Applications
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).
| 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!