Early Decision allows students to apply earlier to their dream colleges. However, if you’re accepted, you’re expected to attend the school the following fall. We’ve compiled a list of over 200 colleges and universities in the United States that offer Early Decision to their applicants. Here’s a review of what you can expect.
What Is Early Decision?
Early Decision is an application deadline for students who are certain they want to attend a certain college or university. If the applicant is accepted, the student is expected to submit their deposit in the next few weeks, withdraw any other applications to other colleges, and attend the following fall.
Although it’s often referred to as a “contract” or “binding agreement,” it’s possible to back out of Early Decision, but you could face fines and other problems. However, if the financial aid package simply doesn’t cover the amount you need to attend the school, you’ll be allowed out of the agreement.
Early Decision II is the same as Early Decision I, but with a later deadline. Not all colleges have Early Decision II.
Early Decision Colleges and Universities
Below, we’ve compiled a list of over 200 colleges and universities that offer Early Decision deadlines in 2024 for the 2025-26 school year. Use the sort or search function on table see if your college has EDII. Keep these tips in mind when using this list:
- Schools regularly change their admissions policies. If you don’t see your school on this list, definitely check the school’s website just in case they’ve changed or added policies.
- Deadlines are also subject to change, especially during subsequent years. In addition, some colleges could extend deadlines or stop accepting new applications if they received the allotted amount.
- Deadlines vary between schools. Early Decision applications are usually due on November 1 and 15 and Early Decision II applications are often required by Jan 1 or 15. However, the list below shows this often isn’t the case.
- Consider Early Action. If you’re not positive about your college, you can always apply to an Early Action school.
| Early Decision School | State | ED 1 | ED Notification | ED 2 | ED 2 Notification | EA? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes Scott College | Georgia | Nov 1 | Dec 1 | Jan 15 | Rolling | Yes |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | New York | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Allegheny College | Pennsylvania | Nov 1 | Dec 1 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| American University | Washington DC | Nov 1 | Dec 31 | Jan 15 | Feb 15 | Yes |
| Amherst College | Massachusetts | Nov 8 | Mid-Dec | N/A | N/A | No |
| Augustana College | Illinois | Nov 1 | Nov 15 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Babson College | Massachusetts | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | Jan 2 | Mid-Feb | Yes |
| Bard College | New York | Nov 1 | Dec 31 | Jan 1 | Jan 31 | Yes |
| Barnard College | New York | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | N/A | N/A | No |
| Bates College | Maine | Nov 15 | Dec 20 | Jan 10 | Feb 15 | No |
| Baylor University | Texas | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Bennington College | Vermont | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 15 | Mid-Feb | Yes |
| Bentley University | Massachusetts | Nov 15 | Late Dec | Jan 15 | Early Feb | No |
| Boston College | Massachusetts | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | Jan 2 | Feb 15 | No |
| Boston University | Massachusetts | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | Jan 6 | Mid-Feb | No |
| Bowdoin College | Maine | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 6 | Early Feb | No |
| Brandeis University | Massachusetts | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | Jan 2 | Feb 1 | No |
| Brown University | Rhode Island | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | N/A | N/A | No |
| Bryant University | Rhode Island | Nov 1 | Dec 1 | Jan 15 | Feb 15 | Yes |
| Bryn Mawr College | Pennsylvania | Nov 15 | Dec 31 | Jan 1 | Mid-Feb | No |
| Bucknell University | Pennsylvania | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 15 | Mid-Feb | No |
| Carleton College | Minnesota | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | Jan 15 | Feb 15 | No |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pennsylvania | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | N/A | N/A | No |
| Case Western Reserve University | Ohio | Nov 1 | Dec 7 | Jan 15 | Feb 10 | Yes |
| Centre College | Kentucky | Nov 1 | Early Jan | Jan 15 | Late Feb | Yes |
