The University of Rochester has posted its deadlines: Early Decision I closes on November 1, with decisions in mid-December, and a separate non-binding priority scholarship deadline falls on December 1. Irvine seniors who have not settled on a first choice can skip Early Decision, apply by December 1 and still receive priority merit scholarship consideration.
Who Is Affected by the Rochester Early Deadlines
The deadlines apply to seniors deciding whether to apply to the University of Rochester and in which round. The admissions page lists these dates:
| Round | Application deadline | Other materials deadline | Decision | Reply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | November 1 | December 1 | Mid-December | Within 3 weeks of notification |
| Priority scholarship deadline | December 1 | — | Late February | May 1 |
| Early Decision II | January 5 | February 1 | Early February | Within 3 weeks of notification |
| Regular Decision | January 5 | February 15 | April 1 | May 1 |
The Common App or Coalition Application must arrive by the deadline, and other materials may follow later. Both Early Decision rounds are binding: an admitted student must enroll and withdraw other applications, a denied applicant is not reconsidered in Regular Decision, and a few applications are deferred for review with the Regular Decision pool. The university states that almost one-third of the entering class applied Early Decision.
What to Do Now About Rochester Early Decision and Scholarships
Decide whether to sign a binding agreement. The student, a parent or guardian and a school counselor must sign the Early Decision agreement in the application platform, and a student may apply Early Decision to only one institution. Students who applied Regular Decision may contact the admissions office to switch to Early Decision II, as long as they have no active Early Decision application elsewhere.
Submit financial aid forms on time. Early Decision applicants seeking need-based aid must submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile by December 1, and the aid package is emailed about 5 to 10 business days after the admission decision. Financial aid review follows the same standards as Regular Decision.
No separate scholarship form is needed. All applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships, and students who submit all materials by December 1 receive the highest consideration.
For early application rounds and financial aid planning, see the EDUBUS university admissions planning service; for a comparison of Early Decision II at other colleges, see Early Decision II: Using a Binding January Deadline.
Sources
- University of Rochester: Dates and Deadlines (accessed October 30, 2026)
- University of Rochester: Early Decision (accessed October 30, 2026)
- Pepperdine Early Deadlines Are November 1Pepperdine University closes Early Decision and Early Action on November 1, and applicants also write a 300 to 500 word essay on faith and campus conversation.
- Richmond Early Decision I Due November 1The University of Richmond closes Early Decision I and Early Action on November 1, and applicants choose one of three prompts for a 350 to 650 word essay.
- Villanova Early Deadlines Are November 1Villanova University closes Early Action and Early Decision I on November 1, and Early Action applicants can switch to Early Decision I until November 10.
- Bucknell Early Decision I Due November 1Bucknell University closes Early Decision I on November 1, and applicants must choose one of three colleges: Arts and Sciences, Engineering or Management.
