88 Colleges With Rolling Admissions in the U.S. (2026)

More than 600 colleges in the U.S. use rolling admissions, which means you don’t face a single deadline.

Instead, your application is read as soon as it’s complete, and decisions are released until the incoming class is full.

You’ll benefit the most if you send your application near the start of the cycle. Colleges often have more seats, stronger aid packages, and better housing options available early in the year.

Some students even hear back within a few weeks, which removes uncertainty and allows you to plan your other applications with confidence.

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how rolling admissions works, what advantages and challenges to expect, and 88 U.S. colleges with rolling admissions to choose from.

What Are Rolling Admissions?

Rolling admissions is an admissions plan where colleges review applications as they’re submitted and release decisions throughout the cycle. It’s usually non-binding, which means you can apply and still keep your options open.

That flexibility is helpful, but it comes with one rule: earlier applications often face more open seats and more available resources. Later in the cycle, the same school can become meaningfully harder, especially for capped majors.

What rolling admissions is not: unlimited time. Even if a school lists a late “final deadline,” certain programs or scholarship pools can fill earlier than that date.

NACAC defines rolling admission as institutions reviewing applications as submitted and rendering decisions throughout the admission cycle, with a non-binding commitment.

Rolling Admissions vs Early Action vs Regular Decision

Students mix these up, so you want a simple comparison. The key difference is when schools review your file and how predictable the timeline feels.

Plan	When you apply	When schools review	Commitment
Rolling admissions	Within a long window	As your file becomes complete	Usually non-binding
Early action	Early fall	After EA deadline	Non-binding
Regular decision	Winter	After RD deadline	Non-binding
Early decision	Early fall	After ED deadline	Binding

Rolling admissions gives you speed and flexibility, but not certainty. The later you apply, the more the available “room” can shrink.

When To Apply to Rolling Admissions Colleges

If you want the highest acceptance odds, you apply early in the cycle. If you want the best housing and aid access, you apply early in the cycle. The advice stays the same because the constraint stays the same: schools are filling a class.

A practical target for many students is early fall through November. That’s when seats, scholarships, and housing options tend to be more available. Many students also hear back faster when they apply earlier, which helps you plan the rest of your list.

A common timeline for rolling decisions is about four to six weeks after you submit a complete application, though it can vary by school and time of year.

Top 88 Colleges With Rolling Admissions

You’re about to see the full list of 88 schools with key admissions data. Use it to build a shortlist you can actually manage.

Pick schools where your stats are competitive, then confirm two things on the official admissions site: (1) your major’s requirements and (2) scholarship or housing priority dates.

