Early Decision
A binding early-application option that requires the student to enroll if admitted. Typically due in November with December notification.
Early Decision (ED) is a binding application plan: if a student is admitted, they must enroll and withdraw all other applications. Most ED applications are due November 1 or November 15, with decisions returned in mid-December.
Many selective colleges admit a substantially larger share of applicants in ED than in regular decision. At schools like Cornell or Penn, ED admit rates can run 18-22% versus 4-7% in regular decision. ED is often the single most material lever a parent can pull on application strategy.
The trade-off is that ED is binding and limits financial aid comparison. Families who depend on comparing aid offers from multiple schools should generally avoid ED unless they have run the school's net price calculator and are confident the offer will be acceptable.
Related terms
View all terms- Early ActionA non-binding early-application option that returns a decision in December but lets students apply elsewhere and choose later.
- Restrictive Early ActionA non-binding early option that prohibits applying to other private schools' early plans. Used by Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Harvard, Notre Dame.
- Regular DecisionThe standard application deadline at most colleges, typically January 1 with decisions returned in late March or early April.
- Admission RateThe percentage of applicants a college admits in a given year. Calculated by dividing total admitted students by total applicants.
- Yield RateThe percentage of admitted students who choose to enroll at a college. A high yield signals strong applicant preference.
- Holistic ReviewAn admissions process that evaluates the whole applicant — grades, scores, essays, activities, character — rather than relying on numbers alone.