The 2026-27 deadline grid that the Common App updated on September 25 shows that early deadlines at several private universities, including the University of Southern California and Stanford University, remain November 1, 2026 (a Sunday), while Carnegie Mellon University, Duke University, the University of Chicago, and others have set their deadlines on November 2. For 12th-grade students in the Irvine Unified School District (IUSD), the first round of deadlines is about one month away.
Who is affected
The change affects 12th-grade students who plan to apply early to private universities. In the deadline grid, the dates for several schools that California students often apply to are as follows:
| School | Plan and deadline |
|---|---|
| University of Southern California | ED and EA both November 1 |
| Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Princeton University | Restrictive Early Action, November 1 |
| Columbia University, Cornell University, Brown University, Northwestern University, New York University, University of Michigan | November 1 |
| Carnegie Mellon University, Duke University | ED November 2 |
| University of Chicago | ED and EA both November 2 |
| Boston University | ED November 2 |
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which is not on the Common App, states on its website that its Early Action deadline is November 1 and that decisions are released in mid-December. ED refers to binding Early Decision and EA to non-binding Early Action; the differences are explained in Four Types of Early Application: Which Are Binding and Which Are Not.
What to do now
Treat each college’s website as authoritative. The Common App deadline grid is a summary, and each college’s own website governs the details. Before submitting, verify the date and time zone on the target college’s website once more.
Plan the schedule around the earliest date. Essays, recommendation letters, and transcripts all need to be in place before the deadline, so mid-October is a sensible target for finalizing the main essay. The University of California does not offer an early round, and its deadline remains November 30; see Brief: UC Applications Due November 30.
Families who need to coordinate early applications with the University of California application can learn about EDUBUS college planning.
Sources
- Common App: 2026-27 First-year deadlines, fees and requirements (updated September 25, 2026) (accessed September 30, 2026)
- University of California: Myth-busting UC admissions (accessed September 30, 2026)
- MIT Admissions: Deadlines & requirements (accessed September 30, 2026)
- CSS Profile Opens; Early Deadlines in NovemberThe 2027-28 CSS Profile opened October 1, and USC and Stanford ask early applicants to file in November. Fee waiver rules, both deadlines, and documents to prepare.
- California Class of 2026 SAT Average Is 1108College Board's Class of 2026 SAT report puts California's average at 1108, 63 points above the nation. Key figures and how Irvine applicants can use them.
- Common App Keeps Its Seven Essay PromptsCommon App keeps last year's seven essay prompts for 2026-27; the open topic was last season's top choice. The prompts and a drafting order for Irvine early applicants.
- UC Clears Up Eight Common Admissions MythsOn September 21 the University of California addressed eight admissions myths, including whether campuses share results and whether aid applications affect admission.
