Early vs. Regular Decision Acceptance Rates: 2025 Comparison

You’ve spent months crafting your college list. Now you’re staring at deadlines and wondering: should I go all in on one school, or wait and cast a wider net? Does applying via early vs. regular decision improve your chances of getting into college? 

In many cases, yes; the timing of your application can potentially shape your college admissions outcome. While there are no guarantees, admission data from selective universities show that students who apply early often have higher acceptance rates than those who apply through regular decision.

What exactly does this mean for you?

It means that if you are building your 2025 application strategy, understanding how early decision (ED), early action (EA), and regular decision (RD) compare can help you decide your best path forward. Today, we’ll take a closer look at the data and explain what these application plans entail.

Understanding early vs. regular decision applications

First, some definitions. Before looking at the numbers, know the rules for each type of application plan. 

If your head is already spinning and you need a translator for all this college jargon, try this higher education glossary.

Early Decision (ED)

• Binding commitment. If accepted, you must enroll and withdraw all other applications. You cannot compare financial aid offers. (If that seems unfair, you’re not alone in that thinking; a class action lawsuit has raised questions about whether ED policies favor affluent students.)
• Signals a strong interest. Applying ED tells colleges you are certain about attending, which helps them manage yield.
• Read more about ED in this blog article.

Early Action (EA)

• Non-binding. You apply early and receive a decision early, but you are not obligated to enroll.
• Flexibility. You can apply to multiple EA schools and still have until May 1 to decide and compare financial aid offers.
• Read more about EA in this blog article.

Restrictive Early Action (REA)

• Also non-binding, but exclusive. Offered at schools like Harvard and Yale. You apply early to one private school only, though you can still apply early to public universities.
• Benefits. Early decision timeline, regular decision flexibility.
• Read more about REA in this blog article.

How do early vs. regular decision results compare in 2025?

Early applicants are admitted at much higher rates at many selective schools. While the exact gap varies, early decision and early action rates tend to be higher than the overall acceptance rates. 

Want to see real numbers? Thanks to our excellent researchers, we’ve included 100+ colleges’ early and overall acceptance rates for the Class of 2025. 

Numbers tell a story. Understanding how drastically acceptance rates differ between early and regular applicants can help you prioritize where to submit early (especially if a school is your top choice). 

