Applying · 2026–2027
College application deadlines.
Early decision, early action and regular decision dates for all 1,124 Common App colleges, in one list you can search. The big early dates this fall are November 1 and November 15.
By Lokesh Pampatti, founder of Clarity Prep · Updated October 18, 2026
The dates that matter this fall
20 colleges, including Georgia Tech, UGA, UNC Chapel Hill and Clemson (early action). Already passed for this year.
259 colleges close early decision or early action. The biggest early date of the year.
177 colleges, mostly early decision and early action.
99 colleges have an early deadline on December 1.
184 colleges have a regular decision deadline in the first half of January, including most of the most selective ones. Many ED II dates fall here too.
624 colleges decide as applications come in. Applying in the fall still helps with spots and aid.
How a deadline works
On the Common App, a deadline ends at 11:59 p.m. on that date in your own time zone. You submit the application and pay the fee (or use a fee waiver) by then. Recommendations, your transcript and test scores come from other people, and many colleges give them a short window after the deadline, but ask your teachers and counselor to send theirs at least a week early.
Plan to submit two or three days before the date. The night before November 1 and January 1 is the busiest of the year, and a typo you catch two days out is easy to fix.
Which round should you apply in?
Early decision is binding: if you get in, you go, so apply ED only to your clear first choice and only if the cost works without comparing aid offers. Early action is not binding and usually gets you an answer by December or January. Restrictive early action is non-binding but limits where else you can apply early. The full breakdown, with when decisions come out, is in early decision vs. early action.
Popular colleges due November 1
NYU (ED), University of Michigan (ED, EA), Penn State (EA), Northeastern (ED, EA), UF (EA), Purdue (EA), USC (ED, EA), UIUC (EA), Ohio State (EA), Indiana University (EA), UW–Madison (EA), Penn (ED), Cornell (ED), University of Maryland (EA), Stony Brook University (EA), Michigan State (EA), Binghamton University (EA), Stanford (REA), Columbia (ED), University of Connecticut (ED), UVA (ED, EA), University of Miami (ED, EA), University of Arizona (EA), University of Tennessee (EA).
Popular colleges due November 15
CU Boulder (EA), Virginia Tech (EA), Southern New Hampshire University (EA), Georgia State (EA), Colorado State University (EA), Drexel University (ED, EA), University at Albany (EA), The University of Tampa (EA), Pace University (EA), DePaul University (EA), Ohio University (EA), Seton Hall University (EA), Hofstra University (EA), University of New Hampshire (EA), Quinnipiac University (EA), Fairfield University (ED), Marquette University (EA), Wake Forest (ED, EA), SUNY Cortland (EA), Colby College (ED), SUNY Oneonta (EA), SUNY New Paltz (EA), High Point University (EA), New Jersey Institute of Technology (EA).
Before you submit, check what each college asks for: most want the Common App essay, many add supplemental essays, and some use the CSS Profile on top of the FAFSA for financial aid.
Every college’s deadlines
Search a college or filter by round. October to December dates are in 2026; January to July dates are in 2027. Colleges with a page link to their acceptance rate and test scores.
ED = early decision, ED II = early decision II, EA = early action, EA II = early action II, REA = restrictive early action, RD = regular decision. Fee is for U.S. applicants. From Common App’s first-year requirements grid, updated September 25, 2026. Colleges sometimes change dates during the year, so check the college’s site before you submit.
Questions
What time is the Common App deadline?
Common App deadlines end at 11:59 p.m. on the deadline date in your own time zone, not the college’s. Submitting a day or two early avoids a slow site on the last night.
When are early action and early decision deadlines?
Most are November 1 or November 15. For 2026–27, 259 Common App colleges have an early deadline on November 1 and 177 on November 15. A few, including Georgia Tech, UGA, UNC and Clemson, close early action on October 15.
When are regular decision deadlines?
Usually January 1 to February 1. 107 Common App colleges list January 15, 17 list January 1, and 624 use rolling admission with no fixed deadline.
Do recommendations and test scores have to arrive by the deadline?
Submit your part of the application by the deadline. Most colleges give recommendations, transcripts and test scores a little time to arrive, but check each college’s site and ask your recommenders to submit a week early.
Can I apply early action to more than one college?
Yes, unless one of them is restrictive early action or early decision. Regular early action is non-binding and you can apply to as many as you like. Early decision is binding and you can only apply ED to one college.
Want someone to keep your list on track?
A Clarity Prep mentor builds your college list with you, puts every deadline on one calendar, reads your essays and checks in every week until you hit submit. Not sure where you stand? Try the free chances calculator.