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Lists / Best Colleges to Apply Early To 2022

Best Colleges to Apply Early To 2022

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Created by College Confidential
Photo: Vlada Karpovich/Pexels

If you have your heart set on attending any of the 35 colleges below, applying early might be a good. All of these schools admitted a significantly larger percentage of applicants early than during the regular decision round. For more tips and community discussions on applying early, visit the CC Early Admissions 2022 Hub.

1. Grinnell College

Grinnell Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 58% Overall Acceptance Rate: 11% 2021 ED Advantage: 47%

Grinnell also admitted significantly more early applicants for the 2020-21 application cycle. 2020 ED Advantage: 40%

  • 1st
    Grinnell College
    Grinnell, IA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $61,480
    Out-of-State
    $61,480
    Acceptance Rate11%

    • 2. Bates College

    Bates Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 60% Overall Acceptance Rate: 17% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 42% 2020-21 ED Advantage: 30%

  • 2nd
    Bates College
    Lewiston, ME • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $57,353
    Out-of-State
    $57,353
    Acceptance Rate17%

    • 3. College of the Holy Cross

    Holy Cross Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 82% Overall Acceptance Rate: 43% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 39%

  • 3rd
    College of the Holy Cross
    Worcester, MA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $58,360
    Out-of-State
    $58,360
    Acceptance Rate43%

    • 4. Wesleyan University

    Wesleyan Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 55% Overall Acceptance Rate: 19% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 35% 2020-21 ED Advantage: 20%

  • 4th
    Wesleyan University
    Middletown, CT • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $64,022
    Out-of-State
    $64,022
    Acceptance Rate19%

    • 5. Fairfield University

    Fairfield Early Action Acceptance Rate: 90% Overall Acceptance Rate: 56% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 34%

  • 5th
    Fairfield University
    Fairfield, CT • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $54,455
    Out-of-State
    $54,455
    Acceptance Rate56%

    • 6. Villanova University

    Villanova Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 60% Overall Acceptance Rate: 25% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 34% 2020-21 ED Advantage: 30%

  • 6th
    Villanova University
    Villanova, PA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $59,020
    Out-of-State
    $59,020
    Acceptance Rate25%

    • 7. Northeastern University

    NEU Early Action Acceptance Rate: 58% Overall Acceptance Rate: 18% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 33% 2020-21 ED Advantage: 17%

  • 7th
    Northeastern University
    Boston, MA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $57,592
    Out-of-State
    $57,592
    Acceptance Rate18%

    • 8. Colby College

    Colby Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 42% Regular Acceptance Rate: 9% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 33% 2020-21 ED Advantage: 30%

  • 8th
    Colby College
    Waterville, ME • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $61,220
    Out-of-State
    $61,220
    Acceptance Rate9%

    • 9. Illinois Wesleyan University

    Illinois Wesleyan Early Action Acceptance Rate: 45% Overall Acceptance Rate: 79% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 33% 2020-21 ED Advantage: 30%

  • 9th
    Illinois Wesleyan University
    Bloomington, IL • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $53,814
    Out-of-State
    $53,814
    Acceptance Rate45%

    • 10. Trinity University

    Trinity Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 66% Overall Acceptance Rate: 34% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 32%

  • 10th
    Trinity University
    San Antonio, TX • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $49,264
    Out-of-State
    $49,264
    Acceptance Rate34%

    • 11. Middlebury College

    Middlebury Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 45% Overall Acceptance Rate: 13% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 32% 2020-21 ED Advantage: 25%

  • 11th
    Middlebury College
    Middlebury, VT • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $62,460
    Out-of-State
    $62,460
    Acceptance Rate13%

    • 12. Macalester College

    Macalaster Early Action Acceptance Rate: 57% OveAcceptance Rate: 27% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 30%

  • 12th
    Macalester College
    St. Paul, MN • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $62,270
    Out-of-State
    $62,270
    Acceptance Rate27%

    • 13. Washington and Lee University

    W&L Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 48% Overall Acceptance Rate: 19% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 29% 2020-21 ED Advantage: 28%

  • 13th
    Washington and Lee University
    Lexington, VA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $61,750
    Out-of-State
    $61,750
    Acceptance Rate19%

    • 14. Pitzer College

    Pitzer Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 47% Overall Acceptance Rate: 18% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 29% 2020-21 ED Advantage: 20%

  • 14th
    Pitzer College
    Claremont, CA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $57,978
    Out-of-State
    $57,978
    Acceptance Rate18%

    • 15. Bard College

    Bard Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 89% Overall Acceptance Rate: 60% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 29%

  • 15th
    Bard College
    Annandale-on-Hudson, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $60,270
    Out-of-State
    $60,270
    Acceptance Rate60%

    • 16. Santa Clara University

    Santa Clara ED & EA Acceptance Rate: 83% Overall Acceptance Rate: 54% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 29%

