December 5, 2025

Class of 2030 Early Decision & Early Action Notification Dates

By Justin Neiman, Former Ivy League Admissions Officer

Class of 2030 Early Decision & Early Action Notification Dates

By Justin Neiman, Former Ivy League Admissions Officer
December 5, 2025

Class of 2030 Early Decision & Early Action Notification Dates

December is an exciting time in the college admissions world, with many early admissions decisions released throughout the month. We’ve compiled the latest Early Notification dates for the 2025–26 admissions cycle (Class of 2030), including Early Decision I, Early Decision II, Early Action, and Restrictive Early Action timelines for many of the nation’s top colleges. This list will be updated as schools share official release information.

‍

Early Decision and Early Action Notification Dates

Institution 2025–26 Notification Date 2024–25 Notification Date
Amherst College ED: Early to mid-December ED: 12/13/24
Barnard College ED: Mid-December ED: 12/14/24
Bates College ED I: December 20; ED II: February 15 ED I: 12/14/24; ED II: February 15
Boston College ED I: 12/2/25; ED II: February 15 ED I: 12/3/24; ED II: 2/4/25
Boston University ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/12/24; ED II: 2/10/25
Bowdoin College ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Early February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/7/25
Brown University ED: Mid-December ED: 12/13/24
Bryn Mawr College ED I: Late December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/4/25
Caltech REA: Mid-December REA: 12/12/24
Carnegie Mellon University ED: December 15 ED: 12/14/24
Claremont McKenna College ED I: December 15 ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/12/25
Colby College ED I: Late December; ED II: Late February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/28/25
Colgate University ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Late January or early February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 1/31/25
Colorado College ED I: December 15; ED II: Early February ED I: 12/15/24; ED II: 2/1/25
Columbia University ED: Mid-December ED: 12/12/24
Connecticut College ED I: Late December; ED II: Late February ED I: 12/20/24; ED II: 2/21/25
Cornell University ED: Mid-December ED: 12/12/24
Dartmouth College ED: Mid-December ED: 12/11/24
Duke University ED: Mid-December ED: 12/14/24
Emory University ED I: Mid-December; ED II: mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Georgetown University REA: Mid-December REA: 12/13/24
Grinnell College ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Late January ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 1/24/25
Hamilton College ED I: Late December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Harvard University REA: Mid-December REA: 12/12/24
Haverford College ED I: Late December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Johns Hopkins University ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Lehigh University ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Middlebury College ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
MIT EA: Mid-December EA: 12/16/24
New York University ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/16/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Northeastern University EA: January; ED I: Mid-December EA: 1/24/25; ED I: 12/13/24
Northwestern University ED: Mid-December ED: 12/14/24
Pomona College ED I: Late December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Princeton University REA: Mid-December REA: 12/12/24
Rice University ED: Mid-December ED: 12/14/24
Smith College ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Stanford University REA: Mid-December REA: 12/13/24
Swarthmore College ED I: Late December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Tufts University ED I: Late December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/14/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Tulane University EA: Mid-January; ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-January EA: 1/15/25; ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 1/15/25
University of Chicago EA: Mid-December; ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February EA: 12/16/24; ED I: 12/16/24; ED II: 2/14/25
University of Michigan EA: Late January EA: 1/31/25
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill EA: Late January EA: 1/31/25
University of Notre Dame REA: Mid-December REA: 12/13/24
University of Pennsylvania ED: Mid-December ED: 12/12/24
University of Richmond ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February; EA: Late January ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25; EA: 1/31/25
University of Southern California EA: Mid-January EA: 1/17/25
University of Virginia EA: End of January EA: 1/31/25
Vanderbilt University ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/15/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Vassar College ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Washington University in St. Louis ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/14/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Wellesley College ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Wesleyan University ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Williams College ED: Mid-December ED: 12/12/24
Yale University SCEA: Mid-December SCEA: 12/17/24

‍

Please note that dates are subject to change, and some universities may release decisions earlier than expected.

‍

How to Use This Admissions Timeline

‍Early notification dates often arrive in clusters—mostly between December 10 and December 20 for Early Decision I and Restrictive Early Action, and in mid-February for Early Decision II. Checking these dates in advance helps students plan for:

Why Notification Dates Change

Most colleges do not release an exact date until a week or two before decisions go out. Admissions offices sometimes adjust release schedules based on application volume, internal review timelines, or portal updates. A school listed as “mid-December,” for example, may release anywhere from December 12–18 depending on the year. If a University Representative has any updated dates for this blog, please let us know and we will promptly make an update.

‍

Early Admissions FAQ

What’s the difference between Early Decision, Early Action, and Restrictive Early Action?
Early Decision (ED) is binding: if you’re admitted, you must enroll and withdraw other applications.

Early Action (EA) is nonbinding: you receive an early decision but can still apply elsewhere and compare options.

Restrictive Early Action (REA) is also nonbinding, but usually limits where else you can apply early.
When do Early Decision and Early Action results typically come out?
Most ED and EA decisions are released between early and mid-December. Some colleges announce earlier, while others release closer to late December or early January. ED II decisions are usually released in January or February.
Do some colleges ever release decisions earlier than their official date?
Yes. Some colleges quietly release decisions ahead of their posted date, sometimes by a few hours or a full day. Others release in waves, meaning not all applicants get their decision at the same moment.
What’s the best way to get the most up-to-date information?
Check your email and applicant portal frequently—many colleges notify students there when decisions go live.

Admissions office Instagram accounts are often among the fastest sources for updates and release timing.

