College Raptor’s complete guide to college application deadlines

Key takeaways

• Early Decision and Early Action applications are usually due in November, and Regular Decision applications are usually required by January 1.
• Visit your colleges’ websites to find exact application processes and deadlines.
• Start preparing your submissions in junior year by researching schools and taking the SAT/ACT.

Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision, rolling admissions, and major-specific are different types of college applications. In this guide, we cover the different college application deadlines in more depth and provide must-know tips and information about each.

When are college applications due?

In the table below, we’ve outlined common college application deadlines. Keep in mind that not all schools adhere strictly to these dates – many have earlier or much later deadlines – and not all offer every application type. Visit your college’s website to learn more about their application processes.

What are the different types of college applications?

The five main types of college application deadlines are Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision, rolling admissions, and major-specific. Very few schools offer all five.

Early Decision

Early Decision applications are often due on November 1 or 15 but some schools have deadlines as soon as October 1. You can expect to hear back by Mid-December. If you’re accepted, you need to submit your deposit in the next few weeks.

Early Decision is an early application round that is for students who are absolutely sure they want to attend a specific school. If you’re accepted, it’s considered binding meaning you’re expected to attend. You can back out of the contract without consequences if you’re not offered enough financial aid and for other select reasons. However, simply deciding not to go because you’ve changed your mind can impact other college applications and make you lose out on your deposit.

You can only apply to one school under Early Decision. Colleges share lists, and if you’re caught applying to more than one, you’ll likely have your acceptance offers rescinded.

Some schools also offer Early Decision II, which is a second round of this application type. Its deadline usually matches the Regular Decision deadline – January 1. Students should hear back by mid-February.

Early Action

Early Action deadlines are usually November 1 or 15, with answers arriving in mid-December. It also allows students to apply to a college sooner and hear back faster, but without the “binding” aspect. It’s ideal for students who are confident on where they’d like to attend but still want to keep their options open. You won’t have to make a decision on whether to attend until May 1.

A handful of colleges also have Early Action II with a January 1 deadline and expected reply by mid-February.

Generally, you can apply to several schools under Early Action. However, if your college has “Restrictive Early Action (REA),” you can only apply to that single school through Early Action and Early Decision.

Regular Decision

Most students will apply to a college under Regular Decision. You can apply to as many schools as you’d like. With a later deadline of January 1 or early January, Regular Decision applicants have plenty of time to work on their essays, retake the ACT or SAT, and fine tune their application. Some schools even have Regular Decision deadlines going into February.

Students tend to receive admission letters starting in mid-March. You should have a reply by early April. You’ll need to notify the college of your decision and submit a deposit by May 1.

Rolling admission

Rolling admission colleges accept applications until classes are about to start or until all the seats are full, whichever comes first. Some even accept applications weeks into the fall semester. Many community colleges operate on a rolling admissions cycle, but some 4-year colleges and universities do, too.

However, many rolling admission colleges have priority deadlines, usually January 1 or in mid-spring. If you have your application in before that date, you’ll be more likely to receive an acceptance letter (and financial aid package) than a student who submits after.

Many rolling admission colleges send acceptance letters on a rolling basis, meaning the earlier you apply, the sooner you’ll hear back.

Some schools define rolling admission slightly differently – if you apply too late for the upcoming semester, the institution will consider your application during the following application cycle.

Major-specific

Some majors, such as theatre, music, and engineering, require separate applications in addition to a regular application. These programs are usually highly competitive with earlier deadlines and sometimes require additional materials, such as a portfolio.

For competitive majors, you typically need to have your application and materials in by the school’s Early Action or Early Decision deadlines. When you hear back depends on the program and college.

Other must-know college application dates

College students should know a few other important college application dates to potentially save money and make the transition to higher education smoother:

• FAFSA deadline: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens on October 1 each year. Colleges typically require the form by February or earlier. Submitting your FAFSA late may result in you losing out on free money.
• State grant due dates: Many state grant programs recommend submitting the required materials, such as the FAFSA, as soon as possible as the funds are first come, first served.
• Decision day: Most colleges require your decision on whether you’re attending by May 1.

When should I start preparing college applications? When should I start preparing college applications?

You should start preparing for college applications several months before the application due dates. The earlier you begin preparing, the more time you’ll have to research schools and work on strengthening your academic and extracurricular profile.

