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College Lists

Colleges With Early Decision

60 of the 100 most selective colleges we track offer binding Early Decision for the 2026-27 cycle. Deadlines are from each school's admissions page.

SchoolED deadlineAcceptance rateSAT middle 50%
Amherst CollegeNov 9, 20269%1490–1580
Barnard CollegeNov 1, 20268.8%1470–1560
Bates CollegeNov 15, 202613.3%1420–1530
Baylor UniversityNov 1, 202651.3%1200–1400
Boston CollegeNov 1, 202616.4%1440–1540
Boston UniversityNov 2, 202611.1%1420–1530
Bowdoin CollegeNov 15, 20267.1%1470–1550
Brandeis UniversityNov 2, 202640.5%1390–1520
Brown UniversityNov 1, 20265.4%1510–1580
Carleton CollegeNov 15, 202620.4%1450–1560
Carnegie Mellon UniversityNov 2, 202611.7%1500–1570
Case Western Reserve UniversityNov 1, 202636.5%1430–1540
Claremont McKenna CollegeNov 1, 20269.6%1470–1560
Colby CollegeNov 15, 20267.1%1460–1550
Colgate UniversityNov 1, 202613.9%1430–1540
College of William & MaryNov 1, 202634.1%1400–1530
Columbia UniversityNov 1, 20264%1510–1580
Cornell UniversityNov 1, 2026 (application + fee); Nov 13, 2026 (remaining materials)8.8%1500–1570
Dartmouth CollegeNov 1, 20265.4%1500–1570
Davidson CollegeNov 15, 202613.4%1400–1530
Duke UniversityNov 2, 20265.7%1500–1570
Emory UniversityNov 1, 202610.7%1470–1550
Fordham UniversityNov 1, 202659.3%1320–1480
George Washington UniversityNov 1, 202647.1%1350–1500
Grinnell CollegeNov 15, 202614.5%1410–1540
Hamilton CollegeNov 15, 202613.6%1450–1550
Harvey Mudd CollegeNov 15, 202612.7%1500–1570
Haverford CollegeNov 15, 202612.4%1460–1550
Johns Hopkins UniversityNov 1, 20266.4%1520–1570
Lehigh UniversityNov 1, 202625.9%1370–1500
Middlebury CollegeNov 2, 202610.8%1445–1550
New York UniversityNov 1, 20267.7%1480–1560
Northeastern UniversityNov 1, 20265.2%1440–1540
Northwestern UniversityNov 1, 20267.7%1510–1570
Oberlin CollegeNov 1, 202634.2%1360–1520
Pomona CollegeNov 8, 20267.1%1490–1560
Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteNov 1, 202663.5%1375–1510
Rice UniversityNov 1, 20268%1510–1570
Santa Clara UniversityNov 1, 202648%1350–1490
Southern Methodist UniversityNov 1, 202663.3%1340–1490
Swarthmore CollegeNov 15, 20267.5%1490–1560
Syracuse UniversityNov 1, 202645.9%1270–1440
Texas Christian UniversityNov 1, 202644.5%1140–1350
Tufts UniversityNov 2, 202611.5%1470–1560
Tulane University of LouisianaNov 1, 202614%1400–1520
University of ChicagoNov 2, 20264.5%1510–1580
University of ConnecticutNov 1, 202652.4%1210–1440
University of FloridaOct 15, 202624.2%1320–1480
University of MiamiNov 1, 202618.9%1320–1480
University of PennsylvaniaNov 1, 20265.4%1510–1570
University of RochesterNov 1, 202640.1%1410–1540
University of Southern CaliforniaNov 1, 20269.8%1450–1550
Vanderbilt UniversityNov 1, 20265.9%1500–1570
Vassar CollegeNov 15, 202618.6%1450–1550
Villanova UniversityNov 1, 202627%1395–1510
Wake Forest UniversityNov 15, 202621.7%1410–1520
Washington University in St LouisNov 2, 202612.1%1500–1570
Wellesley CollegeNov 1, 202614.1%1460–1560
Wesleyan UniversityNov 15, 202616.5%1415–1540
Williams CollegeNov 15, 20268.3%1490–1570

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Frequently asked questions

Is Early Decision binding?

Yes. Applying Early Decision is a commitment to enroll if admitted, and you can apply to only one school that way. The usual exception is a financial aid offer that does not make attendance possible.

How many top colleges offer Early Decision for 2026-27?

60 of the 100 most selective colleges we track.

Acceptance rates and SAT ranges: College Scorecard API — U.S. Department of Education (api.data.gov) and Editorial overrides layer (overrides.json) — Common Data Set & institutional sources. Test policies and deadlines: each school's admissions site, verified for the 2026-27 cycle.

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