December is an exciting time in the college admissions world, with many early admissions decisions released throughout the month. We’ve compiled the latest Early Notification dates for the 2025–26 admissions cycle (Class of 2030), including Early Decision I, Early Decision II, Early Action, and Restrictive Early Action timelines for many of the nation’s top colleges. This list will be updated as schools share official release information.

‍

Early Decision and Early Action Notification Dates

Institution 2025–26 Notification Date 2024–25 Notification Date
Amherst College ED: Early to mid-December ED: 12/13/24
Barnard College ED: Mid-December ED: 12/14/24
Bates College ED I: December 20; ED II: February 15 ED I: 12/14/24; ED II: February 15
Boston College ED I: 12/2/25; ED II: February 15 ED I: 12/3/24; ED II: 2/4/25
Boston University ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/12/24; ED II: 2/10/25
Bowdoin College ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Early February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/7/25
Brown University ED: Mid-December ED: 12/13/24
Bryn Mawr College ED I: Late December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/4/25
Caltech REA: Mid-December REA: 12/12/24
Carnegie Mellon University ED: December 15 ED: 12/14/24
Claremont McKenna College ED I: December 15 ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/12/25
Colby College ED I: Late December; ED II: Late February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/28/25
Colgate University ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Late January or early February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 1/31/25
Colorado College ED I: December 15; ED II: Early February ED I: 12/15/24; ED II: 2/1/25
Columbia University ED: Mid-December ED: 12/12/24
Connecticut College ED I: Late December; ED II: Late February ED I: 12/20/24; ED II: 2/21/25
Cornell University ED: Mid-December ED: 12/12/24
Dartmouth College ED: Mid-December ED: 12/11/24
Duke University ED: Mid-December ED: 12/14/24
Emory University ED I: Mid-December; ED II: mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Georgetown University REA: Mid-December REA: 12/13/24
Grinnell College ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Late January ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 1/24/25
Hamilton College ED I: Late December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Harvard University REA: Mid-December REA: 12/12/24
Haverford College ED I: Late December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Johns Hopkins University ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Lehigh University ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Middlebury College ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
MIT EA: Mid-December EA: 12/16/24
New York University ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/16/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Northeastern University EA: January; ED I: Mid-December EA: 1/24/25; ED I: 12/13/24
Northwestern University ED: Mid-December ED: 12/14/24
Pomona College ED I: Late December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Princeton University REA: Mid-December REA: 12/12/24
Rice University ED: Mid-December ED: 12/14/24
Smith College ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Stanford University REA: Mid-December REA: 12/13/24
Swarthmore College ED I: Late December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Tufts University ED I: Late December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/14/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Tulane University EA: Mid-January; ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-January EA: 1/15/25; ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 1/15/25
University of Chicago EA: Mid-December; ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February EA: 12/16/24; ED I: 12/16/24; ED II: 2/14/25
University of Michigan EA: Late January EA: 1/31/25
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill EA: Late January EA: 1/31/25
University of Notre Dame REA: Mid-December REA: 12/13/24
University of Pennsylvania ED: Mid-December ED: 12/12/24
University of Richmond ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February; EA: Late January ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25; EA: 1/31/25
University of Southern California EA: Mid-January EA: 1/17/25
University of Virginia EA: End of January EA: 1/31/25
Vanderbilt University ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/15/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Vassar College ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Washington University in St. Louis ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/14/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Wellesley College ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Wesleyan University ED I: Mid-December; ED II: Mid-February ED I: 12/13/24; ED II: 2/14/25
Williams College ED: Mid-December ED: 12/12/24
Yale University SCEA: Mid-December SCEA: 12/17/24

‍

Please note that dates are subject to change, and some universities may release decisions earlier than expected.

‍

How to Use This Admissions Timeline

‍Early notification dates often arrive in clusters—mostly between December 10 and December 20 for Early Decision I and Restrictive Early Action, and in mid-February for Early Decision II. Checking these dates in advance helps students plan for:

Why Notification Dates Change

Most colleges do not release an exact date until a week or two before decisions go out. Admissions offices sometimes adjust release schedules based on application volume, internal review timelines, or portal updates. A school listed as “mid-December,” for example, may release anywhere from December 12–18 depending on the year. If a University Representative has any updated dates for this blog, please let us know and we will promptly make an update.

‍

Early Admissions FAQ

What’s the difference between Early Decision, Early Action, and Restrictive Early Action?
Early Decision (ED) is binding: if you’re admitted, you must enroll and withdraw other applications.

Early Action (EA) is nonbinding: you receive an early decision but can still apply elsewhere and compare options.

Restrictive Early Action (REA) is also nonbinding, but usually limits where else you can apply early.
When do Early Decision and Early Action results typically come out?
Most ED and EA decisions are released between early and mid-December. Some colleges announce earlier, while others release closer to late December or early January. ED II decisions are usually released in January or February.
Do some colleges ever release decisions earlier than their official date?
Yes. Some colleges quietly release decisions ahead of their posted date, sometimes by a few hours or a full day. Others release in waves, meaning not all applicants get their decision at the same moment.
What’s the best way to get the most up-to-date information?
Check your email and applicant portal frequently—many colleges notify students there when decisions go live.

Admissions office Instagram accounts are often among the fastest sources for updates and release timing.
Man smiling wearing gray sweater with brick building and shrubbery in the background

Justin Neiman

Former Admissions Officer, Harvard University
Former Assistant Dean, Stanford University

As a College Counselor I help students navigate the college admissions process. My goal is to help students stand out and get accepted to their top-choice schools.

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