Regular Decision Deadlines 2025-26

Deadlines are the worst. Even the word looks terrifying (must it say “dead”?!). Bitter feelings aside, they are inevitable, and many Regular Decision deadlines are going to be here before you know it. Whether you’re applying Regular Decision to safety, target, or dream schools, it’s important to make sure you get your applications in on time. Let’s dive into what these applications are, how to manage the deadlines, and how to make sure you meet them with time to spare.

Regular Decision vs. Early Action/Decision

Regular Decision differs from Early Action and Early Decision deadlines in a few ways. 

1. Regular Decision (RD) deadlines tend to fall later in the application cycle, usually around January 1, whereas Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED) deadlines tend to fall around November 1.
2. Unlike ED and EA, Regular Decision is the final application deadline for the majority of schools (unless they offer as-space-is-available rolling admissions after the fact), so in most cases, if you miss the RD deadline, you cannot apply again for upcoming fall admission.
3. Unlike Early Decision, Regular Decision applications are non-binding, so students are not obligated to attend any of the schools they apply to via RD.

Regular Decision vs. Rolling Admissions

Regular Decision differs from Rolling Admissions in that Regular Decision has a firm deadline, whereas schools with rolling admissions review applications as they come in until they fill their upcoming class. Typically, the more competitive the school, the less likely they are to offer rolling admissions.

How to Manage Multiple Application Deadlines

We recommend organizing your list of schools, essay prompts, word counts, application platforms, and deadlines in one place, perhaps a document or spreadsheet, so you can stay on top of your deadlines and see them all in one place. If you sign up to work with CEA on your supplemental essays, we’ll even build a personalized spreadsheet just for you!

Tips for Meeting College Application Deadlines

We always recommend that students submit their applications at least one week before the deadline to avoid crashing applications. The best way to have your applications ready to go a week before the deadline is to ask for teacher recommendations at the end of junior year or in the very beginning of senior year, go on campus tours over the summer, take standardized tests before December, and write your personal statement, activities list, and supplemental essays before winter break.

Here are the Regular Decision Deadlines for the Class of 2030:

We’ve put together a list of Regular Decision deadlines so you can get all of your ducks in a row.

*These dates are from the 2024-25 admissions season. Check back soon for updates!

Don’t see your school on the list? Check back soon! We’re constantly updating this list with more deadlines so we can help you to manage this stressful process. Looking for Regular Decision notification dates? We have organized those dates for you as well! Still waiting on Early Decision notifications? You bet we put a list together. Enjoy our organizer and if you need any last minute essay revising, you can inquire about our services!

What to Expect After the Regular Decision Deadline

Once you submit your applications, you can take a deep breath and give yourself a pat on the back. College applications can be incredibly stressful—and you did it! Take some time to relax because everything is out of your hands now (besides maintaining your senior grades, of course). You can also check our Regular Decision Notification Date Tracker to find out when you might be able to hear back.

Want an expert to review your essay?

We're here to help!

GET IN TOUCH »