Class of 2025 Early Decision Notification Dates

The anticipation is real.

You’ve put your heart into your college application, chosen your dream school, and submitted it Early Decision (ED). Now, the big question looms: When will you find out if you’ve been accepted? 

For the Class of 2028, Early Decision notification dates are just around the corner. This article will break down what you need to know, how to prepare, and what to do after receiving your decision.

What is an Early Decision?

Early Decision is a popular application option for students who are ready to commit to their top-choice school. It’s different from Early Action in one key way—ED is a binding agreement. If you earn acceptance, you commit to attending that school and withdrawing applications from other institutions.

For many students, the benefits of ED are worth the commitment: ED applicants often have a higher acceptance rate than those applying via Regular Decision. But with this advantage comes a responsibility to prepare for whatever decision comes your way.

Why Notification Dates Matter

Knowing the exact notification date can help you feel more in control. While there’s no surefire way to make the waiting easier, planning for these dates gives you a timeline. 

Colleges often announce decision dates well in advance, with specific days reserved for when they’ll release Early Decision results. These dates are crucial not only for your mental preparation but also to ensure you’re ready to act on the result.

2025 Early Decision Notification Dates for the Class of 2028

Here’s a comprehensive list of Early Decision notification dates for top colleges and universities. Be aware that some schools may shift dates slightly based on unforeseen circumstances, so always double-check with the admissions office for the latest updates.

Name of School	EA Notification Date	ED I Notification Date	ED II Notification Date
American University		December 14	February 14
Amherst College		December 8
Babson College	December 15	December 13	February 3
Bard College	by December 31	by December 31	by January 31
Barnard College		December 13
Bates College		December 16	February 11
Baylor University	by January 15	by December 15
Boston College		December 5	February 6
Boston University		December 14	February 10
Bowdoin College		December 15	early February
Brandeis University		December 7	January 26
Brown University		December 15
Bryn Mawr College		December 15	February 3
Bucknell University		December 13	mid-February
Caltech	December 9
Carleton College		December 13	by February 15
Carnegie Mellon University		December 15	February 3
Case Western Reserve University	December 19	December 2	February 10
Chapman University	December 20	December 15
Claremont McKenna College		December 15	by February 15
Clark University	mid-January	late December	early February
Clemson University	December 14
Colby College		December 8	February 9
Colgate University		December 13	February 16
College of Charleston	around December 1	November 30	around March 1
College of the Holy Cross		December 15	by February 15
Colorado College	December 19	December 12	February 13
Columbia University		December 14
Connecticut College		December 8	February 10
Cornell University		December 14
Dartmouth College		December 15
Davidson College		December 16	January 31
Denison University	by February 15	by December 15
DePaul University	by December 15
Dickinson College		December 15	late February
Drexel University	December 14	December 14
Duke University		December 14
Elon University	December 20	December 1
Emerson College	mid-January	December 20	early February
Emory University		December 13	February 7
Fairfield University	December 20	December 15	February 15
Fordham University	December 15	December 15	February 15
Furman University	by January 15	by December 1	by February 1
George Mason University	December 15
George Washington University		December 14	February 15
Georgetown University	December 15
Georgia Institute of Technology	January 26	December 8 (in-state only)
Grinnell College		December 8	January 22
Hamilton College		December 14	February 8
Harvard University		December 14
Harvey Mudd College		December 12	February 15
Haverford College		December 8	early February
Howard University	late January	late January
Indiana University	by January 15
Johns Hopkins University		December 15	February 16
Lafayette College		December 15	February 16
Lehigh University		December 8	February 2
Lewis & Clark College	December 15	late November
Loyola Marymount University	mid-December	December 16	January 27
Macalester College	December 20	December 3	January 28
Marquette University	December 15
Miami University	December 1	December 15	February 1
Middlebury College		December 8	mid-February
MIT		December 16
New York University		December 14	February 15
Northeastern University	January 31	December 13	February 14
Northwestern University		December 15
Oberlin College		December 15	by February 1
Occidental College		December 15	February 20
Ohio State University	January 19; December 8
Penn State University
Pepperdine University	January 10
Pomona College		December 15	by February 15
Pratt Institute	by mid-December
Princeton University		December 14
Providence College	December 18	by December 1	by March 1
Purdue University	January 15
Reed College	February	December
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	January 27	December 9	January 13
Rice University		December 14
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology	December 15
Rutgers University	January 31
Santa Clara University	December 15	December 15	mid-February
Sarah Lawrence College	December 20	December 20	early February
Seattle University	December 20
Sewanee: The University of the South	late January	early December	late January
Skidmore College		December 7	February 11
Smith College		December 15	late January
Southern Methodist University	mid-December	December 8	mid-March
Stanford University		December 15
Swarthmore College		December 12	February 15
Syracuse University	late January	late December
Temple University	by January 10
Texas A&M University	mid-December
Texas Christian University (TCU)	December 14	December 1	by March 3
The New School Parsons	late December – early January
The New School Eugene Lang	late December – early January
Trinity College		December 14	February 15
Tufts University		December 14	February 2
Tulane University	December 20	December 5	February 5
University of Chicago	December 18	December 18	February 16
University of Colorado – Boulder	by February 1
University of Denver	late December – late January	early December	mid-February
University of Georgia	December 15 (out-of-state)	November 17 (in-state)
University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign	January 26
University of Maryland	by February 1
University of Massachusetts Amherst	January 24
University of Miami	January 26	December 8	February 23
University of Michigan	by late January
University of Minnesota	by February 15	By January 31
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill	January 31
University of Notre Dame		December 15
University of Pennsylvania		December 14
University of Richmond	January 26	December 27	February 16
University of Rochester		December 9	early February
University of San Francisco	late January	December 12
University of Southern California	January 19
University of South Carolina	December 15
University of Tennessee	December 20
University of Texas at Austin	February 1
University of Vermont	December 20	December 1
University of Virginia	February 2	December 15
University of Wisconsin	on or before January 31
Vanderbilt University		December 14	mid-February
Vassar College		December 12	January 27
Villanova University	January 19	December 15	February 12
Virginia Tech	February 3
Wake Forest University	January 13	Rolling	February 9
Washington & Lee University		December 13	January 26
Washington University in St. Louis		December 15	February 8
Wellesley College		December 8	February 11
Wesleyan University		December 9	February 11
Willamette University	December 8	December 8
William & Mary		December 5	January 24
Williams College		December 8
Worcester Polytechnic Institute	January 10; February 14	December 13	February 14
Yale University		December 14

