Applying to college can be a challenging process with numerous factors to consider. One of the key decisions you’ll face is whether to apply early decision (ED) or early action (EA).

What Are Early Decision and Early Action?

When you apply early decision, you submit your application before the regular decision (RD) deadline and commit to attending that school if accepted. While the ED acceptance rates are higher than the regular decision (RD) applications, this is a binding option with a deadline closer to that of regular decision.

Early action follows a similar timeline—students usually apply by November and either get accepted, denied, or deferred to the regular pool. Unlike ED, EA is not binding. This means that you’re not required to attend that school even if you are given an offer. There’s also restricted or single-choice early action (REA), which is non-binding but limits you to applying early only to that particular school.

Does Early Decision Improve Your Chances?

While it may appear that students who apply early have a substantial advantage. From the past 3 years admissions statistics, students who apply early have an advantage. On average, ED applicants see a 1.6x (or 60%) increase in their chances of admission to very selective schools. This advantage diminishes for less selective schools.

There are some reasons for this. Students who apply ED tend to be academically inclined and manage their time well. They are able to submit an early applicaiton and often align more closely with the school’s profile since they have designated it as their top choice.

Colleges also benefit from ED by being able to predict their yield—the percentage of accepted students who enroll—more accurately. This is crucial for the school’s financial planning and national ranking. ED applicants commit to attending if accepted, providing colleges with a reliable yield.

Early action offers a smaller boost than early decision but still provides some admissions advantage. Single-choice or restrictive early action typically benefits applicants more than regular early action. For example, Harvard’s REA acceptance rate for the class of 2027 was 7.56%, compared to the overall acceptance rate of 3.41%.

Early Decision and Early Action Acceptance Rates 2022-23

Below are the national universities and liberal arts colleges (LACs) that the U.S. News & World Report ranked as the top 30 best schools. The data includes acceptance rates for the 2022-23 admissions cycle. Not all schools publish their early decision and early action acceptance rate data.

How Have Early Acceptance Rates Changed Over Time?

Overall acceptance rates have been declining as more students apply each year, a trend that extends to ED and EA applications. However, this is not uniform across all schools. Some institutions have maintained stable early acceptance rates despite increasing application volumes.

Should You Apply Early Decision or Early Action?

There are pros and cons to applying ED or EA. One perk is learning your admissions decision much earlier—usually by December. However, if you receive bad news, you must cope with the disappointment while finalizing your RD applications.

Additionally, earlier deadlines mean you have less time to assess which school is the best fit. Applying early is not the right strategy for everyone.

We advise students to apply early if your dream school is a reach, as it may slightly increase your chances. However, if the school is a significant reach, it might be wiser to use your ED or REA application on a more realistic option. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply at all—consider applying to another REA school or several unrestricted EA schools instead.

Wondering which of your desired schools are safeties, targets, and reaches? That depends on your profile. Quintessential’s admissions specialists will factor in your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and more, to calculate your odds of admission at the schools on your list. Reach out to us to find out more.