11 Colleges Where Early Applicants Gain an Edge
Early acceptance rates at these institutions showed a significant advantage over regular decision rates, according to U.S. News data.
Though crafting a standout college application can be a time-consuming and stressful process, submitting an application in the fall, well before the typical winter deadline for regular admissions, is possible. At some schools, submitting admissions materials at the beginning of the admissions cycle offers a significant advantage to prospective students, increasing their chances of acceptance. However, it's important to note that some early admissions programs may have restrictive policies regarding where else students can apply.
"We believe that by being the first to extend an offer, we have a better chance of developing a relationship with the student and their family," wrote Jonathan Kent, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Alfred University in New York, which offers both early action and regular admissions.
Out of the 272 ranked undergraduate institutions that provided early and regular acceptance rates to U.S. News in their annual survey, 263 were more likely to admit students who applied early.
Nevertheless, individuals considering submitting an early college application should be aware of the various types of early admissions programs available.
Early action programs allow candidates to receive early consideration and an early admissions decision, often before the end of the calendar year. Importantly, these programs do not require a commitment to attend the school upon acceptance, enabling admitted students to compare and negotiate financial aid offers from different schools.
While some early action programs may have restrictions on where else applicants can apply early, nonbinding early action is seen as a way to convey to the student that the school values their application.
Early action also provides students with quicker access to financial aid offers. For instance, Alfred University started making early action decisions in October the previous year, a month earlier than in previous years, resulting in higher enrollment numbers. The school experienced a 30% overall increase in student enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year, including a 15% rise in early action enrollment.
On the other hand, early decision programs require students to make a binding commitment to attend the school if accepted, with serious repercussions for those who renege. For students with a clear first-choice school, applying early decision can significantly expedite the college admission process and allow them to compete in a smaller applicant pool.
Among ranked colleges with early admissions programs, the average early acceptance rate for early action applicants was 78%, while the average for early decision candidates was 62%, compared to the average regular acceptance rate of 61%.
The advantage gained by applying early is substantial at some colleges. Among the 11 undergraduate institutions where early applicants had the greatest advantage, the average difference between early and regular admissions rates was approximately 44 percentage points.
Five of these 11 schools are National Universities, three are National Liberal Arts Colleges, and three are Regional Universities.
The most significant advantage for early applicants over regular decision was at Tulane University, where early decision applicants had a 68% acceptance rate, compared to the 11% acceptance rate for regular decision applicants. The school also offers early action, with a 12% acceptance rate for early action applicants.
In contrast, some colleges do not show a preference for early candidates. Eleven colleges reported equal or nearly equal early and regular acceptance rates, while 20 schools admitted regular applicants during the regular admissions round more frequently than early candidates.
For example, Sweet Briar College, a private school in Virginia, reported equal regular and early decision rates at 78%, although its early action rate was more selective at 65%.
At Washington & Jefferson University, a private school in Pennsylvania, regular acceptance rates surpassed early ones by the greatest margin: the regular acceptance rate was 88%, and the early decision rate was 31%.
Below is a list of the 11 colleges where early applicants had the greatest advantage over regular decision applicants. In cases where students could submit either an early action or early decision application, the acceptance rate displayed below is for the type of early admissions program with the highest odds of acceptance. Unranked schools were not considered for this report.
Colleges Where Early Applicants Have the Greatest Advantage:
PERSONALIZED PROGRAMS
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