School	Location	Acceptance Rate	Average GPA	Average SAT	Average ACT
University of Alaska Anchorage	Anchorage, AK	65%	3.4	1030-1250	18-25
Tuskegee University	Tuskegee, Alabama	30%	3.3	960-1220	18-24
University of Alabama	Tuscaloosa, Alabama	80%	3.8	1130-1410	23-31
Hendrix College	Conway, Arkansas	60%	3.9	1130-1340	23-31
University of Arkansas	Fayetteville, Arkansas	79%	3.8	1030-1220	21-29
University of Arizona	Tucson, Arizona	87%	3.5	1140-1370	21-29
Arizona State University	Tempe, Arizona	90%	3.5	1120-1370	19-27
Loyola Marymount University	Los Angeles, California	41%	3.9	1300-1460	29-32
University of La Verne	La Verne, California	75%	3.5	970-1303	18-25
University of Redlands	Redlands, California	82%	3.8	1113-1278	25-30
University of the Pacific	Stockton, California	93%	3.6	1120-1423	25-33
University of Colorado Boulder	Boulder, Colorado	79%	3.7	1160-1390	26-31
Colorado State University	Fort Collins, Colorado	91%	3.7	1070-1290	23-29
Delaware State University	Dover, Delaware	55%	3.2	830-1050	20-24
University of Tampa	Tampa, Florida	26%	3.5	1080-1280	22-28
University of Central Florida	Orlando, Florida	41%	3.9	1200-1360	25-29
Florida International University	Miami, Florida	64%	3.9	1060-1250	21-26
Drake University	Des Moines, Iowa	67%	3.7	1110-1340	25-30
Wartburg College	Waverly, Iowa	97%	3.6	970-1120	19-25
Knox College	Galesburg, Illinois	73%	N/A	1163-1396	27-32
Loyola University Chicago	Chicago, Illinois	79%	3.8	1190-1370	27-32
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville	Edwardsville, IL	98%	3.6	930-1160	19-26
Indiana University Bloomington	Bloomington, Indiana	82%	3.8	1180-1400	27-32
Butler University	Indianapolis, Indiana	82%	3.9	1110-1320	24-30
Valparaiso University	Valparaiso, Indiana	94%	3.7	1140-1360	27-30
Wichita State University	Wichita, Kansas	68%	3.5	953-1260	19-26
University of Kentucky	Lexington, Kentucky	95%	3.6	1070-1290	21-28
Transylvania University	Lexington, KY	91%	3.7	1120-1360	23-29
Merrimack College	North Andover, Massachusetts	75%	3.5	1020-1260	22-28
Western New England University	Springfield, Massachusetts	88%	3.5	1090-1280	24-29
Towson University	Towson, Maryland	79%	3.8	1010-1230	19-25
Mount St. Mary’s University	Emmitsburg, Maryland	80%	3.5	1040-1250	19-25
Goucher College	Baltimore, Maryland	81%	3.3	1110-1370	24-33
Morgan State University	Baltimore, Maryland	85%	3.1	880-1060	16-21
Bowie State University	Bowie, Maryland	87%	3.2	800-1050	15-20
University of Maine	Orono, Maine	94%	3.4	1060-1280	22-30
University of Michigan-Dearborn	Dearborn, Michigan	54%	3.7	1010-1290	22-28
Madonna University	Livonia, MI	65%	3.5	870-1130	19-25
Western Michigan University	Kalamazoo, Michigan	85%	3.5	990-1220	19-27
Michigan State University	East Lansing, Michigan	88%	3.8	1100-1340	24-30
Gustavus Adolphus College	St. Peter, Minnesota	74%	3.6	N/A	25-31
University of Missouri	Columbia, Missouri	79%	N/A	1140-1340	23-30
Saint Louis University	St. Louis, Missouri	85%	3.9	1210-1400	26-31
University of Montana	Missoula, Montana	95%	3.3	1080-1278	19-26
North Carolina A&T State University	Greensboro, North Carolina	56%	3.8	960-1140	17-23
Creighton University	Omaha, Nebraska	76%	3.9	1208-1420	24-31
Rutgers University	New Brunswick, New Jersey	66%	N/A	1270-1480	28-33
Fairleigh Dickinson University	Teaneck, New Jersey	87%	3.2	980-1280	20-27
Montclair State University	Montclair, New Jersey	91%	3.3	950-1200	N/A
University of New Mexico	Albuquerque, New Mexico	96%	3.4	N/A	18-25
Hofstra University	Hempstead, New York	69%	3.8	1190-1370	26-31
New York Institute of Technology	Old Westbury, New York	76%	3.6	1118-1360	24-31
Le Moyne College	Syracuse, New York	78%	3.6	1130-1290	26-31
Alfred State College	Alfred, NY	82%	3.2	960-1180	19-25
St. John’s University (NY)	Queens, New York	85%	N/A	1110-1310	24-29
University of Iowa	Iowa City, Iowa	86%	3.8	1130-1340	22-28
Denison University	Granville, Ohio	22%	N/A	1270-1460	29-32
Xavier University	Cincinnati, Ohio	84%	3.7	1120-1310	23-30
University of Cincinnati	Cincinnati, Ohio	86%	3.7	1160-1360	24-29
Ohio University	Athens, Ohio	87%	3.8	1080-1270	22-27
University of Tulsa	Tulsa, Oklahoma	69%	3.6	1070-1350	21-30
University of Oklahoma	Norman, Oklahoma	73%	3.7	1130-1330	23-29
University of Oregon	Eugene, Oregon	86%	3.8	1140-1370	24-30
Pacific University	Forest Grove, Oregon	92%	3.7	1010-1350	20-26
Lafayette College	Easton, Pennsylvania	34%	3.6	1330-1480	30-33
University of Pittsburgh	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	49%	3.9	1280-1470	29-33
Penn State University	University Park, Pennsylvania	55%	3.7	1210-1390	26-31
Temple University	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	80%	3.4	1120-1370	24-31
Duquesne University	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	87%	3.9	1160-1330	25-31
Widener University	Chester, Pennsylvania	88%	3.4	1105-1290	N/A
Saint Joseph’s University	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	89%	N/A	1130-1320	26-31
York College of Pennsylvania	York, Pennsylvania	96%	3.5	1010-1220	22-27
Kutztown University	Kutztown, Pennsylvania	96%	3.3	1040-1260	19-26
University of South Carolina	Columbia, South Carolina	64%	3.6	1180-1380	27-32
University of Tennessee	Knoxville, Tennessee	68%	3.7	1170-1330	25-31
University of Tennessee – Chattanooga	Chattanooga, Tennessee	31%	3.8	1310-1470	29-33
Texas A&M University	College Station, Texas	63%	N/A	1150-1390	25-31
University of Houston	Houston, Texas	66%	3.5	1160-1330	23-29
Prairie View A&M University	Prairie View, Texas	77%	N/A	840-1050	18-20
University of Utah	Salt Lake City, Utah	89%	3.7	1190-1390	22-29
Hampton University	Hampton, Virginia	45%	3.3	840-1220	17-27
Washington State University	Pullman, Washington	83%	3.5	N/A	N/A
Whitworth University	Spokane, Washington	91%	3.7	1110-1350	19-27
Ripon College	Ripon, Wisconsin	81%	3.4	990-1170	19-27
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	95%	3.2	N/A	18-25
West Virginia University	Morgantown, West Virginia	77%	3.7	1000-1220	20-26
University of Wyoming	Laramie, Wyoming	96%	3.5	1030-1240	20-27

