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.
2024-2025 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.
Julia de Raadt
Madeleine Karydes