The Growing Trend of Public Universities Offering Early Decision

Hello Parents,

Today, I would like to share an important recent trend in U.S. college admissions: the increasing number of public universities offering Early Decision (ED) options.

What is Early Decision (ED)?

Early Decision is a binding admissions process where students apply early to a college and, if admitted, are required to enroll.
Application deadlines are typically November 1 or November 15, and students usually receive admissions decisions by mid-December.

Under Early Decision, students may apply to only one institution.
At the same time, they may apply to other colleges through Early Action (EA) — a non-binding process — or Regular Decision.

While Early Decision has traditionally been offered mainly by private universities, more public universities are now adopting ED to secure top students earlier in the admissions cycle.

Public Universities Offering Early Decision

Here are public universities that currently offer binding Early Decision options, listed alphabetically by state:

• University of Connecticut – Introduced ED starting with the 2024–2025 admissions cycle (deadline: November 1).
• The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) – Offers ED, except for certain accelerated programs.
• Miami University (Ohio) – November 1 deadline, December 1 notification.
• College of Charleston (South Carolina) – November 1 deadline.
• Coastal Carolina University (South Carolina) – October 15 deadline, December 1 notification.
• University of Vermont – Offers two rounds: ED I (November 1 deadline, December 2 notification) and ED II (January 15 deadline, February 12 notification).
• University of Virginia (UVA) – November 1 deadline, December 15 notification.
• College of William & Mary (Virginia) – Offers ED I (November 1 deadline) and ED II (January 5 deadline).
• University of Mary Washington (Virginia) – November 1 deadline.
• Christopher Newport University (Virginia) – November 15 deadline, December 15 notification.

As you can see, a growing number of public universities are actively offering Early Decision options to lock in talented students early.
Notably, institutions such as University of Virginia (UVA) and College of William & Mary are among the most prestigious public universities in the United States.

Public Universities Offering Early Action (EA)

Early Action allows students to apply early and receive decisions sooner, without the binding commitment to enroll.
Deadlines vary from mid-October to early December.

Here are the public universities offering Early Action:

• Christopher Newport University (Virginia) – Offers both Early Decision and Early Action.
• Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) – Early Action acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was 16%.
• North Carolina State University – Early Action acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was 40%.
• Pennsylvania State University–University Park – Early Action acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was 70%.
• SUNY Binghamton – Early Action acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was 52%.
• University of Alabama – Offers a priority admissions deadline and automatic merit scholarships.
• University of Colorado–Boulder
• University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign
• University of Iowa
• University of Kansas – Offers a priority deadline for scholarships.
• University of Kentucky
• University of Mary Washington (Virginia) – Offers both Early Decision and Early Action.
• University of Maryland–College Park
• University of Massachusetts–Amherst – Early Action acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was 61%.
• University of Michigan–Ann Arbor – Known for deferring most Early Action applicants to Regular Decision.
• University of Minnesota–Twin Cities – Offers Early Action I and Early Action II.
• University of Nebraska–Lincoln – Offers a priority admissions and scholarship deadline.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) – Early Action acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was 23%.
• University of Oklahoma
• University of Oregon
• University of South Carolina
• University of Tennessee–Knoxville
• University of Utah
• University of Vermont – Offers both Early Decision and Early Action.
• University of Virginia (UVA) – Offers both Early Decision and Early Action (acceptance rates for both EA and RD for the Class of 2027 were 16%).
• University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Virginia Tech – Discontinued Early Decision starting in 2023 to reduce pressure on students, especially those needing financial aid.

Advice for Parents

As Early Decision and Early Action options continue to expand at public universities, it is important for students and families to plan carefully and strategically.

• Early Decision (ED) is binding — if your child is admitted, they must attend — so the decision to apply ED should be made carefully.
• Early Action (EA) offers the advantage of an early decision without the obligation to commit, making it a great option for many students.

It is also crucial to understand the acceptance rate differences between Early Action and Regular Decision at each school to maximize opportunities.

Important Note:
If your child needs substantial need-based financial aid, applying Early Decision could be disadvantageous because it prevents families from comparing financial aid offers from different universities.
Additionally, if your child’s junior-year GPA (end of 11th grade) is not strong, it may be better to apply through Regular Decision rather than Early Decision or Early Action.
This is because Regular Decision allows students to include their first semester senior-year grades (12th grade fall grades) in the GPA calculation, strengthening their academic profile.

Summary

Public universities are increasingly embracing Early Decision, offering families new opportunities — but also requiring more thoughtful planning.
When preparing your child’s college application strategy, it is essential to be aware of these trends and make informed decisions.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to leave a comment or reach out directly.
I am always happy to assist you.

Thank you for reading!

Andy Lee
Elite Prep Suwanee powered by Elite Open School
📍 1291 Old Peachtree Rd, NW #127, Suwanee, GA 30024
🌐 eliteprep.com/suwanee
📧 andy.lee@eliteprep.com
📞 Tel & Text: 470.253.1004

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