# When colleges release early decision and early action results for 2026-27

Announced notification dates and windows for early rounds at popular colleges, from each college's own admissions pages.

By DreamSchool.co Research, November 3, 2026. Source page: https://www.dreamschool.co/news/when-colleges-release-early-decision-and-early-action-results-for-2026-27

Most early decision and early action results arrive in mid-December. This table shows what 69 of the most-applied-to colleges say about their release dates this cycle, in their own words.

| College | Round | When decisions are released | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [University of Southern California](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-southern-california) | Early action | mid- to late January | [college page](https://www.admissionblog.usc.edu/p/early-action-and-early-decision-application) |
| [Boston University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/boston-university) | Early decision | December 14, 2026 | [college page](https://www.bu.edu/admissions/apply/deadlines/) |
| [Florida State University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/florida-state-university) | Early decision | December | [college page](https://admissions.fsu.edu/first-year) |
| [University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign) | Early action | January 29, 2027 | [college page](https://www.admissions.illinois.edu/apply/) |
| [The University of Texas at Austin](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-austin) | Early action | January 15, 2027 | [college page](https://admissions.utexas.edu/apply/frequently-asked-questions/) |
| [Cornell University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/cornell-university) | Early decision | mid-December | [college page](https://admissions.cornell.edu/how-to-apply/first-year-applicants) |
| [University of Florida](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-florida) | Early decision | December 11, 2026 | [college page](https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/freshman/early-decision) |
| [University of South Florida](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-south-florida) | Early action | December 9, 2026 | [college page](https://www.usf.edu/admissions/freshmen/admission-information/dates-deadlines.aspx) |
| [University of Wisconsin-Madison](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-wisconsin-madison) | Early action | on or before January 31 | [college page](https://admissions.wisc.edu/deadlines/) |
| [University of Pennsylvania](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-pennsylvania) | Early decision | mid-December | [college page](https://admissions.upenn.edu/how-to-apply/for-applicants) |
| [University of Maryland-College Park](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-maryland-college-park) | Early action | February 1, 2027 | [college page](https://admissions.umd.edu/apply/application-deadlines) |
| [Michigan State University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/michigan-state-university) | Early action | January 15, 2027 | [college page](https://admissions.msu.edu/apply/first-year/dates-and-deadlines) |
| [Harvard University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/harvard-university) | Restrictive early action | mid-December | [college page](https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply/first-year-applicants) |
| [University of Arizona](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-arizona) | Early action | January 15, 2027 | [college page](https://www.arizona.edu/admissions/deadlines) |
| [University of Colorado Boulder](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-colorado-boulder) | Early action | by February 1 | [college page](https://www.colorado.edu/admissions/process/first-year/faqs) |
| [Indiana University-Bloomington](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/indiana-university-bloomington) | Early action | January 15, 2027 | [college page](https://bloomington.iu.edu/admissions/apply/freshman/deadlines.html) |
| [Stanford University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/stanford-university) | Restrictive early action | by mid-December | [college page](https://admission.stanford.edu/apply/first-year/index.html) |
| [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus) | Early action | Early December | [college page](https://admission.gatech.edu/first-year/deadlines) |
| [Yale University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/yale-university) | Early decision | Early December | [college page](https://admissions.yale.edu/timelines) |
| [Yale University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/yale-university) | Restrictive early action | Mid-December | [college page](https://admissions.yale.edu/timelines) |
| [Northwestern University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/northwestern-university) | Early decision | December 2026 | [college page](https://admissions.northwestern.edu/apply/application-deadlines.html) |
| [Brown University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/brown-university) | Early decision | mid-December | [college page](https://admission.brown.edu/first-year/application-checklist) |
| [The University of Tennessee-Knoxville](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville) | Early action | early December | [college page](https://admissions.utk.edu/important-dates-and-deadlines/) |
| [University of Massachusetts-Amherst](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-massachusetts-amherst) | Early action | By the end of January | [college page](https://www.umass.edu/admissions/early-action-faq) |
| [Stony Brook University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/stony-brook-university) | Early action | January 29, 2027 | [college page](https://www.stonybrook.edu/undergraduate-admissions/first-year/) |
| [Binghamton University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/binghamton-university) | Early action | January 15, 2027 | [college page](https://www.binghamton.edu/admissions/undergraduate/apply/freshman/) |
