Mar 8, 2026
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By Justin Neiman, Former Ivy League Admissions Officer
Ivy Day 2026 is just around the corner! Every March, thousands of students and families wait anxiously for one of the most anticipated moments in the college admissions process: Ivy Day.
Ivy Day refers to the coordinated release of Regular Decision results from the eight Ivy League universities. In 2026, Ivy Day is expected to take place on March 26, when Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania will release their admissions decisions for the Class of 2030.
For most applicants, these decisions represent the culmination of months of preparation, from academic planning and extracurricular involvement to essays and interviews.
Below you’ll find the expected Ivy Day 2026 release date, historical trends, and guidance for what students should do once decisions are released.
Ivy Day 2026 is expected to occur on March 26, 2026, with decisions typically released in the evening Eastern Time. Most schools will post decisions between 5PM and 7 PM ET. Students receive their decisions through their applicant portals.
Ivy Day is when the majority of the eight Ivy League schools, along with several other selective universities, release their regular decision admissions results. While not an official day sponsored by the Ivy League or any specific college, it has taken on a name of its own, with many high school seniors eagerly anticipating the day. It typically falls on the last Thursday of March.
You’ll receive one of three decisions:
If you are waitlisted, read the instructions carefully. Some schools require you to confirm your intent to remain on the waitlist, while others may automatically place you on it unless you withdraw.
Being placed on the waitlist can be tough, but it’s also a positive sign—the school was genuinely interested in your candidacy, but space in the class was limited. Depending on how many students accept their offers of admission, spots may open up, at which point Admissions Officers will review waitlisted applicants to fill those spaces. Universities create a waitlist for a reason—they often need to use it to complete the incoming class. There’s still a real chance of admission.
It’s a good idea to check the waitlist statistics for the school where you’ve been waitlisted, as this can help gauge the likelihood of them admitting students from the waitlist in a given year. If you are seriously interested in attending, there are strategies to demonstrate your commitment and increase your chances of being admitted. Reach out if you want to discuss strategy!
If you were placed on a waitlist and are looking for guidance on next steps, feel free to reach out. We can review your full application, assess your position, and help you determine the most strategic approach to navigating the waitlist process.
Ivy Day 2026 is just around the corner! Every March, thousands of students and families wait anxiously for one of the most anticipated moments in the college admissions process: Ivy Day.
Ivy Day refers to the coordinated release of Regular Decision results from the eight Ivy League universities. In 2026, Ivy Day is expected to take place on March 26, when Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania will release their admissions decisions for the Class of 2030.
For most applicants, these decisions represent the culmination of months of preparation, from academic planning and extracurricular involvement to essays and interviews.
Below you’ll find the expected Ivy Day 2026 release date, historical trends, and guidance for what students should do once decisions are released.
Ivy Day 2026 is expected to occur on March 26, 2026, with decisions typically released in the evening Eastern Time. Most schools will post decisions between 5PM and 7 PM ET. Students receive their decisions through their applicant portals.
Ivy Day is when the majority of the eight Ivy League schools, along with several other selective universities, release their regular decision admissions results. While not an official day sponsored by the Ivy League or any specific college, it has taken on a name of its own, with many high school seniors eagerly anticipating the day. It typically falls on the last Thursday of March.
You’ll receive one of three decisions:
If you are waitlisted, read the instructions carefully. Some schools require you to confirm your intent to remain on the waitlist, while others may automatically place you on it unless you withdraw.
Being placed on the waitlist can be tough, but it’s also a positive sign—the school was genuinely interested in your candidacy, but space in the class was limited. Depending on how many students accept their offers of admission, spots may open up, at which point Admissions Officers will review waitlisted applicants to fill those spaces. Universities create a waitlist for a reason—they often need to use it to complete the incoming class. There’s still a real chance of admission.
It’s a good idea to check the waitlist statistics for the school where you’ve been waitlisted, as this can help gauge the likelihood of them admitting students from the waitlist in a given year. If you are seriously interested in attending, there are strategies to demonstrate your commitment and increase your chances of being admitted. Reach out if you want to discuss strategy!
If you were placed on a waitlist and are looking for guidance on next steps, feel free to reach out. We can review your full application, assess your position, and help you determine the most strategic approach to navigating the waitlist process.
Former Admissions Officer, Harvard University
Former Assistant Dean, Stanford University
I’m a college admissions counselor and the founder of Selective Admissions. I help students navigate the college application process and position themselves as competitive applicants to top universities.
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