Monday, October 2, 2023

Early Action Colleges: Your Guide and Full List of EA Schools

The early bird gets the worm — and the college.

Do you want an early entry to your top-choice college? There’s only one way to do that: early action.

Early action means you will hear from colleges way before regular applicants. In fact, while others are putting pen to paper, you will be adding the finishing touches to your application. ✨

With the applications under your belt, you can even enjoy a stress-free winter break. Sounds pretty good, right?

Here’s what you need to know about early action (and schools where you can apply!) before taking the plunge.

What Is Early Action?

Early action (EA) is the process of applying to schools before regular admissions begin.

Unlike early decision, if you’re accepted under early action you can still back out if you change your mind about the school. Ideal!

👉 Read More: Early Action vs. Early Decision: What’s the Difference?

College students accepted to school with early admission sitting on steps with phone
Getting accepted under early action lets you get your college applications done and dusted early. Photo: orion_production/Freepik

Early action also means schools announce their decisions early — typically around January or February

If you’re accepted into an EA school, you can still wait until May 1 (National College Decision Day) to accept the offer.

This means that even if you have second thoughts or want to compare financial aid packages, you have plenty of time to explore other schools during the regular admissions window. 

Warning: Some Ivy League institutions, such as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, offer Restrictive Early Action, which means students can apply only to one private school in the early rounds.

When to Apply for Early Action

If you’re eyeing the early action route, start planning way ahead. You’ll typically need to submit your applications by November or December, though actual deadlines vary from school to school.

Because of a large volume of applicants, some schools also offer a second round of early action.

While EA I has a November deadline, EA II carries a January deadline which means an extra few weeks to prep your applications.

You can find out whether your priority schools are offering EA II in our complete list of EA schools below.

👉 Read More: Everything You Need to Know About College Application Deadlines

What Are the Advantages of Early Action?

The biggest advantage of early action is that it is non-binding.

This means if you’re applying early to your priority schools, you can still apply to other schools afterward. You just need to make your final decision before May 1. 

Also, the sooner you apply, the sooner you will hear back, which cuts down on stress and allows you more time to prepare for college.

high-school-students-relaxing-in-park-after-early-action-admission
Early action lets you get those college essays out of the way early. Photo: Drobotdean/Freepik

If you are accepted to early action, you also don’t have to bother applying elsewhere. You can save precious time and money by not applying to multiple colleges.

In fact, while other students are frantically sorting out their applications or waiting for responses, you can get a head start on looking for accommodation, and checking out scholarship and grant options. 

And, of course, if you’re not accepted to an early action school, you can still keep working on your applications until you find that acceptance email in your inbox. 

What Are the Downsides to Early Action?

While applying to schools early has many benefits, the process also has a few potential downsides that you need to weigh up before taking the plunge.

If you think applying to early action means you’ll be competing with a smaller pool of applicants, you’re probably right!

However, a smaller group does not mean less competition. These students will be putting their best foot forward, with killer recommendation letters, essays, and grades. 

If you have a weaker application, it might be worth skipping early action and using your final semester to build up your grades and extracurriculars.

You can’t use these if you apply for early action, but you can pump these up for regular application instead! 

graphic-showing-difference-between-early-action-early-decision
Early action and early decision may sound the same but they’re two different things. Graphic: The College Post

Getting accepted early sometimes makes students feel that their goal is accomplished and they no longer need to work hard.

However, colleges can revoke admissions offers if a student’s senior-year grades drop.

Finally, it can be a challenge to juggle applying for early action, writing essays, and planning for SATs alongside your current high school commitments.

Of course, it can be well worth it — and you need to do it at some point either way. 

Is Early Action for You?

Now that you know the pros and cons of early action, it’s time to consider when you should apply in the early rounds — and when you should hold off. 

At the risk of stating the obvious, applying early is only suitable for prepared students. Early action is, therefore, perfect if you are: 

  • well-researched about colleges,
  • confident about your grades and test scores,
  • certain that you have a stellar academic record over time.

In other cases, it’s better to wait unless you can be absolutely sure that your application will floor admissions committees.

The Complete List of Early Action Colleges

Nearly 450 US colleges offer students the choice to apply early (whether through early action or early decision).

Here’s the complete list of early action colleges (and their deadlines) by state so you know when to start applying.

