The Duke University admissions website lists the Early Decision schedule for the 2026-27 cycle: applications are due November 2, and decisions are released in mid-December. Irvine seniors who want to submit ACT scores for Early Decision can use the October 17 test date at the latest.
Who Is Affected by Duke Early Decision
Seniors whose first choice is Duke University and who are prepared to accept a binding admission. The Early Decision dates are:
| Date | Item |
|---|---|
| October 17 | Last ACT date usable for Early Decision |
| November 2 | Application, Early Decision Agreement, transcript, school report, and two teacher recommendations; CSS Profile and FAFSA |
| November 7 | Last SAT date usable for Early Decision |
| November 9 | Glimpse video (optional) |
| November 15 | Additional financial aid documents, such as tax returns |
| November 20 | First-quarter grades (or when the first term ends) |
| Mid-December | Decisions released |
Duke treats SAT and ACT scores as optional and, when scores are submitted, considers the highest score in each section. Regular Decision closes January 4, with December 5 as the last usable SAT date and December 12 as the last usable ACT date.
What to Do Now About Duke Early Decision
Decide whether to submit scores. Students who already have satisfactory scores do not need to test again; students hoping to raise an ACT score have only the October 17 date left. How test dates line up with early deadlines is covered in the EDUBUS brief Early Deadlines: Will SAT/ACT Scores Arrive in Time?.
Two required short essays of 250 words each. One asks why Duke, and the other asks about a community that shaped the student; three further questions are optional, and applicants may answer at most one. Applicants to the Pratt School of Engineering must have taken calculus, and Duke strongly recommends physics.
Confirm that the school will send first-quarter grades. Duke requires first-quarter grades from Early Decision applicants, so students should confirm this with their school counselor in advance. Planning for college lists and early plans is available through the EDUBUS College Admissions Planning service.
Sources
- Duke University Undergraduate Admissions: Apply (accessed October 7, 2026)
- Harvard Short Answers Set, REA Due November 1Harvard requires five 150-word short answers for 2026-27, and Restrictive Early Action closes November 1. This brief lists the prompts, testing rules, and early limits.
- Crean Lutheran First Round Due November 20Irvine's Crean Lutheran High School closes first-round materials November 20 and sends first acceptances December 4. This brief lists documents and aid dates.
- Georgetown Early Action Closes November 1Georgetown's non-binding Early Action closes November 1, with alumni interviews assigned after Part 1. This brief lists the timeline, essays, and testing rules.
- Oxford Academy Applications Close November 3Oxford Academy's 2027-28 seventh-grade application closes November 3 at 3:00 p.m. with no late entries. This brief lists seats, documents, and test dates.