Top 10 Colleges With Rolling Admissions To Start Your Shortlist

These 10 schools are strong starting points because they’re recognizable, widely chosen by students, and span different selectivity levels and regions.

Each profile below gives you counselor-style guidance, then fast facts.

1. Penn State University (University Park)

Penn State is a strong fit if you want a major choice, research scale, and a large alumni network. It works especially well for students who want flexibility while exploring programs across business, STEM, and the social sciences.

Your application should show you can handle rigor, especially in core academics tied to your intended major.

If your profile is on the edge, your grades trend and course difficulty matter more than one test score. Plan ahead for housing and program-specific expectations.

• Location: University Park, PA
• Acceptance rate: 55%
• Average GPA: 3.7
• SAT: 1210–1390
• ACT: 26–31

2. Rutgers University (New Brunswick)

Rutgers can be a great match if you want a flagship experience near major Northeast opportunities. It tends to fit students who want strong academics with access to internships and networks across New Jersey and New York City.

Your strongest application angle is clarity: show academic direction through course choices, activities, and a focused personal narrative.

If you’re applying into a more competitive school or program, submit early and make sure every document is complete before review begins.

• Location: New Brunswick, NJ
• Acceptance rate: 66%
• Average GPA: N/A
• SAT: 1270–1480
• ACT: 28–33

3. University of Pittsburgh

Pitt is a strong option if you want a respected research university in a major medical and tech hub. It’s often a better fit for students who can show academic consistency and a clear reason for their major choice. If you’re aiming for a competitive pathway, don’t treat rolling admissions like a late safety.

Your essays should connect your interests to real experiences, not vague ambitions. Strong recommendations and a disciplined transcript can matter as much as test scores here.

• Location: Pittsburgh, PA
• Acceptance rate: 49%
• Average GPA: 3.9
• SAT: 1280–1470
• ACT: 29–33

4. University of Colorado Boulder

CU Boulder fits students who want a big campus feel with strong research and an outdoors-friendly college town. It can be a smart match if your grades are solid and your course rigor supports your intended program.

Your application is strongest when it shows momentum: strong junior-year performance, a focused senior schedule, and extracurricular depth that points somewhere.

If you’re applying to a more selective major, confirm requirements early, so you don’t miss a program cutoff.

• Location: Boulder, CO
• Acceptance rate: 79%
• Average GPA: 3.7
• SAT: 1160–1390
• ACT: 26–31

5. Arizona State University

ASU is a strong choice if you want flexibility, scale, and a wide range of majors. It often works well for students who want several academic pathways and strong support systems across a large university network.

