College Application Deadlines 2026: Complete Calendar for Class of 2030

Missing a college application deadline can instantly eliminate months of preparation. For the Class of 2030 applying in 2026, this comprehensive calendar ensures you never miss a critical date.

Early Decision Deadlines 2026

Early Decision is binding—you must attend if accepted and can only apply to one school ED. These deadlines are non-negotiable.

November 1, 2026 Early Decision I

• Harvard University
• Yale University
• Princeton University
• Columbia University
• University of Pennsylvania
• Dartmouth College
• Brown University
• Cornell University
• Northwestern University
• Vanderbilt University
• Washington University in St. Louis
• Emory University

November 15, 2026 Early Decision I

• Stanford University (Restrictive Early Action - slightly different rules)
• Johns Hopkins University
• Duke University
• New York University
• Carnegie Mellon University
• University of Virginia (in-state)

January 1, 2027 Early Decision II

Many schools offer a second Early Decision round for students who weren't accepted in their first choice ED round:

• Vanderbilt University
• Washington University in St. Louis
• Emory University
• Claremont McKenna College
• Pomona College
• Swarthmore College

Early Action Deadlines 2026

Early Action is non-binding—you can apply to multiple schools and don't have to attend if accepted.

November 1, 2026 Early Action

• MIT (requires standardized tests)
• Georgia Tech
• University of Virginia (out-of-state)
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (out-of-state)
• Villanova University
• Boston College
• Northeastern University

November 15, 2026 Early Action

• University of Michigan
• Georgetown University (first year on Common App!)
• Boston University
• Fordham University
• Loyola Marymount University

December 1, 2026 Early Action

• University of Chicago (ED and EA options)
• Tulane University
• Case Western Reserve University

Regular Decision Deadlines 2026-2027

Most college applications are due during a compressed window in early January. Plan to submit before New Year's to avoid last-minute technical issues.

January 1, 2027

The most common deadline across hundreds of schools:

• All Ivy League schools (RD)
• Stanford University
• MIT
• University of California system (all campuses)
• University of Southern California
• New York University
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Northeastern University
• Boston University
• Tufts University

January 2, 2027

• Vanderbilt University
• Washington University in St. Louis

January 5, 2027

• Colby College
• Middlebury College

January 15, 2027

• University of Virginia
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Georgia Institute of Technology
• Claremont Colleges (Pomona, Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd)

February 1, 2027

• University of Chicago (if not applied EA/ED)
• Grinnell College

Rolling Admissions (Apply ASAP)

These schools review applications as received:

• University of Arizona
• Arizona State University
• Indiana University
• Penn State University
• University of Alabama
• Auburn University

State System Deadlines 2026

University of California (UC) System

Deadline: November 30, 2026 (unchanged from previous years)

• UC Berkeley
• UCLA
• UC San Diego
• UC Santa Barbara
• UC Irvine
• UC Davis
• UC Santa Cruz
• UC Riverside
• UC Merced

California State University (CSU) System

Deadline: November 30, 2026 for most competitive campuses

Deadline: Extended to January for less competitive campuses

Texas Public Universities (ApplyTexas)

Deadline: December 1, 2026 for most schools

Deadline: January 15, 2027 for some programs

SUNY (State University of New York)

Deadline: Varies by campus (January 15 - March 1, 2027)

Financial Aid Deadlines 2026-2027

Financial aid has separate deadlines that are just as important as admissions deadlines.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

Opens: October 1, 2026

Priority Deadline: Many schools require FAFSA by January 1 or February 15, 2027

Final Federal Deadline: June 30, 2027

Complete FAFSA as early as possible. Many schools award aid on a first-come, first-served basis.

CSS Profile Deadlines

The CSS Profile is required by many private schools for institutional aid.

November 1, 2026 (for Early Decision/Action applicants):

• All Ivy League schools
• Stanford, MIT, Caltech
• Most elite private colleges

January 1-15, 2027 (for Regular Decision applicants):

Check each school individually as dates vary

State Financial Aid Programs

California Cal Grant: March 2, 2027

New York TAP: June 30, 2027

Illinois MAP Grant: As early as possible after October 1

Scholarship Deadlines 2026-2027

External scholarships often have different deadlines than college applications.

National Scholarships

Coca-Cola Scholars: October 31, 2026

Gates Scholarship: September 15, 2026

QuestBridge National College Match: September 27, 2026

National Merit Scholarship: PSAT taken junior year

College-Specific Merit Scholarships

Most automatic merit scholarships use regular application deadlines, but some have earlier requirements:

December 1, 2026:

• Tulane Paul Tulane Award
• Duke Trinity College of Arts & Sciences Scholarship
• Vanderbilt Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship

January 15, 2027:

• UChicago Merit Scholarships
• Northwestern Merit Scholarships

How to Track All These Deadlines

With hundreds of potential deadlines, organization is critical. Here's a proven system:

Create a Master Spreadsheet

Track for each school:

• Application deadline
• Financial aid deadline (FAFSA, CSS Profile, institutional forms)
• Scholarship deadlines
• Interview deadlines
• Housing application deadlines

Set Multiple Reminders

• One month before: Begin applications
• Two weeks before: Complete first draft
• One week before: Final review and submission
• Day before: Confirm submission received

Use admission.ai's Deadline Tracker

Our platform automatically tracks deadlines for all your target schools and sends personalized reminders. For $10/month, never miss another deadline while getting AI-powered application support.

Deadline Strategy Tips

Apply Early Action Everywhere Possible

EA gives you an advantage and early peace of mind without binding commitment. Apply EA to any school that offers it (unless applying ED elsewhere).

Don't Wait Until the Last Day

Technical problems, website crashes, and payment issues happen frequently on deadline days. Submit at least 48 hours early.

Prioritize Your Reach Schools

If you're running out of time, focus on your top-choice reaches first. Safety schools often have later deadlines or rolling admissions.

Have Backup Plans

If you miss a deadline, know which schools have later deadlines or spring admission options.

Check Individual School Websites

While this calendar is comprehensive, always verify deadlines on individual school websites. Policies can change, and some programs within universities have different deadlines.

What Happens After You Submit?

Application Status Portals

Most schools will email you login information for a portal where you can track your application status and submit additional materials.

Missing Materials

Schools will typically notify you if they're missing components like test scores, transcripts, or recommendation letters. Monitor your email and application portals regularly.

Decision Timelines

• Early Decision/Action: Mid-December 2026
• Regular Decision: Late March through early April 2027
• Waitlist Updates: May 1 - August 2027
• National Commitment Deadline: May 1, 2027

Common Deadline Mistakes to Avoid

Procrastinating on FAFSA: File October 1, 2026, not right before school deadlines

Mixing up Early vs. Regular deadlines: Double-check which deadline applies to your application type

Forgetting about time zones: Deadlines typically use the school's local time zone

Not confirming submission: Always check that applications were successfully received

Missing scholarship deadlines: These can be separate from admission deadlines

The college application process involves managing dozens of deadlines across multiple categories. Create systems to track them, set early personal deadlines, and consider tools like admission.ai that automatically manage this complexity.

Missing deadlines isn't just disappointing—it's entirely preventable with proper planning. Use this calendar as your foundation, verify specific dates for your schools, and build in buffer time for the unexpected.

Your dream school is waiting for your application. Don't let a missed deadline be the reason you don't get to attend.