University Name	Acceptance Rate	ED Acceptance Rate	EA Acceptance Rate	ED Advantage	EA Advantage	City	State	College Webpage
Harvard University	3.65%		8.69%	–	2.38	Cambridge	MA	https://www.harvard.edu/
Columbia University	3.86%	13.23%		3.43	–	New York	NY	https://www.columbia.edu/
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	4.85%		4.72%	–	0.97	Cambridge	MA	https://web.mit.edu/
Northeastern University	5.22%	43.05%		8.25	–	Boston	MA	https://www.northeastern.edu/
Brown University	5.39%	14.37%		2.66	–	Providence	RI	https://www.brown.edu/
University of Pennsylvania	5.40%	14.22%		2.63	–	Philadelphia	PA	https://www.upenn.edu/
Dartmouth College	5.40%	19.18%		3.55	–	Hanover	NH	https://www.dartmouth.edu/
Duke University	5.71%	17.33%		3.04	–	Durham	NC	https://duke.edu/
Vanderbilt University	5.86%	15.38%		2.62	–	Nashville	TN	https://www.vanderbilt.edu/
Johns Hopkins University	6.44%	11.74%		1.82	–	Baltimore	MD	https://www.jhu.edu/
Pomona College	7.09%	12.98%		1.83	–	Claremont	CA	https://www.pomona.edu/
Colby College	7.09%	21.95%		3.10	–	Waterville	ME	https://www.colby.edu/
Bowdoin College	7.13%	13.47%		1.89	–	Brunswick	ME	https://www.bowdoin.edu/
Northwestern University	7.22%	22.55%		3.12	–	Evanston	IL	https://www.northwestern.edu/
Swarthmore College	7.46%	18.02%		2.41	–	Swarthmore	PA	https://www.swarthmore.edu/
William Marsh Rice University	8.00%	16.81%		2.10	–	Houston	TX	https://www.rice.edu/
Williams College	8.25%	23.34%		2.83	–	Williamstown	MA	https://www.williams.edu/
Cornell University	8.41%	11.64%		1.38	–	Ithaca	NY	https://www.cornell.edu/
Amherst College	9.01%	29.39%		3.26	–	Amherst	MA	https://www.amherst.edu/
Claremont McKenna College	9.59%	23.37%		2.44	–	Claremont	CA	https://www.cmc.edu/
Emory University	10.29%	23.23%		2.26	–	Atlanta	GA	https://www.emory.edu/home/index.html
Middlebury College	10.75%	30.50%		2.84	–	Middlebury	VT	https://www.middlebury.edu/
Boston University	11.11%	28.25%		2.54	–	Boston	MA	https://www.bu.edu/
Carnegie Mellon University	11.66%	14.18%		1.22	–	Pittsburgh	PA	https://www.cmu.edu/
Washington University in St. Louis	12.06%	25.26%		2.09	–	St. Louis	MO	https://washu.edu/
Haverford College	12.37%	29.40%		2.38	–	Haverford	PA	https://www.haverford.edu/
Oxford College of Emory University	12.66%	21.22%		1.68	–	Oxford	GA	https://oxford.emory.edu/
Harvey Mudd College	12.66%	16.16%		1.28	–	Claremont	CA	https://www.hmc.edu/
Bates College	13.32%	27.13%		2.04	–	Lewiston	ME	https://www.bates.edu/
Davidson College	13.37%	31.58%		2.36	–	Davidson	NC	https://www.davidson.edu/
Hamilton College	13.62%	29.44%		2.16	–	Clinton	NY	https://www.hamilton.edu/
Colgate University	13.88%	19.49%		1.40	–	Hamilton	NY	https://www.colgate.edu/
Washington and Lee University	13.97%	33.89%		2.43	–	Lexington	VA	https://www.wlu.edu/
Tulane University	13.98%	59.40%		4.25	–	New Orleans	LA	https://www.tulane.edu/
Webb Institute	14.04%	17.78%		1.27	–	Glen Cove	NY	https://www.webb.edu/
Wellesley College	14.05%	29.82%		2.12	–	Wellesley	MA	https://www.wellesley.edu/
Georgia Institute of Technology	14.07%		14.63%	–	1.04	Atlanta	GA	https://www.gatech.edu/
Grinnell College	14.51%	34.18%		2.36	–	Grinnell	IA	https://www.grinnell.edu/
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	15.34%		19.45%	–	1.27	Chapel Hill	NC	https://www.unc.edu/
