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Lists / Best Colleges to Apply Early Action 2023

Best Colleges to Apply Early Action 2023

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Created by College Confidential

Does applying early action improve your changes of admission? Applying early to any of these schools could give you an advantage. These schools admit a larger percentage of students who apply early action than students who apply regular decision.

Related: Best Colleges to Apply Early Decision 2023

1. AdventHealth University

  • 1st
    AdventHealth University
    Orlando, FL • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $20,880
    Out-of-State
    $20,880
    Acceptance Rate34%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 90% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 34% Advantage: 57%

    2. Alfred University

  • 2nd
    Alfred University
    Alfred, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $39,530
    Out-of-State
    $39,530
    Acceptance Rate51%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 98% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 51% Advantage: 47%

    3. University of Miami

  • 3rd
    University of Miami
    Coral Gables, FL • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $59,926
    Out-of-State
    $59,926
    Acceptance Rate19%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 57% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 19% Advantage: 38%

    4. Maine Maritime Academy

  • 4th
    Maine Maritime Academy
    Castine, ME • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $14,746
    Out-of-State
    $30,226
    Acceptance Rate62%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 95% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 62% Advantage: 33%

    5. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

  • 5th
    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Troy, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $61,884
    Out-of-State
    $61,884
    Acceptance Rate64%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 96% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 64% Advantage: 32%

    6. Santa Clara University

  • 6th
    Santa Clara University
    Santa Clara, CA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $59,241
    Out-of-State
    $59,241
    Acceptance Rate52%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 81% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 52% Advantage: 29%

    7. Framingham State University

  • 7th
    Framingham State University
    Framingham, MA • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    Unknown
    Out-of-State
    Unknown
    Acceptance Rate64%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 92% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 64% Advantage: 28%

    8. The University of the South

  • 8th
    The University of the South
    Sewanee, TN • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $53,704
    Out-of-State
    $53,704
    Acceptance Rate52%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 79% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 52% Advantage: 27%

    9. St Johns College Annapolis

  • 9th
    St Johns College Annapolis
    Annapolis, MD • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $39,126
    Out-of-State
    $39,126
    Acceptance Rate50%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 75% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 50% Advantage: 25%

    10. Spelman College

  • 10th
    Spelman College
    Atlanta, GA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $28,885
    Out-of-State
    $28,885
    Acceptance Rate28%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 51% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 28% Advantage: 22%

    11. Wells College

  • 11th
    Wells College
    Aurora, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $35,362
    Out-of-State
    $35,362
    Acceptance Rate68%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 91% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 68% Advantage: 22%

    12. Allegheny College

  • 12th
    Allegheny College
    Meadville, PA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $53,610
    Out-of-State
    $53,610
    Acceptance Rate70%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 91% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 70% Advantage: 22%

    13. The College of Wooster

  • 13th
    The College of Wooster
    Wooster, OH • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $59,550
    Out-of-State
    $59,550
    Acceptance Rate56%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 78% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 56% Advantage: 21%

    14. UAlbany

  • 14th
    UAlbany
    Albany, NY • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $10,468
    Out-of-State
    $29,058
    Acceptance Rate68%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 89% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 68% Advantage: 21%

    15. Elmhurst University

  • 15th
    Elmhurst University
    Elmhurst, IL • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $42,008
    Out-of-State
    $42,008
    Acceptance Rate76%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 97% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 76% Advantage: 21%

    16. Southern Methodist University

  • 16th
    Southern Methodist University
    Dallas, TX • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $64,460
    Out-of-State
    $64,460
    Acceptance Rate52%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 73% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 52% Advantage: 21%

    17. Howard University

  • 17th
    Howard University
    Washington, DC • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $33,344
    Out-of-State
    $33,344
    Acceptance Rate35%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 55% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 35% Advantage: 19%

    18. Hampden-Sydney College

  • 18th
    Hampden-Sydney College
    Hampden-Sydney, VA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $50,740
    Out-of-State
    $50,740
    Acceptance Rate37%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 56% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 37% Advantage: 19%

    19. Augustana College

  • 19th
    Augustana College
    Rock Island, IL • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $47,916
    Out-of-State
    $47,916
    Acceptance Rate61%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 80% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 61% Advantage: 19%

    20. Mount Saint Mary's University

  • 20th
    Mount Saint Mary's University
    Los Angeles, CA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $48,132
    Out-of-State
    $48,132
    Acceptance Rate76%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 95% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 76% Advantage: 19%

    21. Ithaca College

  • 21st
    Ithaca College
    Ithaca, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $49,883
    Out-of-State
    $49,883
    Acceptance Rate75%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 94% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 75% Advantage: 19%

    22. St Johns College

  • 22nd
    St Johns College
    Santa Fe, NM • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $39,356
    Out-of-State
    $39,356
    Acceptance Rate54%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 72% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 54% Advantage: 18%

    23. Florida Southern College

  • 23rd
    Florida Southern College
    Lakeland, FL • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $41,300
    Out-of-State
    $41,300
    Acceptance Rate61%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 79% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 61% Advantage: 18%

    24. Ohio Wesleyan University

  • 24th
    Ohio Wesleyan University
    Delaware, OH • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $52,297
    Out-of-State
    $52,297
    Acceptance Rate52%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 70% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 52% Advantage: 18%

    25. Southwestern University

  • 25th
    Southwestern University
    Georgetown, TX • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $50,558
    Out-of-State
    $50,558
    Acceptance Rate45%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 62% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 45% Advantage: 17%

    26. Lawrence University

  • 26th
    Lawrence University
    Appleton, WI • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $55,461
    Out-of-State
    $55,461
    Acceptance Rate72%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 90% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 72% Advantage: 17%

    27. Emmanuel College

  • 27th
    Emmanuel College
    Boston, MA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $46,686
    Out-of-State
    $46,686
    Acceptance Rate80%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 97% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 80% Advantage: 17%

    28. Bryant University

  • 28th
    Bryant University
    Smithfield, RI • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $51,169
    Out-of-State
    $51,169
    Acceptance Rate69%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 86% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 69% Advantage: 17%

    29. Loyola Marymount University

  • 29th
    Loyola Marymount University
    Los Angeles, CA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $58,489
    Out-of-State
    $58,489
    Acceptance Rate41%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 59% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 41% Advantage: 17%

    30. Binghamton University, State University of New York

  • 30th
    Binghamton University, State University of New York
    Binghamton, NY • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $10,363
    Out-of-State
    $28,203
    Acceptance Rate44%

    • Early Action Acceptance Rate: 61% Regular Decision Acceptance Rate: 44% Advantage: 17%

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