College Application Deadlines 2026: Every Major School's Key Dates

Early Decision (ED): Binding commitment. If accepted, you must attend. Deadline typically November 1 or 15. Acceptance rates are often 2–3x higher than Regular Decision. Early Action (EA): Non-binding. Get an early decision but can still compare offers. Restrictive Early Action (REA): Non-binding but you cannot apply ED or EA to other private colleges. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford use this. Regular Decision (RD): Standard round, deadline typically January 1 or 15. Rolling Admission: Applications reviewed as received — apply early.

Harvard: REA Nov 1, RD Jan 1. Yale: REA Nov 1, RD Jan 2. Princeton: REA Nov 1, RD Jan 1. Stanford: REA Nov 1, RD Jan 2. MIT: EA Nov 1, RD Jan 1. Columbia: ED Nov 1, RD Jan 1. Duke: ED Nov 1, RD Jan 4. Northwestern: ED Nov 1, RD Jan 3. UCLA: RD Nov 30 only. UC Berkeley: RD Nov 30 only. UT Austin: EA Nov 1, RD Dec 1. UMich: EA Nov 1, RD Feb 1. Always verify at each school's official admissions website.

Application deadlines and financial aid deadlines are different — and both matter. Most private colleges: CSS Profile with application, FAFSA priority Feb 1–Mar 1. Most public universities: FAFSA priority Dec 1–Mar 1. Missing a financial aid priority deadline can mean receiving less aid or aid packaged as loans rather than grants.

Apply EA or REA where you can. Apply ED only to your true first choice. File FAFSA and CSS Profile on October 1. Submit applications at least 48 hours early — servers crash on deadline day. Track every deadline in a spreadsheet or use our free deadline tracker.