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Early decision acceptance rates

Early decision vs. overall acceptance rate at 32 colleges, straight from each college’s Common Data Set. Sort, search or download it.

Early decision · 32 colleges
32 colleges Download CSV
University of Pennsylvania CDS 2025–26 13.3%3.7%4.9%9,5031,266
Columbia University CDS 2025–26 14.0%4.0%4.9%5,868819
Vanderbilt University CDS 2025–26 14.1%4.1%5.4%6,202874
Northeastern University CDS 2025–26 35.3%4.0%5.6%5,4041,910
Dartmouth College CDS 2025–26 21.6%3.8%6.0%3,552768
Johns Hopkins University CDS 2025–26 10.9%5.2%6.1%7,639835
Brown University CDS 2025–26 17.9%4.8%6.3%5,062907
Northwestern University CDS 2025–26 20.4%5.8%7.5%5,9391,212
Rice University CDS 2025–26 11.3%7.4%8.0%5,748647
Cornell University CDS 2025–26 18.8%6.7%8.4%10,0571,889
Emory University CDS 2025–26 22.2%8.6%10.3%4,7281,049
Carnegie Mellon University CDS 2025–26 20.6%10.3%11.1%2,680553
Washington University in St. Louis CDS 2025–26 27.0%9.3%11.9%4,9341,333
Boston University CDS 2025–26 31.4%11.0%12.8%6,9072,165
Tulane University CDS 2025–26 58.2%11.5%14.5%2,0771,209
University of Miami CDS 2025–26 44.3%16.5%17.6%2,3951,062
Villanova University CDS 2025–26 59.8%25.9%28.1%1,6801,005
Bucknell University CDS 2025–26 54.7%29.6%32.2%1,200656
Case Western Reserve University CDS 2025–26 25.0%35.6%35.3%1,053263
William & Mary CDS 2025–26 49.8%35.7%37.0%1,477735
Howard University CDS 2025–26 84.4%41.7%42.2%430363
Southern Methodist University CDS 2025–26 80.3%46.9%47.6%528424
Texas Christian University CDS 2025–26 68.1%46.8%48.1%1,373935
Loyola Marymount University CDS 2025–26 42.4%48.4%48.2%858364
Syracuse University CDS 2025–26 55.7%48.4%48.8%2,6541,478
Baylor University CDS 2025–26 80.0%51.9%52.2%566453
University of Connecticut CDS 2025–26 46.6%54.5%54.4%1,442672
American University CDS 2025–26 80.6%65.3%65.6%392316
Drexel University CDS 2025–26 78.3%69.8%69.9%299234
Chapman University CDS 2025–26 51.4%72.5%72.1%282145
University of Vermont CDS 2025–26 91.7%72.7%73.0%396363
Miami University (Ohio) CDS 2024–25 84.1%75.3%75.4%521438

Common Data Set 2024–25 and 2025–26 (Fall entry of that year). Early decision counts include ED I and ED II where the college combines them. Colleges without an early decision round are not listed.

How to read it

A higher early decision rate does not by itself mean early decision raises your odds by the same amount. Early pools often include recruited athletes, children of alumni and students who were already strong applicants.

Early decision is binding: if you are admitted, you commit to attend and withdraw other applications. Only apply early decision to a college you are sure about and can afford, since you cannot compare aid offers first.

Our chances calculator uses each college’s early decision rate when you pick the early decision round, and tells you when a college does not report one. Check your chances.

Questions

Is the early decision acceptance rate higher than regular decision?

At 28 of the 32 colleges in this table, the early decision acceptance rate is higher than the rate for everyone else who applied. That does not mean applying early decision caused the difference: early pools often include recruited athletes, legacy applicants and students with stronger records.

Where do these numbers come from?

From each college's own Common Data Set (2024–25 and 2025–26), sections C1 (all applicants) and C21 (early decision). We link the document on every row. Colleges that do not offer early decision, or do not report it, are not listed.

What is the "everyone else" rate?

It is the acceptance rate for applicants who did not apply early decision: total admits minus early decision admits, divided by total applicants minus early decision applicants. It includes early action and regular decision together.

Can I use this data?

Yes. Download the CSV and use it freely; please link back to this page. The figures are the colleges’ own; check the linked Common Data Set if a number matters to you.

Chances · Class of 2027

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