Your application should emphasize readiness and follow-through, especially if your transcript has uneven spots.

A clear activities theme helps you stand out in a large pool. If you’re chasing merit aid, treat scholarship dates as separate deadlines and plan your submission around them.

• Location: Tempe, AZ
• Acceptance rate: 90%
• Average GPA: 3.5
• SAT: 1120–1370
• ACT: 19–27

6. University of Central Florida

UCF fits students who want a large campus with strong access to Orlando-area opportunities. It can be a smart option if you’re balancing cost, major availability, and a fast decision timeline.

Your strongest application will show academic stability, especially across math and writing, plus consistent involvement outside class.

If you’re applying for a popular program, confirm whether it has special requirements or limited capacity. Stay organized after you apply so your portal stays complete, and the review isn’t delayed.

• Location: Orlando, FL
• Acceptance rate: 41%
• Average GPA: 3.9
• SAT: 1200–1360
• ACT: 25–29

7. Indiana University Bloomington

IU Bloomington is a strong pick if you want a classic college-town campus with broad academic options.

It’s often a good match for students who can show both academic readiness and clear interest in a specific area. Your essays should sound grounded and personal, not generic. 

If you’re applying into a more competitive track, your course rigor and performance in relevant subjects matter most.

Make sure your application components are polished before submission, since rolling review can move quickly.

• Location: Bloomington, IN
• Acceptance rate: 82%
• Average GPA: 3.8
• SAT: 1180–1400
• ACT: 27–32

8. Loyola Marymount University

LMU can be a great fit if you want a private university in Los Angeles with strong academics and a mission-driven campus culture. It tends to reward applicants who show fit through clear values, community involvement, and thoughtful writing.

Rolling admissions still favors early, but not rushed, submissions. Your essays should be specific about what you want to study and why LMU supports that path.

If you’re applying test-optional, strengthen your file with rigor, strong grades, and meaningful leadership.

• Location: Los Angeles, CA
• Acceptance rate: 41%
• Average GPA: 3.9
• SAT: 1300–1460
• ACT: 29–32

9. Denison University

Denison is a strong option if you want a selective liberal arts experience with close advising. Rolling admissions does not mean it’s “easy,” so your story needs to be tight and intentional. 

Denison tends to fit students with academic consistency and extracurricular depth that shows real ownership, not scattered club lists.

Your essays should reflect curiosity and maturity, backed by evidence from your work. If you’re test-optional, your transcript strength and course rigor need to carry more weight.

• Location: Granville, OH
• Acceptance rate: 22%
• Average GPA: N/A
• SAT: 1270–1460
• ACT: 29–32

10. Lafayette College

Lafayette is a strong fit if you want a selective, mid-sized college with strong academics and close faculty access.

Your application needs to show intellectual direction and real engagement with your interests, not just high achievement. Lafayette often rewards students who demonstrate initiative through projects, research, leadership, or meaningful service.

If your grades are strong but your story is thin, focus on depth and impact in a few activities. Confirm financial aid steps early, since those timelines can differ from admissions review.

• Location: Easton, PA
• Acceptance rate: 34%
• Average GPA: 3.6
• SAT: 1330–1480
• ACT: 30–33

Benefits of Colleges With Rolling Admissions

Rolling admissions is worth using if you treat it as a strategy, not a rescue plan. Done right, it improves your choices and your confidence.

Here’s a closer look at what you gain when applying to schools with rolling admissions.

1. Faster Decisions, Earlier Clarity

Rolling admissions schools can respond much sooner than regular decision timelines. That early answer can lower stress and help you approach other deadlines with a calmer mindset. It also gives your family more time to talk through cost and logistics.

2. Flexibility Without Locking You In

Because rolling admission is usually non-binding, you can apply, receive an offer, and still compare later results. That makes rolling schools useful as early safeties or matches.

They’re also useful if your fall grades will strengthen your profile and you want a later submission without missing the entire cycle.

3. Better Access To Limited Resources

At many colleges, financial aid and housing aren’t unlimited. Merit awards, honors invitations, and preferred housing often go earlier in the cycle. You don’t want to be a strong applicant competing for what’s left.

