Updated February 5, 2025
Early Action vs. Early Decision: How to Decide
Making your college application strategy is a huge part of the admissions process. That includes deciding whether you want to apply to any schools through early decision or early action.
For many students and parents, these terms can be confusing. While early action (EA) and early decision (ED) might sound similar, they have key differences that are important to understand as you make your application strategy.
PrepMaven has over 20 years of experience in helping students navigate the application process. Almost all of our tutors attended Ivy League institutions, and from both their own application journeys and their extensive tutoring experience, they know how to demystify the application process.
Keep reading to learn about the pros and cons of applying Early Action and Early Decision and when each one might be a good option. We’ve compared each option side by side so you can find the right option for you.
When you’re ready to start working on your application, reach out to our team for a free consultation and for support with your application materials!
Jump to section:
Early Action vs. Early Decision: At a A Glance
All About Early Action
What Does It Mean?
How Many Schools Can You Apply To?
Is It Binding or Not?
Who Might Want to Consider Early Action?
What About Financial Aid?
EA or ED: Weighing the Pros and Cons
Summary
Next steps
Early Action vs. Early Decision: At a Glance
| Early Action | Early Decision | |
| Commitment | Non-binding | Binding |
| Application deadline | Usually mid-October to mid-November | Usually mid-October to mid-November |
| Decision | Usually mid-December | Usually mid-December |
| Can you apply to multiple schools? | Yes (except for restrictive or single-choice EA programs) | No; must apply to one school |
| Financial aid | Can compare aid offers before making a choice | Cannot compare aid offers |
Comparing the key features of Early Action and Early Decision, the most important difference is that Early Decision is binding. That means that you can apply to only one school under its early decision program, and if accepted, you’ve committed to attend.
With most Early Action programs, you can apply to multiple schools, and even if you get into a school through early action, you can choose to go somewhere else.
Remember that not all schools offer either Early Action or Early Decision. Many offer just one of these two programs, so as you make your college list and application strategy, keep track of which schools have Early Action or Early Decision application options that you might want to take advantage of.
All About Early Action
What Does It Mean?
Early Action is a way to apply to college early without committing to any one school straight away. It can be a good choice if you’re eager—and ready—to get your applications out of the way, but you still want to keep your options open.
How Many Schools Can You Apply To?
For the most part, you can apply to as many schools as you like under early action. That makes the process similar to applying in the regular decision round—you apply to a number of schools, get decisions around the same time, and select your top choice to attend—except that the whole process happens earlier.
There are some exceptions, though. Some schools maintain what’s called single-choice or restrictive early action programs, which limit the number of other private colleges you can apply to early.
Only a small handful of schools practice restrictive early action: in 2024, the only top-50 institutions with restrictive EA programs are Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Caltech, and Notre Dame.
If you’re applying to one of these schools through restrictive early action, it’s important to know that you’re only barred from applying early to other private colleges and universities. You can still apply early to as many public universities as you like. For example, you can’t apply early to both Harvard and MIT, but you’re welcome to apply early to Harvard and UNC-Chapel Hill.
Timeline
Generally, you’ll submit your application in mid-October to mid-November and receive a decision in mid-December. This gives you some time to weigh your options: if you’re not accepted under early action, you can still apply to more schools in the regular decision round.
Here’s a sample of colleges that offer both early and regular decision options for applying.
| College or University | Early Action Deadline | Regular Decision Deadline |
| Notre Dame | November 1 | January 3 |
| Princeton University | November 1 | January 1 |
| University of Pennsylvania | November 1 | January 5 |
| University of Virginia | November 1 | January 5 |
| University of Michigan | October 1 | February 1 |
Is It Binding or Not?
Early action is not binding. That means that even if you’re accepted to one or more schools through early action, you can still apply to other schools and take your time deciding where to enroll.
Who Might Want to Consider Early Action?
Early Action can be a great option for students who feel ready to submit their applications early but not to commit to one particular school. If you’re not 100% set on one college, EA gives you the flexibility to explore different offers before committing.
On the other hand, applying to college by November 1st or even October 1st can be a time crunch! If you feel that you need more time to craft a strong application, you might want to wait until the regular decision round. That’s especially true if you want to use your senior fall to improve your GPA or standardized test scores in order to maximize your chances of admission.
If you want to raise your GPA or test scores to optimize your chances of getting into your ideal school, working with a tutor can be a great option.
PrepMaven tutors can often make a big difference to students’ scores that put them in a different league for application season. SAT tutoring students typically see a score increase of 100-300 points over a few months – which can make the difference between getting into your dream school or receiving a rejection.
All About Early Decision
What Does It Mean?
Early decision is similar to early action, with one major difference: it’s a commitment to one school. That means that you can only apply to one school under ED, and if you get in, that’s where you’re going. It’s a big commitment, but if you’ve done your research and you’re 100% sure that one school is your top choice, Early Decision can be the right option for you.
How Many Schools Can You Apply To?
Through early decision, you can only apply to one school. Because you’re obliged to attend if admitted, you should be sure that this is where you really want to go.
Timeline
The timeline for Early Decision is similar to Early Action’s: applications are usually due between mid-October and and mid-November, and decisions are generally released after mid-December. Because ED is binding, if you receive an acceptance in December, you may not apply to any other schools in the regular decision round.
