For many students, the college application season is inexorably linked to pressure because of the need to finish everything by the same dates, from perfecting applications to considering college-specific additional essays. Of course, there is also the several-month wait to receive the findings.
But there is an option. If you meet the minimal requirements for admittance and are a good fit for the school, there are several colleges with rolling admissions, which is effectively first-come, first-served admissions. You won’t have to adhere to the same deadlines for all of your applications if you add schools using these admissions procedures to your list, and you’ll typically hear back much sooner, which will relieve a lot of the pressure associated with this process.

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What Makes Rolling Admissions Unique?
Regular admissions procedures are probably familiar to you: you apply during a designated admissions period (typically in late fall or early winter for regular decision and a little earlier for early decision/action) and find out the results a few months later (typically in March if you apply during the regular decision timeline). You must also make a commitment by May 1st to the school you plan to attend.
Different rules apply to rolling admissions. Students may apply as soon as the application process begins and continue to do so until the school has enough applicants to fill the class. The majority of colleges with rolling admissions have priority deadlines, which means that if you submit your application by that time, it will be reviewed before those submitted after it. But keep in mind that as rolling admissions are first-come, first-served, applicants who submit their applications after the priority deadline will only be accepted if there is room. Four to six weeks after applying, students typically learn their fates.
40 Colleges with Rolling Admissions
School | Location | Acceptance Rate | Rank |
Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, Arkansas | 63% | 830 |
Arizona State University | ASU | Tempe, Arizona | 88% | 297 |
Baruch College | CUNY Baruch | New York, New York | 51% | 164 |
Binghamton University—SUNY | Binghamton, New York | 44% | 167 |
Cedarville University | Cedarville, Ohio | 62% | 595 |
Clemson University | Clemson, South Carolina | 49% | 124 |
Colorado State University | Fort Collins, Colorado | 90% | 370 |
Creighton University | Omaha, Nebraska | 78% | 194 |
Eckerd College | St. Petersburg, Florida | 70% | 486 |
Gustavus Adolphus College | Saint Peter, Minnesota | 73% | 224 |
Harding University | Searcy, Arkansas | 54% | 383 |
Indiana University | Bloomington, Indiana | 85% | 199 |
Iowa State University | Ames, Iowa | 91% | 308 |
Johnson University | Knoxville, Tennessee | 81% | 538 |
Lipscomb University | Nashville, Tennessee | 74% | 304 |
Loyola University Chicago | Chicago, Illinois | 77% | 219 |
Luther College | Decorah, Iowa | 76% | 225 |
Michigan State University | East Lansing, Michigan | 83% | 188 |
Michigan Technological University | Michigan Tech | Houghton, Michigan | 86% | 352 |
Milwaukee School of Engineering | MSOE | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 67% | 289 |
Ohio State University | Columbus, Ohio | 57% | 116 |
Oklahoma State University | OSU | Stillwater, Oklahoma | 68% | 329 |
Pennsylvania State University | Penn State | University Park, Pennsylvania | 52% | 134 |
Purdue University | West Lafayette, Indiana | 69% | 119 |
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | Rapid City, South Dakota | 81% | 839 |
University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | 79% | 179 |
University at Buffalo—SUNY | Buffalo, New York | 70% | 144 |
University of Colorado Denver | CU Denver | Denver, Colorado | 72% | 415 |
University of Houston | Houston, Texas | 66% | 193 |
University of Massachusetts Amherst | UMass Amherst | Amherst, Massachusetts | 66% | 174 |
University of Minnesota | Minneapolis, Minnesota | 73% | 117 |
University of North Carolina | UNC | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | 20% | 43 |
University of Pittsburgh | Pitt | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 67% | 139 |
University of Tulsa | Tulsa, Oklahoma | 75% | 135 |
Ripon College | Ripon, Wisconsin | 80% | 463 |
Rutgers University | New Brunswick, New Jersey | 68% | 140 |
Saint Louis University | Saint Louis, Missouri | 70% | 142 |
Wabash College | Crawfordsville, Indiana | 62% | 186 |
Wheaton College | Wheaton, Illinois | 86% | 184 |

When should your Application be Submitted?
It doesn’t necessarily make sense to submit your application at the very last minute of the admissions season just because you potentially could. Rolling admissions are first-come, first-served, so you should submit your application as soon as you can. Applying by the priority deadline is strongly advised. In general, you should submit your application by December. Keep in mind that there are additional deadlines to take into account, such as those for financial aid and scholarships and, in some circumstances, honors placement.
For instance, Baruch College’s priority deadline for the Spring of 2024 is September 15, 2023, and the school will start rolling out admissions choices in November 2023. Although the University of Pittsburgh, another reputable university that uses rolling admissions, accepts applications all year long, those applicants who submit their applications and all necessary materials by December 1st are automatically considered for academic scholarships at the University of Pittsburgh.
What Time Should You Begin Working on Your Application?
Don’t let the lack of a deadline mislead you! Your application still has a lot of components that need months of development and preparation. The SAT/ACT, recommendation letters, and personal essay are the ones that require the most consideration.
Your final opportunity to take the ACT or SAT would be in September or October of your senior year if your school has a priority deadline in November. Your test results should be finalized by the conclusion of your junior year. This indicates that you have the option of taking the test in the fall of your junior year, again in the spring or summer before your senior year, or even as early as your sophomore year for additional testing opportunities. You will still be preparing your application in your junior or perhaps sophomore year, even if your institution may offer rolling admission.
Your letters of recommendation are another component of your application that must be left until the last minute. At least a month before you apply, try to consult your professors and counselor. Alternatively, you could inquire your junior year’s finish. You should take some time to complete a thorough “brag sheet” and consider what should go into your perfect recommendation letter in addition to making the request.
Finally, you may spend the summer working on your personal statement. A crucial step in the writing process is just setting aside the time to think about ideas for a few weeks. Although it might not seem like it, your subconscious is working on some great ideas.
Along with requesting documentation from your school, such as your official transcript, the application process itself takes time. Giving yourself a deadline can help you organize your steps and maintain accountability. Keep in mind that the sooner you apply, the quicker you’ll hear about admission!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does UCLA offer rolling admissions?
Rolling admissions are not offered at UCLA. In light of this, it would be wise to begin preparing your UCLA application as soon as possible.
Is UNC rolling admissions?
Once the application deadline has passed, the admissions decisions will start. There are no rolling admissions at UNC.
What is the benefit of rolling admission?
Rolling admissions can be an excellent, non-binding alternative to early action or early decision for hearing back from institutions quickly. Start with your applications for rolling admissions institutions as you submit applications to several colleges. These options will result in a college decision being made sooner.
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