On September 25, 2026, Common App updated its first-year deadline grid for the 2026-27 cycle. Several public universities, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Florida State University, and the Georgia Institute of Technology, set their early application deadline on October 15, two weeks before the November 1 date used by most private universities. Twelfth-grade students at Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) high schools applying to these schools now have less than two weeks.
Who Is Affected by the October 15 public university early deadlines
Twelfth-grade students applying under the early plans at the schools below. Several schools treat out-of-state students differently:
| College | October 15 plan | What it means for California students |
|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Early Action (non-binding); decisions by December 20 for North Carolina residents and by February 15, 2027, for all other applicants | California students may apply, with decisions in February; Regular Decision closes January 15, 2027, with decisions March 31 |
| Florida State University | Early Decision and Early Action both close October 15, with materials due October 22 and decisions December 17; Early Action is open to Florida residents only | California students choose binding Early Decision or Regular Decision, which closes December 1 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Early Action 1 is open only to students at Georgia high schools or Georgia residents | California students use Early Action 2, which closes November 2 with documents due November 16 and decisions in late January; merit scholarship applicants must apply through an Early Action plan |
The October 15 column of the Common App grid also includes the University of Georgia, the University of Florida, the University of Texas at Austin, Clemson University, and the University of South Carolina Columbia. The grid lists dates only; residency limits and document deadlines are governed by each college’s website.
What to Do Now About the October 15 public university early deadlines
Check residency eligibility for the plan first. Florida State University’s Early Action and Georgia Tech’s Early Action 1 are open only to in-state students; a California student who selects them will be moved to another plan or not considered.
Handle the October 15 colleges before the November 1 group. The colleges closing on November 1 and 2 are listed in Brief: Early Deadlines Split Between November 1 and 2. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill requires one letter from a core-subject teacher; the request process is explained in Recommendation Letters: Four Steps for IUSD Seniors.
Keep binding and non-binding plans separate. Florida State University’s Early Decision requires enrollment upon admission, while Early Action at Georgia Tech and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is non-binding. For the overall college list and plan selection, see College Admissions Planning.
Sources
- Common App: 2026-27 First-year deadlines, fees and requirements (PDF) (accessed October 2, 2026)
- UNC Admissions: First-Year Applicants (accessed October 2, 2026)
- Florida State University Admissions: First-Year (accessed October 2, 2026)
- Georgia Tech Admission: First-Year Deadlines (accessed October 2, 2026)
- CSU Transfer Priority Filing Ends Nov. 30CSU priority filing for fall 2027 transfer applicants ends November 30, 2026; $70 per campus. ADT admission guarantee, upper-division requirements, and next steps.
- Notre Dame REA Nov. 1; Tests Required Fall 2028Notre Dame Restrictive Early Action closes November 1, 2026. Scores stay optional this cycle; SAT or ACT is required for fall 2028 entry. Dates, essays, and rules.
- Pomona Two Essays, Early Decision Due Nov. 8Pomona College Early Decision I closes November 8, 2026, decisions by December 15. Two supplement prompts of 150 and 250 words, plus recommendation and testing rules.
- Portola High Financial Aid Workshop Oct. 19Portola High School holds a mandatory financial aid workshop for all seniors on October 19, 2026, led by Irvine Valley College, with FSA ID creation. Parent steps first.