Tip: Make sure to bookmark the admissions pages for each school you applied to for any updates on notification dates.

How to Prepare for Early Decision Notifications

The days and weeks leading up to your Early Decision result can be awash with excitement—and stress. Here are a few steps to make the waiting period productive and set yourself up for success, no matter the outcome:

• Check Financial Aid Documents: Double-check that all financial aid documents have been submitted in case your decision requires a quick commitment.
• Work on Regular Decision Applications: Continue completing Regular Decision applications as a backup. Even if you’re set on your ED choice, having a plan B is essential.
• Stay Busy with Extracurriculars: Engaging in activities you love can keep your mind occupied and reduce anxiety during the waiting period.

Looking for ways to go above and beyond—or how you can support your teenager?

• Centralize Family Support: Parents, now is the time to provide a supportive network to your children without adding pressure. Make sure your student knows that you are here for them, no matter what happens with college admissions.
• Keep Tabs on Media Channels: During the wait, you can monitor online forums or social media channels for unofficial updates on notification dates, as well.

What to Do When You Get Your Early Decision Result

Whether your result is an acceptance, deferral, or rejection, knowing how to respond is key.

Accepted!

Congratulations! Here’s what to do next:

• Confirm Your Acceptance: Most schools will require a formal confirmation of your commitment.
• Submit Your Deposit: Colleges typically require a deposit to hold your spot.
• Withdraw Other Applications: Since ED is binding, you’ll need to withdraw applications to other schools.

Deferred

If you’ve been deferred, you’re not out of the race yet! Here’s how to stay proactive:

• Update Your Application: Submit recent grades, additional recommendation letters, or any notable achievements.
• Express Continued Interest: Reach out to the admissions office to reaffirm your interest in the school.
• Prepare Regular Decision Applications: Treat this as a second chance and work on applying to other schools.

Rejected

Rejection can be tough but don’t lose heart. Take these steps:

• Pivot to Other Schools: Focus on completing Regular Decision applications.
• Reevaluate Your Application: Identify any areas for improvement if you plan to apply elsewhere.
• Stay Positive: Remember that this is just one step in your college journey. Many successful people faced initial rejection and went on to thrive.
• Process Your Emotions: While it’s understandable that you’re deeply invested in the process, take time to pause and get a handle on your emotional reactions before taking any drastic action. This choice to decompress and think logically is a mature and healthy strategy that will serve you well facing potential rejections in all areas of life.

FAQs about Early Decision Notification Dates

Q: What time of day are Early Decision notifications usually released?

A: Many schools release decisions in the evening, around 5-7 p.m. ET, at the end of the workday. However, each college may have a different schedule.

Q: Can I back out of an Early Decision acceptance?

A: Technically, no. Early Decision is a binding agreement. However, you may be released from the commitment if financial aid is insufficient. Contact the admissions office if you’re concerned about affordability.

Q: How do deferrals affect my chances in Regular Decision?

A: Some schools view deferred applicants favorably during the Regular Decision round, particularly if you demonstrate continued interest and submit updated information.

Q: Will the Early Decision notification timeline be different for international students?

A: While international students may need to submit additional forms or documentation (for instance, TOEFL or other international certifications), the notification timeline is the same for the rest of the Early Decision applicant pool.

Ready to Make Your College Dreams a Reality?

No matter your Early Decision result, remember that it’s just the beginning of your college journey. At Empower, our team of expert counselors is here to help you navigate each step of the process, from applications to acceptance.

Ready to take the next step? Book a consultation with Empowerly today and start planning for success in the Class of 2028.