| [Auburn University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/auburn-university) | Early action | Mid-October | [college page](https://www.auburn.edu/admissions/prospective-students/freshmen/index.php?utm_source=Auburn-University-New&utm_medium=web) |
| [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university) | Early action | Late-February | [college page](https://www.vt.edu/admissions/undergraduate/apply/dates-and-deadlines.html) |
| [University of Connecticut](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-connecticut) | Early decision | mid-December | [college page](https://admissions.uconn.edu/apply/early-decision/) |
| [Duke University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/duke-university) | Early decision | around mid-December | [college page](https://admissions.duke.edu/counselors/) |
| [Vanderbilt University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/vanderbilt-university) | Early decision | Mid-December | [college page](https://admissions.vanderbilt.edu/apply/) |
| [University of Georgia](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-georgia) | Early action | Mid-Late November | [college page](https://admissions.uga.edu/apply/deadlines/) |
| [Rutgers University-New Brunswick](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/rutgers-university-new-brunswick) | Early action | January 31, 2027 | [college page](https://admissions.rutgers.edu/apply/dates-deadlines/new-brunswick) |
| [Syracuse University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/syracuse-university) | Early action | Early February | [college page](https://www.syracuse.edu/admissions-aid/application-process/apply/dates-deadlines/) |
| [Syracuse University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/syracuse-university) | Early decision | Late December | [college page](https://www.syracuse.edu/admissions-aid/application-process/apply/dates-deadlines/) |
| [Drexel University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/drexel-university) | Early action | mid-December | [college page](https://drexel.edu/admissions/undergrad/first-year) |
| [Drexel University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/drexel-university) | Early decision | mid-December | [college page](https://drexel.edu/admissions/undergrad/first-year) |
| [North Carolina State University at Raleigh](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh) | Early action | January 31, 2027 | [college page](https://admissions.ncsu.edu/apply/first-year/) |
| [University of Minnesota-Twin Cities](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-minnesota-twin-cities) | Early action | January 31, 2027 | [college page](https://admissions.tc.umn.edu/admissions/freshman-admission/freshman-admissions-overview) |
| [Princeton University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/princeton-university) | Restrictive early action | Mid-December | [college page](https://admission.princeton.edu/apply/first-year-application-dates-deadlines) |
| [University of Oregon](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-oregon) | Early action | January 5, 2027 | [college page](https://www.uoregon.edu/admissions/apply/) |
| [Johns Hopkins University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/johns-hopkins-university) | Early decision | December 11, 2026 | [college page](https://apply.jhu.edu/how-to-apply/application-deadlines-requirements/) |
| [James Madison University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/james-madison-university) | Early action | Mid-Late January | [college page](https://www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/dates-and-deadlines.shtml) |
| [The University of Tampa](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/the-university-of-tampa) | Early action | by the end of February | [college page](https://www.ut.edu/admissions/first-year-admissions) |
| [The University of Tampa](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/the-university-of-tampa) | Early decision | by the end of December | [college page](https://www.ut.edu/admissions/first-year-admissions) |
| [Miami University-Oxford](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/miami-university-oxford) | Early action | December 15, 2026 | [college page](https://miamioh.edu/admission-aid/apply/first-year-students/application-types.html) |
| [Miami University-Oxford](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/miami-university-oxford) | Early decision | December 1, 2026 | [college page](https://miamioh.edu/admission-aid/apply/first-year-students/application-types.html) |
| [Tufts University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/tufts-university) | Early decision | mid-December | [college page](https://admissions.tufts.edu/apply/applying-to-tufts/application-faq/) |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/carnegie-mellon-university) | Early decision | December 15, 2026 | [college page](https://admission-pantheon.cmu.edu/admission/application-plans-deadlines) |
| [University of Cincinnati-Main Campus](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-cincinnati-main-campus) | Early action | Cincinnati Decision Day, typically in mid-January or early February | [college page](https://www.admissions.uc.edu/information/high-school/fymc-information.html) |
| [Washington University in St Louis](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis) | Early action | December 23, 2026 | [college page](https://admissions.washu.edu/how-to-apply/application-dates-deadlines/) |
| [Washington University in St Louis](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/washington-university-in-st-louis) | Early decision | December 11, 2026 | [college page](https://admissions.washu.edu/how-to-apply/application-dates-deadlines/) |
| [Emory University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/emory-university) | Early decision | by December 15 | [college page](https://apply.emory.edu/apply/plans-deadlines/early-decision) |
| [Rice University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/rice-university) | Early decision | mid-December | [college page](https://admission.rice.edu/apply/first-year-domestic-applicants) |