Alabama

Auburn UniversityDecember 1 Three Early Action Decision rounds
released in mid-October, mid-November
and mid-January 
Birmingham-Southern CollegeNovember 16By December 16
University of North Alabama
(College of Nursing only)
By March 31N/A
Hendrix CollegeNovember 15 (EA I),
February I (EA II)
Begins December 15 (EA I),
Begins March 1 (EA II)
University of ArkansasNovember 1N/A
University of Central ArkansasFebruary 16 (for Summer 2022),
April 6 (for Fall 2022)
N/A
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Azusa Pacific UniversityOctober 15 (for Spring semester),
November 15 (for Fall semester)
By January 15
Biola UniversityNovember 15 (EA I),
January 15 (EA II)
January 15 (EA I),
February 15 (EA II)
California Baptist UniversityDecember 1N/A
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)November 1Mid-December
California Lutheran UniversityNovember 1Mid-January
Chapman UniversityNovember 1Late December
Concordia University IrvineNovember 15Mid-December
Hope International UniversityDecember 1 (EA I),
February 1 (EA II) — for Fall semester
November 1 — for Spring semester 
N/A
Loyola Marymount UniversityNovember 1Mid-December
Master’s UniversityNovember 1N/A
Menlo CollegeNovember 15 N/A
Mills CollegeNovember 15By December
Mount Saint Mary’s UniversityNovember 1 (EA I), December 1 (EA II)By January
Pepperdine UniversityNovember 1By January 10
Point Loma Nazarene UniversityNovember 15December 20
Saint Mary’s College of CaliforniaNovember 15N/A
Santa Clara UniversityNovember 1Late December
Soka University of AmericaNovember 1December 1
Stanford UniversityNovember 1December 15
University of the PacificNovember 15By January 15
University of RedlandsNovember 15Mid-January
University of San FranciscoNovember 1December 1
Vanguard University of Southern CaliforniaDecember 1N/A
Westmont CollegeOctober 15 (EA I),
November 1 (EA II)
Christmas break (EA I),
January 1 (EA II)
Whittier CollegeNovember 15January 15
William Jessup UniversityDecember 1N/A
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Colorado CollegeNovember 1Late December
Colorado College of MinesNovember 1N/A
Colorado State UniversityDecember 1December 31
Fort Lewis CollegeNovember 15N/A
University of Colorado BoulderNovember 15February 1
University of DenverNovember 1N/A
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Fairfield UniversityNovember 1By January 1
Mitchell CollegeJanuary 15By February 1
Quinnipiac UniversityNovember 15Mid-January
Sacred Heart UniversityDecember 15 (EA I),
February 1 (EAII)
N/A
United States Coast Guard AcademyOctober 15December 23
University of New HavenJanuary 1 (EA I),
February 15 (EA II)
January 15 (EA II),
March 2 (EA II)
Yale UniversityNovember 1Mid-December
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Delaware College of Art and DesignNovember 1January 31
University of DelawareNovember 1January 31

UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Catholic University of AmericaNovember 1By January 1
Georgetown UniversityNovember 1December 15
Howard UniversityNovember 1Late January
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Eckerd CollegeNovember 15By December 15
Lynn UniversityNovember 15 (EA I),
January 15 (EA II)
By December 15
Stetson UniversityNovember 1 (EA I),
January 15 (EA II)
N/A
University of MiamiNovember 1Late January – Early February
University of South FloridaNovember 1By December
University of TampaNovember 15December 20
University of West FloridaNovember 1By December
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Agnes Scott CollegeNovember 15, 2021 (EA I),
January 15, 2022 (EA II)
December 15, 2021 (EA I),
February 15, 2022 (EA II)
Augusta UniversityNovember 15N/A
Berry CollegeNovember 1By the end of the fall semester
Clark Atlanta UniversityNovember 1January 1
Covenant CollegeNovember 15By December 15
Emmanuel CollegeNovember 1 (EA I),
December 15 (EA II)
After December 15 (EA I),
After January 15 (EA II)
Georgia College and State UniversityOctober 15Late November 
Georgia Institute of TechnologyOctober 18 (EA I): open to Georgia students only
November 1 (EA II): open to non-Georgia students
To be announced
Georgia State UniversityOctober 1 (for Spring),
February 1 (for Summer)
By December
Mercer UniversityNovember 1Second week of December
Morehouse CollegeNovember 1N/A
Oglethorpe UniversityNovember 1Within two weeks
Spelman CollegeNovember 15By December 31
University of GeorgiaOctober 15By December 1
University of North GeorgiaNovember 15N/A
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Hawaii Pacific UniversityNovember 15By December 15
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
College of IdahoNovember 15 (EA I),
January 15 (EA II)
Mid-December (EA I),
Mid-February (EA II)
Northwest Nazarene UniversityNovember 15N/A
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Augustana CollegeNovember 1By January 15
Bradley UniversityNovember 1N/A
DePaul UniversityNovember 15December 15
Elmhurst UniversityNovember 1By early December
Illinois CollegeNovember 1Mid-February
Illinois Institute of TechnologyNovember 15 (EA I),
January 15 (EA II)
December 31 (EA I),
March 1 (EA II)
Illinois Wesleyan UniversityNovember 15Between November 15 and December 15
Knox CollegeNovember 1 (EA I),
December 1 (EA II)
December 15 (EA I),
January 15 (EA II)
Lake Forest CollegeNovember 1 (EA I),
January 15 (EA II)
December 15 (EA I),
February 1 (EA II)
Lewis UniversityDecember 1N/A
Monmouth CollegeNovember 15December 15
School of the Art Institute of ChicagoNovember 15N/A
University of ChicagoNovember 1Mid-December
University of Illinois at ChicagoNovember 1Before December 1
University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignNovember 1Mid-February
School of the Art Institute of ChicagoDecember 15N/A
Wheaton CollegeOctober 15 (EA I),
November 15 (EA II)
By Thanksgiving (EA I),
By Christmas (EA II)
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Butler UniversityNovember 1Mid-late December
DePauw UniversityDecember 1January 15
Earlham CollegeDecember 1Within three business days
Grace CollegeNovember 1Within two weeks
Hanover CollegeNovember 1 (EA I),
December 1 (EA II)
N/A
Purdue UniversityNovember 1January 15
Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyNovember 1December 15
University of EvansvilleNovember 1December 15
University of Notre DameNovember 1Mid-December
Valparaiso UniversityNovember 1N/A
Wabash CollegeNovember 15December 5
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Coe CollegeDecember 10Within two weeks
Cornell CollegeNovember 1N/A
Drake UniversityDecember 1N/A
Luther CollegeNovember 1Within two weeks
Wartburg CollegeNovember 1Within one week
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Benedictine CollegeNovember 15N/A
The University of KansasNovember 1N/A
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Bellarmine UniversityNovember 1Within November
Berea CollegeNovember 15 (EA I), January 31 (EA II)Mid-late December (EA I),
Mid-late February (EA II)
Centre CollegeDecember 1Mid-January
Simmons CollegeNovember 1 (EA I),
December 1 (EA II)
Mid-December (EA I),
Mid to late January (EA II)
Transylvania UniversityOctober 31 (EA I),
December 1 (EA II)
Early December
University of KentuckyDecember 1Four to six weeks
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Centenary College of LouisianaDecember 1January
Loyola University New OrleansNovember 15N/A
Tulane UniversityNovember 15January 15
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Maine Maritime AcademyNovember 30By February 1
Saint Joseph’s College of MaineNovember 15 Beginning mid-December
Thomas CollegeDecember 15N/A
Unity CollegeDecember 15N/A
University of MaineDecember 1N/A
University of Maine at FarmingtonNovember 15N/A
University of New EnglandNovember 15Prior to December 31
University of Southern MaineDecember 1N/A
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Goucher CollegeDecember 1On a rolling basis
Loyola University MarylandNovember 15Mid-January
Maryland Institute College of ArtDecember 1January 13
McDaniel CollegeNovember 15 (EA I)
December 15 (EA II)
December 15 (EA I),
January 15 (EA II)
Mount St. Mary’s UniversityDecember 1By January
Salisbury UniversityDecember 1January 15
St. Mary’s College of MarylandNovember 1By January 1
St. John’s CollegeNovember 15December 15
University of MarylandNovember 1By February 1
University of Maryland, Baltimore CountyNovember 1Late-December
Washington CollegeDecember 1January 15
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Assumption CollegeNovember 15 (EA I),
December 15 (EA II)
Mid-December (EA I),
Late January (EA II)
Babson CollegeNovember 1January 1
Bay Path UniversityDecember 15N/A
Berklee College of MusicNovember 1January 31
Bridgewater State UniversityNovember 15Mid-December
Clark UniversityNovember 15January 20
Curry CollegeDecember 15By December 15
Dean CollegeNovember 1 (EA I),
December 1 (EA II)
Mid-December (EA I),
Mid-January
Emerson CollegeNovember 15 Mid-December
Emmanuel CollegeNovember 1 (EA I),
December 15 (EA II)
After December 15 (EA I),
After January 15 (EA II)
Endicott CollegeNovember 1December 23
Framingham State UniversityNovember 15December 15
Gordon CollegeNovember 1December 1
Hampshire CollegeDecember 1February 15
Harvard UniversityNovember 1Mid-December
Hellenic CollegeDecember 1N/A
Lasell CollegeNovember 15Mid-December
Lesley UniversityDecember 1January 1
Massachusetts College of Art and DesignDecember 1Early January
Massachusetts College of Liberal ArtsDecember 1December 14
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesNovember 1Mid-December
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)November 1Mid-December
Massachusetts Maritime AcademyNovember 15Prior to the holiday break
Merrimack CollegeNovember 15 (EA I), January 15 (EA II)Week of November 30 (EA I), Week of February 1 (EA II)
Montserrat College of ArtDecember 1December 15
Northeastern UniversityNovember 1February 1
Regis CollegeNovember 15Within four weeks
Salem State UniversityNovember 15Within four to six weeks
Simmons CollegeNovember 1 (EA I),
December 1 (EA II)
Mid-December (EA I),
Mid-Late January (EA II)
Stonehill CollegeNovember 1 (EA I),
January 15 (EA II)
Early January (EA I),
Late February (EA II)
Suffolk UniversityNovember 15
University of Massachusetts AmherstNovember 5Mid-December
University of Massachusetts BostonNovember 1 (EA I),
January 1 (EA II)
January 1 (EA I),
February 15 (EA II)
University of Massachusetts DartmouthNovember 5December
University of Massachusetts LowellNovember 5 (EA I), January 5 (EA II)Mid-March
Wheaton CollegeOctober 15 (EA I),
November 15 (EA II)
By Thanksgiving (EA I),
By Christmas (EA II) 
Worcester Polytechnic InstituteNovember 1 (EA I),
January 15 (EA II)
January 15 (EA I),
March 1 (EA II)
Worcester State UniversityNovember 15December
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Albion CollegeDecember 1Within two weeks
Kalamazoo CollegeNovember 15December 20
University of MichiganNovember 1Late January

UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Macalester CollegeNovember 1By December 19
St. Olaf CollegeNovember 1December 22
Hamline UniversityDecember 1N/A
University of Minnesota – Twin CitiesNovember 1 (EA I),
December 1 (EA II)
January 31 (EA I),
February 15 (EA II)
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Millsaps CollegeNovember 15Notified on a rolling basis starting in August
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Kansas City Art InstituteDecember 1N/A
Saint Louis University December 1February 1
University of Health Sciences and PharmacyDecember 1N/A
University of Nevada, Reno November 15 N/A
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Saint Anselm CollegeFebruary 1Mid-March
University of New HampshireNovember 15Admission decisions are made
on a rolling basis
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Drew UniversityDecember 1On or about January 15
Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityDecember 1N/A
Monmouth UniversityDecember 1January 15
Ramapo College of New JerseyDecember 15February 1
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
St. John’s College – Santa FeNovember 15December 15
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Adelphi UniversityDecember 1December 31
Alfred CollegeDecember 1N/A
Bard CollegeNovember 1End of December
Canisius CollegeNovember 1Early December
College of Mount Saint VincentNovember 15December 15
College of Saint RoseDecember 1Within two to three weeks
Columbia University, School of General StudiesMarch 1Within six to eight weeks
Concordia College New YorkNovember 15 (EA I),
February 15 (EA II)
Mid-December (EA I),
March 1 (EA II)
Fordham UniversityNovember 1December 19
Hofstra UniversityNovember 15 (EA I),
December 15 (EA II)
December 15 (EA I),
January 15 (EA II)
Iona CollegeDecember 15Late December
Ithaca CollegeDecember 1On a rolling basis
by February 1
Le Moyne CollegeDecember 1December 15
Manhattanville CollegeDecember 1By December
Marist CollegeDecember 1Mid-January
Molloy CollegeDecember 1N/A
Monroe CollegeDecember 17 (EA I),
February 18 (EA II)
N/A
New York Institute of TechnologyDecember 1On a rolling basis
Pace UniversityNovember 15 (EA I),
December 1 (EA II)
January 2
Parsons School of Design (The New School)November 1 (for most programs)Mid-December
Pratt InstituteNovember 1End of December/beginning of January
Sarah Lawrence CollegeNovember 1Late December
School of Visual ArtsDecember 1N/A
Siena CollegeOctober 15Within one week
SUNY Albany (University at Albany)November 15December 1
SUNY Binghamton (Binghamton University)November 1January 15
SUNY Buffalo (University at Buffalo)November 15January 1
SUNY CortlandNovember 15On a rolling basis, starting
January 1
SUNY New PaltzNovember 15First week of January
SUNY OneontaNovember 15By January 6
SUNY Polytechnic InstituteNovember 15December 15
SUNY Purchase (Purchase College)November 15 (for most programs) – available for Liberal Arts and Sciences onlyOn a rolling basis
starting January
The Culinary Institute of AmericaDecember 31N/A
The King’s College – New YorkDecember 1N/A
Union College – New YorkNovember 1December 18
Utica CollegeNovember 15 (EA I), December 15 (EA II)By December 15 (EA I),
By January 1 (EA II)
Wells CollegeDecember 15N/A
Union College – New YorkNovember 1December 18
Sarah Lawrence CollegeNovember 1Late December
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Appalachian State UniversityNovember 1N/A
Elon UniversityNovember 1December 20
High Point UniversityNovember 15December 16
Lees-McRae CollegeDecember 15January 15
Meredith CollegeDecember 1On or before December 15
North Carolina A&T State UniversityNovember 1 (EA I),
December 15 (EA II)
December 1 (EA I),
February 1 (EA II)
North Carolina State UniversityNovember 1January 30
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillOctober 15January 31
University of North Carolina at CharlotteNovember 1January 30
University of North Carolina at GreensboroNovember 1 (EA I),
December 1 (EA II)
By December 15 (EA I),
By January 30 (EA II)
University of North Carolina at WilmingtonNovember 1January 20
Warren Wilson CollegeNovember 15 (Freshmen applicants), 
December 15
(International applicants)
 N/A
Western Carolina UniversityNovember 15December 15
The University of North Carolina
at Greensboro
November 1 (EA I),
December 1 (EA II)
By December 15 (EA I),
by January 30 (EA II)
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Case Western Reserve UniversityNovember 1December 17
Cleveland Institute of ArtsDecember 1 N/A
College of WoosterNovember 15December 31
John Carroll UniversityDecember 1Third week of December
Miami UniversityNovember 1 (EA I),
December 1 (EA II)
– for domestic students only
December 15 (EA I),
February 1 (EA II)
Ohio State UniversityNovember 1No later than January 31
Ohio UniversityNovember 15February 1
Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDecember 1December 15
University of CincinnatiDecember 1N/A
University of DaytonNovember 1N/A
Wittenberg UniversityDecember 1January 1
Ohio UniversityNovember 15February 1
Youngstown State UniversityAugust 1 (Domestic students),
February 15 (International students)
N/A

UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
University of OklahomaNovember 1N/A
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
George Fox UniversityNovember 1,
February 1 (Priority Decision)
 N/A
Lewis & Clark CollegeNovember 1January 1
Linfield CollegeNovember 1January 15
Oregon State UniversityNovember 2, February 1 (Priority Decision)December 11
Reed CollegeNovember 15February
Willamette UniversityNovember 15December 30
Reed CollegeNovember 15February
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Allegheny CollegeDecember 1 (EA I),
February 1 (EA II)
N/A
Bryn Mawr CollegeOctober 4Late December
Drexel UniversityNovember 1Mid-December
Duquesne UniversityNovember 1 (EA I),
December 1 (EA II)
December 1 (EA I),
January 15 (EA II)
Juniata CollegeDecember 1February 15
King’s College – PennsylvaniaDecember 1N/A
La Salle UniversityNovember 1N/A
Lycoming CollegeDecember 1December 15
Pennsylvania State UniversityNovember 1December 24
Saint Joseph’s UniversityNovember 15December 20
Susquehanna UniversityNovember (EA I),
December 1 (EA II)
December 1 (EA I),
January 15 (EA II)
Temple UniversityNovember 1January 10
The University of ScrantonNovember 15December 15
Ursinus CollegeNovember 1Mid-December
Villanova UniversityNovember 1January 15
Washington & Jefferson CollegeJanuary 15February 15
Westminster CollegeNovember 15December 15
Allegheny CollegeDecember 1 (EA I),
February 1 (EA II)
N/A
Bryn Mawr CollegeOctober 4Late December
Drexel UniversityNovember 1Mid-December
Juniata CollegeDecember 1February 15
King’s College – PennsylvaniaDecember 1N/A
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Bryant UniversityNovember 15Mid-January
Providence CollegeNovember 15Early January
Roger Williams UniversityNovember 15Mid-December
Salve Regina UniversityNovember 1 (EA I),
January 5 (EA II)
N/A
University of Rhode IslandDecember 1No later than January 31
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
College of CharlestonNovember 1December 15
Furman UniversityDecember 1January 15
Presbyterian CollegeDecember 1December 15
University of South CarolinaOctober 15Mid-December
Wofford CollegeNovember 15February 1

UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Rhodes CollegeNovember 15January 15
Sewanee: University of the SouthDecember 1Late January
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Austin CollegeDecember 1 (EA I),
February 1 (EA II)
January 15 (EA I), March 1 (EA II)
Baylor UniversityNovember 1January 15
Southern Methodist UniversityNovember 1Early January
Southwestern UniversityDecember 1 First Tuesday in March
Tarleton State UniversityDecember 1Within two days
Texas Christian UniversityNovember 1By January 1
Texas Lutheran UniversityNovember 15Two weeks later
Trinity UniversityNovember 1December 15
University of DallasNovember 1 (EA I), December 1 (EA II)Between four and six weeks
University of St. ThomasNovember 1
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
University of UtahNovember 1Sent on a rolling basis
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Bennington CollegeDecember 1Late January
Saint Michael’s CollegeNovember 1 (EA I),
December 1 (EA II)
Mid-December (EA I),
Late January (EA II)
University of VermontNovember 1Mid-December

UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Christendom CollegeDecember 1By Christmas
Christopher Newport UniversityDecember 1January 15
George Mason UniversityNovember 1December 15
Hampden-Sydney CollegeOctober 15 (EA I),
December 1 (EA II)
N/A
Hampton UniversityNovember 1Beginning January 15
Hollins UniversityNovember 15As soon as the college
makes their decision
James Madison UniversityNovember 1Mid-January
Longwood UniversityDecember 1Mid-January
Old Dominion UniversityDecember 1Mid-January
Radford UniversityDecember 1By January 15
Randolph CollegeNovember 15By December 15
Randolph-Macon CollegeNovember 15By January 1
Roanoke CollegeOctober 18 (EA I),
November 15 (EA II)
November 5 (EA I),
December 3 (EA II)
Sweet Briar CollegeDecember 1N/A
University of LynchburgOctober 15 (EA I),
December 15 (EA II)
October 22 (EA I),
February 22 (EA II)
University of Mary WashingtonNovember 15By January 31
University of RichmondNovember 1Mid-January
University of VirginiaNovember 1Mid-December
University of Virginia’s College at WiseDecember 1Mid-February
Roanoke CollegeOctober 18 (EA I),
November 15 (EA II)
November 5 (EA I),
December 3 (EA II)
Sweet Briar CollegeDecember 1N/A
University of LynchburgOctober 15 (EA I),
December 15 (EA II)
October 22 (EA I),
February 22 (EA II)
Virginia TechDecember 1Late February
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Clark CollegeNovember 15January 12
University of Puget SoundNovember 1By January
Washington CollegeJanuary 1January 15
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Shepherd UniversityNovember 15Within 10 days
UniversityApplication DeadlineDecision Date
Beloit CollegeNovember 1December 1
Lawrence UniversityNovember 1 (EA I),
December 1 (EA II)
December 15 (EA I),
January 25 (EA II)
University of Wisconsin – MadisonNovember 1On or before January 31

There are currently no schools in Alaska, Arizona, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wyoming with EA admissions.


If you know what college you want to go to, there’s no point waiting around — early action can result in you getting your admission letter sooner, so you’ve still got time left to enjoy senior year!


Frequently Asked Questions About Early Action

To apply for early action, you must complete every step that you would for regular admission — only faster. 

Take your standardized tests by the end of your junior year and, if possible, visit colleges during spring break. By October, you should fill out your FAFSA, download college applications, and collect recommendations so that you’re ready to submit your materials by the deadline in November.

Schools set their own early action deadlines individually, but the most common dates are November 1 and November 15 each year.

Early action is non-binding, which means you can apply to one or more schools and not be obligated to attend the college if you are accepted. Early decision, on the other hand, is a binding agreement where you can apply to only one school and must attend the college if accepted.

Early action is not binding. However, some premier schools such as Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and the University of Notre Dame offer restrictive early action. So check your school’s admissions offices before applying.

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