| Champlain College | Vermont | Nov 15 | Dec 16 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Chapman University | California | Nov 1 | Dec 31 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Christopher Newport University | Virginia | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Claremont McKenna College | California | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | Jan 10 | Feb 15 | No |
| Clark University | Massachusetts | Nov 1 | Late Dec | Jan 15 | Early Feb | Yes |
| Clarkson University | New York | Dec 1 | Not listed | N/A | N/A | No |
| Coe College | Iowa | Nov 15 | 2 weeks | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Colby College | Maine | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | Jan 3 | Feb 15 | No |
| Colgate University | New York | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | Jan 15 | Mid-Feb | No |
| College of Charleston | South Carolina | Nov 1 | Early Dec | Jan 15 | Early March | Yes |
| College of the Atlantic | Maine | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | Jan 15 | Jan 30 | Yes |
| College of the Holy Cross | Massachusetts | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | Jan 15 | Feb 15 | No |
| College of William and Mary | Virginia | Nov 1 | Early Dec | Jan 5 | Early Feb | No |
| College of Wooster | Ohio | Nov 1 | Nov 15 | Jan 15 | Feb 1 | Yes |
| Colorado College | Colorado | Nov 1 | Dec 11 | Jan 15 | Feb 13 | Yes |
| Columbia University | New York | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | N/A | N/A | No |
| Connecticut College | Connecticut | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 15 | Mid-Feb | No |
| Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | New York | Nov 1 & Dec 1* | Not listed | N/A | N/A | No |
| Cornell University | New York | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | N/A | N/A | No |
| Cox College (Nursing) | Missouri | June 1 | Not listed | N/A | N/A | No |
| Dartmouth College | New Hampshire | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | N/A | N/A | No |
| Davidson College | North Carolina | Nov 15 | Dec 16 | Jan 6 | Jan 31 | No |
| Denison University | Ohio | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 15 | Mid-Feb | No |
| DePauw University | Indiana | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | Dec 15 | Jan 15 | Yes |
| Dickinson College | Pennsylvania | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 15 | Late Feb | No |
| Drew University | New Jersey | Nov 1 | Late Nov | Jan 15 | Feb 15 | Yes |
| Drexel University | Pennsylvania | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Duke University | North Carolina | Nov 4 | Mid-Dec | N/A | N/A | No |
| Elon University | North Carolina | Nov 1 | Dec 1 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Emerson College | Massachusetts | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | Jan 3 | Early Feb | Yes |
| Emory University | Georgia | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | Jan 1 | March 1 | No |
| Fairfield University | Connecticut | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | Jan 15 | Feb 15 | Yes |
| Flagler College | Florida | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | N/A | N/A | No |
| Florida Southern College | Florida | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Fordham University | New York | Nov 1 | Dec 20 | Jan 3 | Feb 15 | Yes |
| Franklin & Marshall College | Pennsylvania | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | Jan 6 | Feb 5 | No |
| Furman University | South Carolina | Nov 1 | Nov 15 | Jan 15 | Feb 1 | Yes |
| George Washington University | Washington DC | Nov 1 | Late Dec | Jan 5 | Late Feb | No |
| Gettysburg College | Pennsylvania | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | Jan 15 | Feb 1 | Yes |
| Grinnell College | Iowa | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 5 | Early Feb | No |
| Grove City College | Pennsylvania | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | Dec 1 | Jan 15 | No |
| Hamilton College | New York | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | Jan 6 | Feb 15 | No |
| Hampden-Sydney College | Virginia | Nov 1 | Early Dec | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Harvey Mudd College | California | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | Jan 5 | Feb 15 | No |
| Haverford College | Pennsylvania | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | Jan 5 | Early Feb | No |
| High Point University | North Carolina | Nov 1 | Nov 23 | Feb 1 | Feb 15 | Yes |
| Hillsdale College | Michigan | Nov 1 | Early Dec | N/A | N/A | No |