Wesleyan University	16.49%	38.35%		2.33	–	Middletown	CT	https://www.wesleyan.edu/
University of Virginia	16.81%	27.91%	21.64%	1.66	1.29	Charlottesville	VA	https://www.virginia.edu/
Denison University	16.93%	21.95%		1.30	–	Granville	OH	https://denison.edu/
Babson College	17.09%	27.50%		1.61	–	Babson Park	MA	https://www.babson.edu/
College of the Holy Cross	17.61%	59.82%		3.40	–	Worcester	MA	https://www.holycross.edu/
Colorado College	18.47%	31.81%	20.57%	1.72	1.11	Colorado Springs	CO	https://www.coloradocollege.edu/
Vassar College	18.57%	31.23%		1.68	–	Poughkeepsie	NY	https://www.vassar.edu/
Rhode Island School of Design	18.66%	26.96%		1.44	–	Providence	RI	https://www.risd.edu/
University of Miami	18.90%	47.57%	57.10%	2.52	3.02	Coral Gables	FL	https://welcome.miami.edu/
Carleton College	20.41%	36.58%		1.79	–	Northfield	MN	https://www.carleton.edu/
Smith College	21.00%	38.20%		1.82	–	Northampton	MA	https://www.smith.edu/
Skidmore College	21.05%	41.39%		1.97	–	Saratoga Springs	NY	https://www.skidmore.edu/
University of Richmond	22.20%	33.79%	28.32%	1.52	1.28	Richmond	VA	https://www.richmond.edu/
Reed College	24.61%	15.21%		0.62	–	Portland	OR	https://www.reed.edu/
Spelman College	24.87%	28.93%	50.79%	1.16	2.04	Atlanta	GA	https://www.spelman.edu/
Pitzer College	25.16%	42.24%		1.68	–	Claremont	CA	https://www.pitzer.edu/
Trinity University	25.92%	48.04%		1.85	–	San Antonio	TX	https://www.trinity.edu/
Lehigh University	25.93%	44.93%		1.73	–	Bethlehem	PA	https://www.lehigh.edu
Villanova University	26.98%	54.25%		2.01	–	Villanova	PA	https://www1.villanova.edu/university.html
Franklin & Marshall College	28.19%	28.10%		1.00	–	Lancaster	PA	https://www.fandm.edu/
Macalester College	28.52%	39.37%		1.38	–	St. Paul	MN	https://www.macalester.edu/
Bucknell University	28.93%	55.45%		1.92	–	Lewisburg	PA	https://www.bucknell.edu/
Bryn Mawr College	29.43%	36.62%		1.24	–	Bryn Mawr	PA	https://www.brynmawr.edu/
Kenyon College	31.03%	28.41%		0.92	–	Gambier	OH	https://www.kenyon.edu/
Lafayette College	31.45%	42.41%		1.35	–	Easton	PA	https://www.lafayette.edu/
Oberlin College	32.98%	35.57%		1.08	–	Oberlin	OH	https://www.oberlin.edu/
William & Mary	34.07%	47.04%		1.38	–	Williamsburg	VA	https://www.wm.edu/
Mount Holyoke College	36.03%	46.17%		1.28	–	South Hadley	MA	https://www.mtholyoke.edu/
Connecticut College	37.04%	41.06%		1.11	–	New London	CT	https://www.conncoll.edu/
University of Georgia	37.19%		41.34%	–	1.11	Athens	GA	https://www.uga.edu/
Case Western Reserve University	37.78%	37.06%		0.98	–	Cleveland	OH	https://case.edu/
Whitman College	38.15%	19.03%		0.50	–	Walla Walla	WA	https://www.whitman.edu/
Scripps College	38.29%	47.39%		1.24	–	Claremont	CA	https://www.scrippscollege.edu/
Binghamton University, State University of New York	38.61%		59.37%	–	1.54	Binghamton	NY	https://www.binghamton.edu/
University of Rochester	40.08%	38.05%		0.95	–	Rochester	NY	https://www.rochester.edu/
Brandeis University	40.51%	42.22%		1.04	–	Waltham	MA	https://www.brandeis.edu/
Howard University	41.34%	49.43%	54.71%	1.20	1.32	Washington	DC	https://howard.edu/
The University of Tennessee	41.60%			–	–	Knoxville	TN	https://www.utk.edu/
North Carolina State University	41.67%		42.14%	–	1.01	Raleigh	NC	https://www.ncsu.edu/