Below are some examples of colleges with Early Decision options and a comparison of their Early Decision vs. Regular Decision application deadlines.
| College or University | Early Action Deadline | Regular Decision Deadline |
| Boston University | November 1 | January 6 |
| Colby College | November 15 | January 3 |
| Columbia University | November 1 | January 1 |
| Vanderbilt University | November 1 | January 1 |
| Wesleyan University | November 15 | January 3 |
Is It Binding or Not?
Early decision is binding. If you’re accepted to a school through ED, you’re expected to attend.
Who Might Want to Consider Early Decision?
Early decision is ideal for students who are absolutely sure of their first-choice school, after doing their research on academic programs, extracurricular offerings, student life, ideal location, and expected financial aid.
It’s also a way to demonstrate strong interest in a particular college. Universities try to maintain a high yield, meaning the percentage of accepted students who go on to matriculate.
Because all accepted Early Decision students must attend the school, Early Decision programs are beneficial to the university’s yield, which may be one reason Early Decision applicants generally have higher acceptance rates than regular decision applicants.
However, if you’re unsure of your top choice, you may not be ready for the big commitment that comes with applying early decision. This is also true if you need to compare financial aid offers to choose the most affordable school, in which case you’ll probably want to apply to multiple schools so you can weigh your options.
What About Financial Aid?
Financial aid can be an important consideration when choosing to apply early action or early decision. When you apply early action to multiple schools, or you apply to a mix of early action and regular decision programs, you have the chance to compare financial aid packages from different schools as you make your final decision on where to attend.
Because early decision commits you to attending a school if accepted, you don’t have the chance to compare financial aid offers. Whatever offer you receive from your Early Decision school is the only option that you have. That can make Early Decision a less attractive option for students who want or need to maximize their financial aid.
If you apply Early Decision, get accepted, and then discover that the school’s financial aid offer is absolutely unfeasible for you and your family, you can generally be released from your obligation to attend.
Still, this isn’t an ideal situation, especially since there’s only a short turnaround between when early decision acceptances are sent out in mid-December and the application deadline for the regular decision round. That means that if it takes time to discuss your financial needs with your Early Decision school and potentially be released from your obligation to attend, you may already have missed the boat on applying elsewhere in the regular decision round.
In short, if maximum financial aid is a major factor in your decision process, then early action may be a safer bet for you than early decision.
EA or ED: Weighing the Pros and Cons
Pros of Early Action:
• You can apply to a few top choices early and, if accepted, save the time and money involved in applying to a wider range of schools in the regular decision round.
• It’s non-binding, so you still have time to weigh your options if you’re accepted early.
• Even if you choose to apply to more schools in the regular round, having one early acceptance can take the stress and pressure off the application season.
Cons of Early Action:
• You need to have your application ready earlier than the regular decision timeline, including any supplementary materials.
• Senior year grades and activities might not be fully reflected in your application.
• If you’re planning to (re)take the SAT or ACT your senior fall, that score may not be reflected in your application.
Pros of Early Decision:
• If you have your heart set on one school, ED can demonstrate your commitment to the college (one reason acceptance rates may be higher for ED applicants).
• ED can be a good option for students who are committed to one school and want to avoid the stress of multiple applications.
• If you’re accepted early, you can avoid the expense, stress, and time commitment of applying to a wide range of schools in the regular round.
Cons of Early Decision:
• If you’re accepted through ED, you must attend the school, so you should be 100% sure that it’s your top choice before applying.
• You don’t have the option to compare financial aid packages from multiple schools, making ED a riskier option if financial aid is a major factor for you.
• You need to have your application ready earlier than the regular decision timeline, including any supplementary materials.
• Senior year grades and activities might not be fully reflected in your application.
• If you’re planning to (re)take the SAT or ACT your senior fall, that score may not be reflected in your application.
Summary
- Both early action and early decision are ways to apply to college early.
- Deadlines are usually in October or November, with decisions released after mid-December.
- The key difference is that early action is not binding, while early decision obliges you to attend the school if accepted.
- This also means that you can apply EA to multiple schools (with the exception of a handful of selective schools), while you can only apply ED to a single school.
- One disadvantage of early decision is that it doesn’t allow you to receive and compare multiple financial aid offers, whereas early action does.
- Early action can be a great option for students who are ready to apply early but don’t have a single top school choice, don’t want to make a binding commitment yet, or want to compare financial aid packages from multiple schools.
- Early decision can be a great option for students who are 100% sure they want to attend a particular school.
- If you’re not ready to apply by the early deadline, there’s nothing wrong with waiting until the regular decision round. It’s better to submit a regular application you’re proud of than an early one that feels rushed and incomplete.
Next Steps
There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy for applying to college. Whether early action, early decision, or waiting until regular decision is the right choice for you depends on your individual situation – readiness to apply, financial situation, and where you are in the college choice process.
Once you know what you need to work on – academic support to improve your grades, SAT or ACT tutoring to help you raise your scores, or advice on your college essays – an experienced tutor can help you reach your goals.
Nearly all PrepMaven tutors are Ivy League grads, with a handful of highly qualified tutors from other top-30 universities. They’ve been in your shoes, so they know from experience how to demystify the application process.
Reach out to our team for a free chat about your situation and to find a tutor match who can help you get ready to apply!
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Ro
Rosamond graduated summa cum laude from Princeton. During college, she worked as a peer tutor for Italian, French, Greek, and academic writing. Since graduation, she’s continued to tutor students of all ages in French, Italian, Latin, English, and math, some of them for several years. She’s currently a graduate student studying the relationship between religion and secular law, and she works as a freelance journalist and translator.