Meet Empowerly’s Class of 2025 — a driven, talented group of students whose dedication, strategic planning, and perseverance have led to outstanding early admission results. Applying early can be a game-changer, offering students a competitive edge in the admissions process. Whether through Early Decision (ED), Early Action (EA), or even Restrictive Early Action (REA), these students seized the opportunity to maximize their chances at top colleges.
In this post, we’ll break down key early admission trends, Empowerly’s acceptance rates, top scholarships earned, and what these results reveal about the evolving college admissions landscape. If you’re considering applying early, this insight can help you make informed decisions and increase your chances of success.
Early Admission Trends
Early admission trends for the Class of 2025 have started to emerge highlighting the evolving strategies of both applicants and institutions in the college admissions landscape. The following trends have been emerging so far.
Variation in early application numbers
Some of the top colleges saw an increase in applications particularly those that have kept their test-optional policies in place. For example, over 9,500 students applied to Penn through the Early Decision Program—an increase from last year’s total of over 8,500 applications. NYU received approximately 25,000 early applications, an increase of approximately 10% over last year. Duke received a record 6,627 early applications for the Class of 2025, representing an 8% increase over the previous year. Notre Dame reviewed a record 12,917 early applications, a 16% increase from the prior year.
Other institutions saw rates plateau since reintroducing test requirements. Columbia saw a 2.28% decrease in applications while Yale reported a 14% decrease in early applications. Dartmouth application numbers remained steady, receiving 3,550 applications this year, on par with last year.
Eliminating legacy preferences
Some institutions have eliminated legacy preferences since the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action including Wesleyan, Carleton College, Occidental College, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and University of Pittsburgh. A recent report by think-tank Education Reform Now, found that more than half of the colleges and universities that once gave an admissions preference to the relatives of alumni have stopped doing so in the past decade.
First-gen students account for a large share of early admissions
In seeking new ways to diversify their incoming cohort, many schools have sought to secure the talents of first-generation students. At Brown, Barnard, and Dartmouth, close to 20% of early admitted students will be the first in their families to attend college. Similarly at Duke, 15% of early admitted applicants come from first-generation backgrounds.
Empowerly’s Early Admission Results
Among our students who have reported so far, the average early acceptance rate is 76%, showcasing a strong performance from Empowerly students. This year our students were accepted into every Ivy League college and top 25 college. Thirty-two percent of Empowerly applications were accepted into Ivy League schools, compared to the national average of just 5%. In other words, we boosted our students’ chances of securing an Ivy League spot by a factor of five.
Empowerly Early Admission Rates
| College | Empowerly student acceptance rate | National early + regular acceptance rate | Empowerly advantage |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 56% | 11.4% | 5X |
| Cornell University | 36% | 7.9% | 5X |
| Duke University | 29% | 6.8% | 4X |
| Emory University | 100% | 31%* | 3X |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | 100% | 33%* | 3X |
| Harvard University | 18% | 3.5% | 5X |
| MIT | 22% | 4.0% | 6X |
| New York University | 55% | 11.6% | 6X |
| Stanford University | 30% | 3.9% | 8X |
| University of Chicago | 42% | 4.8% | 9X |
| University of Michigan | 100% | 17.9% | 6X |
| University of Notre Dame | 73% | 20.7%* | 4X |
| University of Pennsylvania | 30% | 5.9% | 5X |
| University of Southern California | 61% | 12.0% | 5X |
Scholarship success in early admissions
Scholarship funding can often be more generous during the early admission round. Many colleges and scholarship programs recognize early applicants as highly motivated and committed, and as a result, they may allocate a larger share of their financial aid resources to these candidates.
In the early admission round Empowerly students secured over $5.5 million in scholarships including several full-ride awards. Our students’ success serves as an example of how early application can open doors to substantial financial support, paving the way for academic and personal success.
Final Thoughts
These achievements are a testament to the impact of early admissions, the hard work put in by students, and the comprehensive support Empowerly provides. We believe that every student deserves the opportunity to reach their highest potential.
If you’re eager to take charge of your college application journey, now is the perfect time to get started. Empowerly is here to help you navigate the complexities of the college admissions process, from crafting standout applications to securing early admissions and scholarship funding. When it comes time for you to apply, our partnership can help you become a part of these successful admissions statistics.