| Hobart and William Smith Colleges | New York | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 15 | Mid-Feb | Yes |
| Hollins University | Virginia | Nov 1 | Not Listed | Jan 3 | Not Listed | Yes |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | Illinois | Nov 1 | December | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Iona College | New York | Dec 1 | Not listed | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Ithaca College | New York | Nov 1 | Dec 16 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Jewish Theological Seminary | New York | Nov 1 | Late Dec | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Johns Hopkins University | Maryland | Nov 1 | Dec 13 | Jan 2 | Feb 14 | No |
| Juniata College | Pennsylvania | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | Jan 15 | Feb 15 | Yes |
| Kalamazoo College | Michigan | Nov 1 | Dec 1 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Kenyon College | Ohio | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 15 | Mid-Feb | No |
| King’s College – Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Dec 1 | Rolling | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Lafayette College | Pennsylvania | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 15 | Mid-Feb | No |
| Lake Forest College | Illinois | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | Jan 15 | Feb 1 | Yes |
| Lawrence University | Wisconsin | Nov 1 | Dec 1 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Lehigh University | Pennsylvania | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | Jan 1 | Mid-Feb | No |
| Lewis & Clark College | Oregon | Nov 1 | Jan 1 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Long Island University | New York | Dec 15 | Jan 1 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Loyola Marymount University | California | Nov 1 | Not Listed | Jan 8 | Not Listed | Yes |
| Loyola University Maryland | Maryland | Nov 15 | Late Dec | Jan 15 | Early March | Yes |
| Lycoming College | Pennsylvania | Nov 15 | Early Dec | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Lynchburg College | Virginia | Dec 1 | Mid-Dec | N/A | N/A | No |
| Lynn University | Florida | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Macalester College | Minnesota | Nov 1 | Dec 8 | Jan 1 | Jan 26 | Yes |
| Manhattan College | New York | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | N/A | N/A | No |
| Marist College | New York | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Feb 15 | Late Feb | Yes |
| McDaniel College | Maryland | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | N/A | Not Listed | Yes |
| Meredith College | North Carolina | Oct 30 | Nov 15 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Merrimack College | Massachusetts | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 15 | Feb 1 | Yes |
| Miami University | Ohio | Nov 1 | Dec 1 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Middlebury College | Vermont | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | Jan 3 | Mid-Feb | No |
| Monmouth University | New Jersey | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Moody Bible Institute | Illinois | Dec 1 | Jan 15 | N/A | N/A | No |
| Morehouse College | Georgia | Nov 1 | Dec 5 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Mount Holyoke College | Massachusetts | Nov 15 | Late Dec | Jan 3 | Late Jan | No |
| Muhlenberg College | Pennsylvania | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Feb 1 | Mid-Feb | Yes |
| Nazareth College | New York | Nov 1 | Nov | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| New York University | New York | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | Jan 1 | Feb 15 | No |
| Northeastern University | Massachusetts | Nov 1 | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | Mar 1 | Yes |
| Northwestern University | Illinois | Nov 1 | Dec | N/A | N/A | No |
| Oberlin College and Conservatory | Ohio | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | Jan 2 | Feb 1 | No |
| Occidental College | California | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | Jan 10 | Feb 20 | No |
| Ohio Wesleyan University | Ohio | Nov 15 | Early Dec | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Pace University | New York | Nov 1 | Nov 31 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Pitzer College | California | Nov 15 | Mid Dec | Jan 6 | Mid Feb | No |
| Pomona College | California | Nov 8 | Dec 15 | Jan 8 | Feb 15 | No |
| Providence College | Rhode Island | Nov 1 | Dec 1 | Jan 15 | Mar 1 | Yes |
