When are college applications due to America’s highly selective universities for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle? You may be searching for these institutions’ Early Decision/Early Action deadlines. Or perhaps you’re looking for the Regular Decision deadlines. Or maybe even the transfer admission deadlines. Either way, we’ve got these dates for you. So let’s check them out!

Early Decision / Early Action Deadlines in 2026

For applicants to the Class of 2031, the following are the Early Decision/Early Action submission deadlines at America’s top 25 universities as ranked by US News & World Report for 2026:

College / University	2026 US News Rank (“Best National Universities”)	Early Decision / Early Action Application Deadline	Early Decision II Application Deadline (if applicable)
Princeton University	#1	November 1st
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	#2	November 1st
Harvard University	#3	November 1st
Stanford University	#4	November 1st
Yale University	#4	November 1st
University of Chicago	#6	September 1st – October 15th (SSEN)November 3rd (EA and ED I)	January 5th
Duke University	#7	November 2nd
Johns Hopkins University	#7	November 1st	January 2nd
Northwestern University	#7	November 1st
University of Pennsylvania	#7	November 1st
California Institute of Technology	#11	November 1st
Cornell University	#12	November 1st
Brown University	#13	November 1st
Dartmouth College	#13	November 1st
Columbia University	#15	November 1st
University of California, Berkeley	#15	December 1st (all applicants)
Rice University	#17	November 1st	January 4th
University of California, Los Angeles	#17	December 1st (all applicants)
Vanderbilt University	#17	November 1st	January 1st
Carnegie Mellon University	#20	November 3rd
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor	#20	November 1st
University of Notre Dame	#20	November 1st
Washington University in St. Louis	#20	November 3rd	January 2nd
Emory University	#24	November 1st	January 1st
Georgetown University	#24	November 1st

Regular Decision Deadlines in 2027

For applicants to the Class of 2031, the following are the Regular Decision submission deadlines at America’s top 25 universities:

College / University	2026 US News Rank (“Best National Universities”)	2027 Regular Decision Application Deadline
Princeton University	#1	January 1st
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	#2	January 1st
Harvard University	#3	January 1st
Stanford University	#4	January 5th
Yale University	#4	January 2nd
University of Chicago	#6	January 5th
Duke University	#7	January 4th
Johns Hopkins University	#7	January 2nd
Northwestern University	#7	January 4th
University of Pennsylvania	#7	January 5th
California Institute of Technology	#11	January 5th
Cornell University	#12	January 2nd
Brown University	#13	January 5th
Dartmouth College	#13	January 1st
Columbia University	#15	January 1st
University of California, Berkeley	#15	Single Deadline (December 1st)
Rice University	#17	January 4th
University of California, Los Angeles	#17	Single Deadline (December 1st)
Vanderbilt University	#17	January 1st
Carnegie Mellon University	#20	January 5th
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor	#20	February 1st
University of Notre Dame	#20	January 2nd
Washington University in St. Louis	#20	January 2nd
Emory University	#24	January 1st
Georgetown University	#24	January 1st

Transfer Admission Deadlines in 2026-2027

For students who intend to apply as transfers during the 2026-2027 admissions cycle, the following are the transfer admission submission deadlines:

College / University	2026 US News Rank (“Best National Universities”)	2027 Transfer Application Deadline
Princeton University	#1	March 1st
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	#2	Fall Entry: March 15th Spring Entry: October 15th
Harvard University	#3	March 1st
Stanford University	#4	March 15th
Yale University	#4	March 1st
University of Chicago	#6	March 2nd
Duke University	#7	March 15th
Johns Hopkins University	#7	March 1st
Northwestern University	#7	March 1st
University of Pennsylvania	#7	March 15th
California Institute of Technology	#11	February 1st
Cornell University	#12	March 15th
Brown University	#13	Fall Entry: March 2ndSpring Entry: October 1st
Dartmouth College	#13	March 1st
Columbia University	#15	March 1st
University of California, Berkeley	#15	December 1st
Rice University	#17	March 15th
University of California, Los Angeles	#17	December 1st
Vanderbilt University	#17	Rolling
Carnegie Mellon University	#20	February 16th
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor	#20	Winter 2026 Deadline: October 1stSpring 2027 Deadline: February 1stSummer 2027 Deadline: February 1stFall 2027 Deadline: February 1st
University of Notre Dame	#20	Fall Entry: March 15th Spring Entry: October 1st
Washington University in St. Louis	#20	Fall Entry: March 2nd Spring Entry: November 4th
Emory University	#24	March 15th
Georgetown University	#24	March 1st

Ivy Coach’s Assistance in Optimizing Students’ Cases for Admission

With these deadlines fast approaching, if you’re interested in optimizing your child’s case for admission to some of America’s top universities, fill out Ivy Coach’s complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch to outline our college counseling services.