Dickinson College	42.09%	51.38%		1.22	–	Carlisle	PA	https://www.dickinson.edu/
Southwestern University	43.05%	58.14%	60.75%	1.35	1.41	Georgetown	TX	https://www.southwestern.edu/
Union College	43.92%	42.16%	53.11%	0.96	1.21	Schenectady	NY	https://www.union.edu/
Occidental College	44.17%	47.85%		1.08	–	Los Angeles	CA	https://www.oxy.edu/
Texas Christian University	44.49%	68.52%	50.34%	1.54	1.13	Fort Worth	TX	https://www.tcu.edu/
Bennington College	44.53%	14.53%	56.34%	0.33	1.27	Bennington	VT	https://www.bennington.edu/
University of Central Florida	44.71%		76.48%	–	1.71	Orlando	FL	https://www.ucf.edu/
Bentley University	45.05%	61.07%		1.36	–	Waltham	MA	https://www.bentley.edu/
Loyola Marymount University	45.08%	44.11%	55.15%	0.98	1.22	Los Angeles	CA	https://www.lmu.edu/
Syracuse University	46.11%	58.48%		1.27	–	Syracuse	NY	https://www.syracuse.edu/
The George Washington University	47.09%	66.29%		1.41	–	Washington	DC	https://www.gwu.edu/
Stevens Institute of Technology	47.58%	72.40%		1.52	–	Hoboken	NJ	https://www.stevens.edu/
Santa Clara University	48.00%	80.13%		1.67	–	Santa Clara	CA	https://www.scu.edu/
Stony Brook University, State University of New York	49.04%		70.54%	–	1.44	Stony Brook	NY	https://www.stonybrook.edu/
Rhodes College	49.68%		64.60%	–	1.30	Memphis	TN	https://www.rhodes.edu/
Fordham University	56.28%	68.29%	57.73%	1.21	1.03	Bronx	NY	https://www.fordham.edu/
Baylor University	51.28%	76.72%		1.50	–	Waco	TX	https://www.baylor.edu/
Providence College	50.89%	85.50%		1.68	–	Providence	RI	https://www.providence.edu/
Parsons School of Design at The New School	56.62%		76.25%	–	1.35	New York	NY	https://www.newschool.edu/parsons/
University of Massachusetts Amherst	59.73%		64.18%	–	1.07	Amherst	MA	https://www.umass.edu/
Worcester Polytechnic Institute	60.16%	75.63%	68.89%	1.26	1.15	Worcester	MA	https://www.wpi.edu/
The University of Tulsa	61.50%			–	–	Tulsa	OK	https://utulsa.edu/
University of San Francisco	61.71%	49.41%	78.75%	0.80	1.28	San Francisco	CA	https://www.usfca.edu/
Sarah Lawrence College	61.73%	49.54%	2.58%	0.80	0.04	Bronxville	NY	https://www.sarahlawrence.edu/
American University	61.87%	79.75%		1.29	–	Washington		https://www.american.edu/
Agnes Scott College	62.15%	53.33%		0.86	–	Decatur	GA	https://www.agnesscott.edu/
The College of New Jersey	62.35%	74.88%		1.20	–	Ewing	NJ	https://tcnj.edu/
Southern Methodist University	63.35%	87.38%	91.09%	1.38	1.44	Dallas	TX	https://www.smu.edu/
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	63.43%	57.92%	71.79%	0.91	1.13	Troy	NY	https://www.rpi.edu/
Chapman University	65.43%	51.42%	73.63%	0.79	1.13	Orange	CA	https://www.chapman.edu/
Rochester Institute of Technology	66.93%	72.20%		1.08	–	Rochester	NY	https://www.rit.edu/
Ithaca College	69.01%	81.03%	90.33%	1.17	1.31	Ithaca	NY	https://www.ithaca.edu/
New College of Florida	74.00%		86.10%	–	1.16	Sarasota	FL	https://www.ncf.edu/
University at Buffalo, the State University of New York	74.18%		81.55%	–	1.10	Buffalo	NY	https://www.buffalo.edu
Loyola University Maryland	75.49%	41.82%	85.96%	0.55	1.14	Baltimore	MD	https://www.loyola.edu/admission/graduate/
Lewis & Clark College	78.49%	71.43%	88.04%	0.91	1.12	Portland	OR	https://www.lclark.edu/
Drexel University	79.44%	91.74%		1.15	–	Philadelphia	PA	https://www.drexel.edu/