| Queens University of Charlotte | North Carolina | Nov 15 | Not Listed | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Quinnipiac University | Connecticut | Nov 1 | Mid-Nov | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey | New Jersey | Nov 1 | Dec 5 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Randolph-Macon College | Virginia | Nov 15 (Nursing) | Mid-Dec | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Yes |
| Reed College | Oregon | Nov 15 | Dec | Dec 20 | Feb | Yes |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | New York | Nov 1 | Dec 14 | Jan 3 | Jan 25 | Yes |
| Rhode Island School of Design | Rhode Island | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | N/A | N/A | No |
| Rhodes College | Tennessee | Nov 1 | Early Dec | Jan 15 | Mid-Feb | Yes |
| Rice University | Texas | Nov 1 | Not Listed | Jan 4 | Not Listed | No |
| Roanoke College | Virginia | Nov 1 | Not Listed | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | New York | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | Jan 1 | Mid-Jan | Yes |
| Rollins College | Florida | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | Jan 5 | Feb 1 | Yes |
| Sacred Heart University | Connecticut | Nov 15 | Dec | Jan 15 | Feb | Yes |
| Saint Anselm College | New Hampshire | Dec 1 | Jan 1 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Saint Joseph's University | Pennsylvania | Nov 15 | Dec 20 | Jan 15 | Feb 15 | Yes |
| Saint Louis University | Missouri | Nov 15 | Early Dec | Jan 16 | Early Feb | Yes |
| Saint Mary's College | Indiana | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | N/A | N/A | No |
| Salisbury University | Maryland | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Salve Regina University | Rhode Island | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Santa Clara University | California | Nov 1 | Late Dec | Jan 7 | Mid-Feb | Yes |
| Sarah Lawrence College | New York | Nov 1 | Late Dec | Jan 15 | Early Feb | Yes |
| Scripps College | California | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 8 | Mid-Feb | No |
| Sewanee: University of the South | Tennessee | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 15 | Late Jan | Yes |
| Siena College | New York | Nov 15 | Late Nov | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Skidmore College | New York | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | Jan 8 | Mid-Feb | No |
| Smith College | Massachusetts | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 1 | Late Dec | No |
| Southern Methodist University | Texas | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | Jan 15 | Mid-Mar | Yes |
| Southwestern University | Texas | Early Nov | Early Dec | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Spelman College | Georgia | Nov 1 | Dec 31 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Springfield College | Massachusetts | Dec 1 | Not Listed | Jan 15 | Not Listed | No |
| St. John Fisher College | New York | Dec 1 | Not Listed | N/A | N/A | No |
| St. John's College Annapolis | Maryland | Nov 1 | Early Dec | Jan 15 | Early Feb | Yes |
| St. Lawrence University | New York | Feb 1 | 3 to 5 weeks | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| St. Mary's College | Maryland | Nov 1 | Dec 1 | Jan 15 | Feb 15 | Yes |
| St. Olaf College | Minnesota | Nov 1 | Dec | Jan 15 | Feb 1 | Yes |
| Sterling College | Vermont | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Stetson University | Florida | Nov 1 | Not listed | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | New Jersey | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | Jan 15 | Feb 15 | Yes |
| Stonehill College | Massachusetts | Dec 1 | Late Dec | Feb 1 | Late Feb | Yes |
| SUNY Maritime College | New York | Dec 1 | Not Listed | N/A | N/A | No |
| Susquehanna University | Pennsylvania | Nov 15 | Dec 1 | Dec 1 | Jan 15 | Yes |
| Swarthmore College | Pennsylvania | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 4 | Mid-Feb | No |
| Sweet Briar College | Virginia | Nov 1 | Not listed | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Syracuse University | New York | Nov 15 | Late Dec | Jan 5 | Early Feb | No |
| Texas Christian University | Texas | Nov 1 | Jan 1 | Feb 1 | March 3 | Yes |
| The Catholic University of America | Washington DC | Nov 1 | Jan 1 | Feb 1 | Feb 15 | Yes |
| The College of New Jersey | New Jersey | Nov 1 | Dec 1 | N/A | N/A | No |
| Trinity College | Connecticut | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 17 | Mid-Feb | No |
| Trinity University | Texas | Nov 1 | Dec 1 | Feb 1 | Mar 1 | Yes |
| Tufts University | Massachusetts | Nov 4 | Mid-Dec | Jan 6 | Early Feb | No |