  • 16th
    Santa Clara University
    Santa Clara, CA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $55,860
    Out-of-State
    $55,860
    Acceptance Rate54%

    • 17. Smith College

    Smith Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 58% Overall Acceptance Rate: 30% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 28%

  • 17th
    Smith College
    Northampton, MA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $58,768
    Out-of-State
    $58,768
    Acceptance Rate37%

    • 18. Quincy University

    Quincy Early Acceptance Rate: 87% Overall Acceptance Rate: 60% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 27%

  • 18th
    Quincy University
    Quincy, IL • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $31,940
    Out-of-State
    $31,940
    Acceptance Rate60%

    • 19. Hamilton College

    Hamilton Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 41% Overall Acceptance Rate: 14% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 27%

  • 19th
    Hamilton College
    Clinton, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $59,970
    Out-of-State
    $59,970
    Acceptance Rate14%

    • 20. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

    RPI Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 84% Overall Acceptance Rate: 57% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 27%

  • 20th
    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Troy, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    Unknown
    Out-of-State
    Unknown
    Acceptance Rate57%

    • 21. Davidson College

    Davidson Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 44% Overall Acceptance Rate: 18% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 27% 2020-21 ED Advantage: 27%

  • 21st
    Davidson College
    Davidson, NC • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $57,690
    Out-of-State
    $57,690
    Acceptance Rate18%

    • 22. St. Olaf College

    St. Olaf Early Acceptance Rate: 73% Overall Acceptance Rate: 47% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 26%

  • 22nd
    St. Olaf College
    Northfield, MN • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $54,650
    Out-of-State
    $54,650
    Acceptance Rate47%

    • 23. Haverford College

    Haverford Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 43% Overall Acceptance Rate: 18% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 25% 2020-21 ED Advantage: 28%

  • 23rd
    Haverford College
    Haverford, PA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $60,940
    Out-of-State
    $60,940
    Acceptance Rate18%

    • 24. Kenyon College

    Kenyon Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 62% Overall Acceptance Rate: 37% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 25%

  • 24th
    Kenyon College
    Gambier, OH • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $66,490
    Out-of-State
    $66,490
    Acceptance Rate37%

    • 25. St. Lawrence University

    St Lawrence Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 81% Overall Acceptance Rate: 57% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 25%

  • 25th
    St. Lawrence University
    Canton, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $58,750
    Out-of-State
    $58,750
    Acceptance Rate57%

    • 26. Williams College

    Williams Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 33% Overall Acceptance Rate: 9% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 24%

  • 26th
    Williams College
    Williamstown, MA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $61,770
    Out-of-State
    $61,770
    Acceptance Rate9%

    • 27. Trinity College

    Trinity Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 60% Overall Acceptance Rate: 36% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 24%

  • 27th
    Trinity College
    Hartford, CT • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $59,050
    Out-of-State
    $59,050
    Acceptance Rate36%

    • 28. Wellesley College

    Wellesley Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 40% Overall Acceptance Rate: 16% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 24%

  • 28th
    Wellesley College
    Wellesley, MA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $61,920
    Out-of-State
    $61,920
    Acceptance Rate20%

    • 29. Maine Maritime Academy

    Maine Maritime Early Action Acceptance Rate: 81% Overall Acceptance Rate: 58% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 24%

  • 29th
    Maine Maritime Academy
    Castine, ME • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $14,562
    Out-of-State
    $30,042
    Acceptance Rate58%

    • 30. Alfred University

    Alfred Early Action Acceptance Rate: 91% Overall Acceptance Rate: 67% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 23%

  • 30th
    Alfred University
    Alfred, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $37,644
    Out-of-State
    $37,644
    Acceptance Rate67%

    • 31. Colgate University

    Colgate Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 40% Overall Acceptance Rate: 17% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 23% 2020-21 ED Advantage: 18%

  • 31st
    Colgate University
    Hamilton, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $64,290
    Out-of-State
    $64,290
    Acceptance Rate17%

    • 32. Lehigh University

    Lehigh Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 73% Overall Acceptance Rate: 50% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 23%

  • 32nd
    Lehigh University
    Bethlehem, PA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $59,930
    Out-of-State
    $59,930
    Acceptance Rate50%

    • 33. American University

    American Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 87% Overall Acceptance Rate: 64% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 23%

  • 33rd
    American University
    Washington, DC • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $57,425
    Out-of-State
    $57,425
    Acceptance Rate64%

    • 34. Skidmore College

    Skidmore Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 53% Overall Acceptance Rate: 31% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 22% 2020-21 ED Advantage: 28%

  • 34th
    Skidmore College
    Saratoga Springs, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $60,152
    Out-of-State
    $60,152
    Acceptance Rate31%

    • 35. Barnard College

    Barnard Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 33% Overall Acceptance Rate: 11% 2021-22 ED Advantage: 22%

  • 35th
    Barnard College
    New York, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $59,687
    Out-of-State
    $59,687
    Acceptance Rate11%

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