Why do colleges admit more early applicants?

The trend is clear: for many top colleges, applying early offers a significant admissions edge (doubling or tripling your odds, in some cases).

There are, of course, many reasons for this trend. Here are the major ones:

• Smaller, stronger applicant pool. Students who apply early are often among the most prepared applicants, with strong academics and test scores completed early in the process.
• Yield management. Colleges like to lock in a large portion of their class through ED to stabilize enrollment.
• Demonstrated interest. Applying early signals commitment, which some colleges weigh as a factor in admissions decisions.

When does applying early vs. regular decision make sense?

Early admissions can raise your odds, but it isn’t the best move for everyone. When does it make sense?

• If your application is already strong by the fall of senior year, with high grades, strong essays, and completed testing. 
• The college is your clear first choice, and your family is comfortable with committing before comparing financial aid offers.
• Your senior year grades won’t make a big difference. If you’re hoping to show an upward trend in your grades or improve your standardized test scores, applying regular decision might be a better option.

Applying early? Here are the most important dates.

Planning to apply early? Here are the key deadlines you need to track.

• Oct 1: FAFSA release
• Oct – Nov: CSS Profile deadlines
• Nov 1: Most ED/EA/REA deadlines
• Dec: ED notifications
• May 1: Regular/EA enrollment decision due

Let’s break that down, piece by piece.

Application submission

This is the most crucial deadline. It is essential to check each college’s specific website for its exact deadline. Some schools may have slightly earlier or later deadlines, and a missed date can void your early application.

For most colleges, it looks like: 

• ED: usually November 1
• EA: often November 1 or 15
• REA: usually November 1

Financial aid forms

While the application itself is the priority, the financial aid deadlines are equally critical. Late submission can reduce your eligibility for grants or scholarships.

• FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): The FAFSA usually becomes available on October 1. While the federal deadline is much later, many colleges require it to be submitted by the same early application deadline. This article reviews the most recent updates to the FAFSA form.
• CSS Profile: Many private colleges and universities require the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA (this article helps distinguish them). Similarly, the deadline for the CSS Profile is often the same as the early application deadline, and missing it could mean missing out on crucial grant money or scholarships.

Supporting documents

Your application isn’t just one document. It’s a collection of materials that must be submitted by the deadline.

• Standardized tests: If you are submitting test scores, you must ensure they are sent on time. This often means taking the test no later than a month before the application deadline.
• Letters of recommendation: The burden is on you to ensure your teachers and counselor submit their letters of recommendation by the deadline. You should ask for these letters well in advance to be respectful, and inform them of the deadlines beforehand.
• Transcript: Your high school counselor will need to send your official transcript. Make sure they know your deadlines so they can submit this document on time.

Decision and enrollment

While these come after you’ve applied, they are still important to keep in mind.

• Decision notification: Early applicants typically receive their decision in mid-December.
• Enrollment deadline:
  • For early action (EA) students, the deadline to accept an offer of admission is typically May 1, which is National College Decision Day. 
  • Early decision (ED) students, on the other hand, have a much earlier, binding commitment deadline, often in December or January, and must withdraw all other applications upon acceptance.

Where to find reliable admissions data

If you want to research specific colleges more on your own, these sources publish the most accurate data on early and regular decision results: 

• Common Data Set (CDS): This is the gold standard for college admissions data. The CDS standardizes the data colleges report, making it easier to compare institutions.
• National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC): NACAC is the primary professional organization for college admissions counselors. They offer national-level trends on application types and acceptance rates across hundreds of schools.
• University press releases and blogs: Many schools announce early results in December or January, and full results are released in March or April.

The bottom line

Applying early can raise your chances, especially at selective colleges, but only if you are academically ready and confident about your choice. Early plans reward preparation and commitment, not last-minute improvements.

As we’ve discussed, the timing of your application can influence your outcomes, but it’s not make or break.

Looking for expert guidance?

Whether you’re confident about your ED choice or still weighing your options, talking to someone who’s been through this can help. Empowerly counselors are here to listen, clarify your options, and help build a strategy that works for you. Explore our Early Decision Results 2025 to see how early applicants have fared and plan your strategy with professional, empathetic support. 

Still unsure? Every student’s situation is different. There are plenty of individual circumstances that could influence your overall strategy. To talk with an expert one-on-one, book a consultation to continue the conversation and get your questions answered!