First-year Student Admission Deadlines

Ready to apply to Cornell? The process is not complicated, but we do offer several application schedules to choose from as shown in the table below.

Early Decision (ED)
If Cornell is your first choice we encourage you to apply for our binding Early Decision (ED1) plan. By applying ED1 by November 1, you will receive a waiver of your $30 application fee and first notification of admission and scholarship consideration. Review of completed ED1 applications begins October 1. Students admitted to the college must submit a $300 non-refundable deposit, postmarked by January 15. Upon submission of the deposit to Cornell students must withdraw applications to other schools.

Early Action
If you would like to learn of your admission status early, you must postmark your application by December 1 for our non-binding Early Action (EA) plan. Review of completed EA applications begins mid-October and applicants will be notified of their admission status by February 1. By applying EA, you are eligible to receive a waiver of the $30 application fee and priority admission and scholarship consideration. Applicants who are offered admission and wish to enroll must submit a $300 deposit by May 1.

Early Decision 2 (ED2)
Review of completed ED2 applications begins January 1 and will continue through March 1. This ED2 option allows students to submit a 7th semester transcript or a later SAT/ACT score with the application materials. Applicants admitted to the college who wish to enroll must submit a $300 non-refundable deposit, postmarked by April 1. Upon submission of the deposit to Cornell, students must withdraw applications to all other schools.

Regular Decision
Review of completed applications begins January 1 and applicants will be notified of their admission status no later than April 1. Applicants admitted through this non-binding plan must submit a $300 deposit by May 1.



Application
Deadline

Application
Review Period

Notification
By:

Deposit
Deadline*

Early Decision

Nov. 1

Oct. 1 - Jan. 1

Dec. 15

Jan. 15

Early Action

Dec. 1

Nov. 1 - Feb. 1

Feb. 1

May 1

Early Decision 2

Feb. 1

Jan. 1 - Mar. 1

Mar. 1

April 1

Regular Decision

Mar. 1**

Jan. 1 - Apr. 1

Apr. 1

May 1

* Enrollment is completed by sending a non-refundable $300 deposit, post-marked by the deposit deadline.

** The Admission Office will continue to accept late applications on a space-available basis after the March 1 deadline.  Please contact your admission counselor for more information.