| [University at Albany](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-at-albany) | Early action | by the end of December | [college page](https://www.albany.edu/admissions/how-apply-first-year-student) |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/dartmouth-college) | Early decision | mid-December | [college page](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/apply-dartmouth) |
| [Pace University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/pace-university) | Early action | December 15, 2026 | [college page](https://www.pace.edu/admission-and-aid/undergraduate-admission/how-apply) |
| [Pace University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/pace-university) | Early decision | December 1, 2026 | [college page](https://www.pace.edu/admission-and-aid/undergraduate-admission/how-apply) |
| [University of Notre Dame](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-notre-dame) | Restrictive early action | mid-December | [college page](https://admissions.nd.edu/apply/decision-planning/) |
| [University of Vermont](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-vermont) | Early action | late December | [college page](https://www.uvm.edu/admissions/undergraduate/application-deadlines) |
| [University of Vermont](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-vermont) | Early decision | Late November | [college page](https://www.uvm.edu/admissions/undergraduate/application-deadlines) |
| [Florida Atlantic University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/florida-atlantic-university) | Early action | December 4 | [college page](https://www.fau.edu/admissions/freshman/how-to-apply/deadlines/) |
| [Georgetown University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/georgetown-university) | Early action | By December 15 | [college page](https://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/counselors/) |
| [University of Rhode Island](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-rhode-island) | Early action | January 31, 2027 | [college page](https://web.uri.edu/admission/first-year/) |
| [University of Rhode Island](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-rhode-island) | Early decision | early December | [college page](https://web.uri.edu/admission/early-decision-and-early-action/) |
| [St. John's University-New York](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/st-john-s-university-new-york) | Early action | usually by December | [college page](https://www.stjohns.edu/news-media/johnnies-blog/early-action-applying-early-to-college-benefits) |
| [Rochester Institute of Technology](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/rochester-institute-of-technology) | Early decision | Mid-December | [college page](https://www.rit.edu/admissions/first-year/early-decision) |
| [Loyola Marymount University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/loyola-marymount-university) | Early action | Late December (the Important Dates table lists Mid-December) | [college page](https://admission.lmu.edu/learnmore/prospectivestudents/first-yearapplicants/) |
| [Loyola Marymount University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/loyola-marymount-university) | Early decision | Mid-December | [college page](https://admission.lmu.edu/learnmore/prospectivestudents/first-yearapplicants/) |
| [Villanova University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/villanova-university) | Early decision | January 15 (or sooner) | [college page](https://www.villanova.edu/university/law/admissions/how-to-apply/faq.html) |
| [Hofstra University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/hofstra-university) | Early action | December 15, 2026 | [college page](https://www.hofstra.edu/admission/counselors/) |
| [University of North Carolina at Charlotte](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-charlotte) | Early action | January 30, 2027 | [college page](https://admissions.charlotte.edu/apply/first-year-students/receiving-your-decision/) |
| [University of Rochester](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-rochester) | Early decision | Mid-December | [college page](https://admissions.rochester.edu/applying/dates-and-deadlines/) |
| [Quinnipiac University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/quinnipiac-university) | Early action | Mid-December | [college page](https://www.qu.edu/apply) |
| [Quinnipiac University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/quinnipiac-university) | Early decision | Mid-November | [college page](https://www.qu.edu/apply) |
| [Colgate University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/colgate-university) | Early decision | Mid-December | [college page](https://www.colgate.edu/admission-aid/apply/first-year-applicants) |
| [University of New Hampshire-Main Campus](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/university-of-new-hampshire-main-campus) | Early action | prior to the end of January | [college page](https://admissions.unh.edu/apply/first-year) |
| [Western Michigan University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/western-michigan-university) | Early action | after winter break | [college page](https://wmich.edu/apply/deadlines) |
| [Towson University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/towson-university) | Early action | mid-January | [college page](https://www.towson.edu/admissions/undergrad/freshmen/) |
| [Elon University](https://www.dreamschool.co/colleges/elon-university) | Early action | December 20, 2026 | [college page](https://www.elon.edu/u/admissions/undergraduate/apply/) |

Colleges announce exact dates and times close to release, so check your applicant portal. Many colleges give only a window ("mid-December"), which is what we show.

## Sources

Each college's admissions website, checked on 2026-10-30. We include only pages that explicitly refer to the 2026-27 application cycle, and only general first-year admission dates (not deferral, waitlist, or program-specific dates); every entry is quoted from the linked page.

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