| Tulane University | Louisiana | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | Jan 15 | Feb 15 | Yes |
| Union College | New York | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | Jan 15 | Feb | Yes |
| University of Chicago | Illinois | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | Jan 6 | Mid-Feb | Yes |
| University of Denver | Colorado | Nov 1 | Not Listed | Jan 15 | Not Listed | Yes |
| University of Lynchburg | Virginia | Dec 1 | Jan | N/A | N/A | No |
| University of Mary Washington | Virginia | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| University of Miami | Florida | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | Jan 6 | Late Feb | Yes |
| University of New Haven | Connecticut | Dec 1 | Mid-Jan | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | N/A | N/A | No |
| University of Puget Sound | Washington | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| University of Rhode Island | Rhode Island | Nov 1 | Early Dec | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| University of Richmond | Virginia | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | Dec 1 | Mid-Feb | Yes |
| University of Rochester | New York | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | Jan 5 | Early Feb | No |
| University of San Francisco | California | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | Jan 15 | Mid-Feb | Yes |
| University of Tampa | Florida | Nov 1 | Jan 15 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| University of Tulsa | Oklahoma | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| University of Vermont | Vermont | Nov 1 | Early Dec | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| University of Virginia | Virginia | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Ursinus College | Pennsylvania | Dec 1 | Dec | Feb 1 | Feb | Yes |
| Utica College | New York | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Vanderbilt University | Tennessee | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | Jan 1 | Mid-Feb | No |
| Vassar College | New York | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 1 | Early Feb | No |
| Villanova University | Pennsylvania | Nov 1 | Dec 1 | Jan 15 | Feb 15 | Yes |
| Virginia Military Institute | Virginia | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | N/A | N/A | No |
| Wabash College | Indiana | Nov 15 | Early Dec | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Wake Forest University | North Carolina | Nov 15 | Rolling | Jan 1 | Feb 15 | Yes |
| Warren Wilson College | North Carolina | Nov 1 | Not listed | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Washington & Jefferson College | Pennsylvania | Dec 15 | Dec 21 | N/A | N/A | No |
| Washington and Lee University | Virginia | Nov 1 | Dec 20 | Jan 1 | Feb 1 | No |
| Washington College | Maryland | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Washington University in St. Louis | Missouri | Nov 1 | Dec 13 | Jan 2 | Feb 14 | No |
| Webb Institute | New York | Oct 16 | Mid-Dec | N/A | N/A | No |
| Wellesley College | Massachusetts | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | Jan 1 | Mid-Feb | No |
| Wesleyan University | Connecticut | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 1 | Mid-Feb | No |
| Westminster College | Pennsylvania | Dec 15 | Mid-Jan | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Wheaton College | Massachusetts | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | Jan 15 | Feb 1 | Yes |
| Whitman College | Washington | Nov 15 | Mid-Dec | Jan 10 | Early Feb | No |
| Willamette University | Oregon | Nov 1 | Dec 13 | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Williams College | Massachusetts | Nov 15 | Dec 15 | N/A | N/A | No |
| Wittenberg University | Ohio | Nov 1 | Early December | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Wofford College | South Carolina | Nov 1 | Dec 1 | Jan 15 | Feb 1 | Yes |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Massachusetts | Nov 1 | Mid-Dec | Jan 5 | Mid-Feb | Yes |
| Yeshiva University | New York | Nov 1 | Dec 15 | N/A | N/A | No |
*Deadlines vary depending on program.
Always visit your colleges’ websites before applying to get deadlines, application requirements, and more.
Early Decision could help increase your admission chances to your dream school. But it’s not a decision to be taken lightly! Always be sure that this is the college you want to attend before you apply. Research, visit the campus, and talk to alumni to decide if it’s the school for you.
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