |
| Yale University | Single Choice EA mid-December |
Why Should You Apply to College Early?
The 2019 State of College Admission Report stated that students who applied in the early action and early decision rounds had higher acceptance rates than those who applied during the regular decision round. Some colleges practice different admissions standards when considering early applicants, so it is wise to check each college’s standards.
Students with strong academics tend to apply early. Those who apply early also have a high interest in studying at a particular university which nearly guarantees they will accept the offer.
Here are more benefits to applying in the early action and early decision rounds:
1. Less Stress
You will spend less time waiting for a decision than your peers because early applicants typically hear from colleges in November. Additionally, you probably won’t apply to as many colleges in the early rounds, so you’ll answer fewer essay prompts.
2. Save Time and Expense
Since you’re not applying to as many colleges, you’ll spend less time and money on individual applications. Not only does this free you up financially, but it also means you have the latitude to pour your energy into that top application.
3. Extra Time to Prepare for College
If you get into your top college, you can wrap up your college search! You will have more time to sort housing, courses, and moving before heading off to college.
4. Reassess and Apply Elsewhere
If you don’t get into your dream college, you can still apply to other colleges. The application process will be easier because you already have experience filling out applications, and you have all the basic information ready to go.