4. A Smarter Full-Funnel Application Plan

Rolling admissions can make the rest of your list stronger. Once you have at least one acceptance, you can take bigger swings on reach schools and spend more time polishing essays.

Common Mistakes to Avoid With Rolling Admissions

Rolling admissions can give you flexibility, but it also creates traps for students who don’t plan carefully.

Here are the mistakes you need to watch for, and how to fix them.

1. Don’t Procrastinate

Students think they can wait until spring because the window looks wide open. By then, spots in popular majors and aid packages may already be gone.

Treat the opening of the rolling window as your true deadline. Aim to apply in the fall, even if you plan to send updated grades or test scores later.

2. Ignoring Priority Deadlines

Many rolling colleges still set “priority” dates for scholarships, housing, or certain majors. Missing them means fewer options, even if the application is still open.

Write down every school’s priority date and submit well before it. Prioritize your top-choice programs first, so you don’t lose out on aid.

3. Submitting a Weak or Incomplete Application

Some students rush to hit “submit,” sending files with typos, missing recommendations, or underdeveloped essays. Rolling schools may reject weak applications quickly.

Build your application early, polish your essays, and confirm all materials are uploaded before sending. Quality matters as much as timing.

4. Assuming Every Program Rolls

A university may have rolling admissions overall, but set firm deadlines for majors like nursing, engineering, or business. Students often miss this detail.

Always check the admissions page for program-specific requirements. If your intended major is selective, apply as soon as the window opens.

5. Overlooking Financial Aid Timing

Students confuse rolling admissions with rolling financial aid. In reality, FAFSA and scholarship deadlines operate on fixed calendars.

File FAFSA and CSS Profile as soon as they open. Submit scholarship applications early, and ask each college how aid is distributed.

6. Not Sending Updated Information

Students apply early but forget to update schools with new test scores, mid-year transcripts, or improved resumes. That can leave you with a weaker file.

After applying, track all updates. Send new scores, transcripts, and awards as soon as they’re available — colleges will add them to your file.

7. Relying on Outdated Information

Some students use admission stats from random blogs or old guidebooks. GPA ranges, test-optional policies, and acceptance rates change yearly.

Always confirm numbers with the Common Data Set (CDS), IPEDS, or the college’s own admissions page. Relying on updated data keeps your strategy realistic.

8. Not Confirming Space in Popular Programs

Even within rolling schools, certain majors, like nursing, computer science, or business, can close months before general admission ends. Students often apply late, assuming spots are still available.

Ask admissions if your intended program still has space before applying. If it’s filling quickly, move it to the top of your list. A counselor can also help you track these program-specific cutoffs so you don’t miss your chance.

Rolling Admissions Plan That Works

Here’s a plan you can actually execute without burnout:

• Week 1: Choose 2–3 rolling admissions schools as early anchors.
• Week 2: Finalize your personal statement and activities list.
• Week 3: Request recommendations with a short brag sheet.
• Week 4: Submit your rolling applications once every component is clean.
• After submission: Check portals weekly until everything is marked complete.

Once you have one acceptance, you can take smarter swings. You’ll also write better supplements because the pressure drops.

Use Rolling Admissions to Your Advantage

Rolling admissions works best when you treat it like a strategy. Apply early, track priority dates, and confirm major requirements before you submit. That’s how you turn flexibility into better options.

If you want help building a balanced list and a real submission plan, we can help. Our Empowerly counselors can sanity-check your reach/match/safety tiers and help you prioritize rolling admissions colleges without sacrificing stronger opportunities.

Book your FREE consultation today

FAQs: Rolling Admissions

1. Is rolling admissions easier to get into?

Not always. Early applicants often face lighter competition, but seats become limited later in the cycle.

2. Do rolling schools still have deadlines?

Yes. Many list priority dates for aid, housing, or specific majors. Missing these can reduce your options even if applications remain open.

3. How quickly will I hear back?

Most rolling schools respond in four to six weeks. Some send decisions even faster if you apply early in the fall.

4. Can I apply to rolling and regular decision schools together?

Yes. Many students secure a rolling acceptance first, then target regular decision deadlines with less stress.

5. Should I wait until my new test scores arrive before applying?

No. Apply as soon as you’re ready, then send updated scores when they’re released. Colleges will add them to your file.