Junior year

You should begin laying the groundwork for your college applications during your junior year.

• Research potential schools. Make note of admission requirements, deadlines, and application expectations, to start building out your college list.
• Start preparing for standardized tests. Most students take their first SAT or ACT in the spring of junior year, giving you time to retake it in the fall of senior year. To prepare and improve your score, take practice tests, join study groups, and consider working with a tutor.
• Get involved in extracurricular activities. Colleges look for students who demonstrate overall personal development outside the classroom, such as initiative, passion, and leadership. Joining sports teams, community programs, clubs, volunteer organizations, and more can help strengthen your college application.
• Visit college campuses, if possible. Online materials are marketing for schools, and students often don’t get a real picture of what life is like until they visit. Take an official tour and walk around a bit yourself (in approved areas) to see if the college is right for you.

Summer before the senior year

Between your junior and senior year, you want to finalize your college list and start working on your essays. If you have an SAT or ACT exam on the horizon, you should also use this time to study. In addition, if you couldn’t get away during junior year, it’s still a good opportunity to visit campuses.

Senior year

As senior year starts:

• Finalize your applications
• Polish your personal statements
• Request recommendation letters
• Prepare for your final SAT/ACT exam
• Complete your FAFSA on or shortly after October 1.

Note: be ready to submit your applications at least a week before the due date. You don’t want a technical error or missing material at the last minute resulting in a rejected submission.

Tips for a smooth application process

Staying organized is key to navigating the college application process efficiently and with less stress.

• Apply through the Common App, if possible. The Common App is accepted by over 1,000 colleges and can help streamline your applications.
• Use a checklist. Include application deadlines, financial and scholarship deadlines, required documents, and essay requirements for each college on your shortlist.
• Seek guidance. Guidance counselors, teachers, and trusted mentors can provide valuable insights and advice throughout the process. They can help with college selection, feedback on essays, writing recommendation letters, or any other aspect of applications.
• Apply to a mix of reach, match, and safety schools. A balanced college list with a mix of reach, match, and safety schools gives you more options with potentially more acceptance letters.

College application FAQ

Can I apply to multiple schools under Early Action?

In most cases, yes, you can apply to multiple schools under Early Action. However, you can only apply to a single college under Early Action or Early Decision if the school uses “Restrictive Early Action” or similar. You’re still welcome to submit applications to other schools through Regular Decision.

What is the benefit of applying under Early Decision?

There are several benefits to applying under Early Decision including potentially less work and a higher chance of acceptance.

Many colleges have higher acceptance rates during Early Decision (and Early Action) compared to Regular Decision, and several weigh demonstrated interest high when reviewing applications. These early submissions show you’re very interested in attending and will enroll if you’re accepted.

If you’re accepted to your Early Decision choice, you also have less work to do. You won’t have to submit additional applications and you can rest easy for the rest of your senior year knowing you’ve already made your college decision.

Should I apply under Early Action or Early Decision?Should I apply under Early Action or Early Decision?

Whether you should apply under Early Action or Early Decision depends on your personal goals, the available application types at your school, your financial aid needs, and application strength.

Here are some examples of when a college admission choice is the right option for you.

• Early decision: You’re 100% confident this college is the one for you.
• Early action: You’re pretty sure this college is the one for you and/or you want to receive a response faster.
• Regular decision: You think this college is a good choice or it’s a safety school. You might also apply under Regular Decision if you want more time to complete your application or take the SAT/ACT.
• Rolling admissions: You think this college is a good choice, you didn’t get accepted to your other options, or it’s a solid safety school.
• Major-specific: You have your heart set on a very specific major.

Schools also typically don’t offer all application types. You might have limited options.

What do I need for college applications?

For college applications, you usually need:

• An application form
• Essay(s)
• Letters of recommendation
• SAT/ACT scores
• High school transcripts
• Extracurricular information.

Some schools and programs may also require the FAFSA, CSS Profile, interview, or portfolio.

Applying to college

When applying to a college, always try to get your application in as soon as possible. Even if you have until January 1 to submit your documents, don’t wait until December 31. College websites can have technical issues as students rush to send in their applications, and delays could mean they don’t receive yours.

Before you can apply to schools, you need to know which ones are right for you. College Raptor’s College Match helps you uncover personalized college matches, acceptance odds, and more. Start here for free.