While applying for US universities, timing plays a very important role in the application process. A good application to study in USA takes months to complete. When an applicant starts preparing and when to submit everything, depends on the application deadlines to study in USA. The application deadline for the top universities in USA might differ, but every institute in USA offers admission within 4 distinct application deadlines, namely, regular decision, early action, early decision, and rolling admissions.

For each of the above deadlines, a student can apply in the terms of fall, spring or summer semester. The top universities in USA welcome the maximum number of international students in the fall term. Most of the deadlines for fall and summer semesters are the same whereas spring semester deadlines are rarely available in the early decision option. It isn’t necessary that each university in USA offers all options. The number of deadlines offered also differs from university to university.
Know more: Estimated budget for international students in USA

Intakes in USA

International students are offered admission to some of the top USA on the basis of early application. Students must be prepared to apply for admission by the date of application opening as the immigration process might consume some extra time. This might result in the student missing the classes due to late application. Following are the popular academic terms in USA and the common regular application time-period observed by the universities in USA.

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Study in the USA: Regular Decision Application Deadlines

Regular decision application sessions are preferred by most international students. These deadlines usually fall in the beginning of January. The most common regular decision deadlines in the USA are January 1 and January 15. These can differ slightly depending on different courses and universities in USA.

Most applicants apply in early January and get confirmation about admission in March or April. One advantage of regular decision application is that a student can apply to as many universities as he/she wants.

Regular Decision Deadlines for Top Universities in USA

While applying to a university in USA, it is always recommended to submit the application a bit early before the deadline. Usually, Admission officers review all the applications together after the application deadline. However, submitting the application will not overcome any deficiency but it can surely be an indication of you being very much organized.

University Fall/Summer Application
American University October 1 (Closed)
Georgetown University January 10 (Closed)
Boston University January 4 (Closed)
Yale University January 2 (Closed)
Brown University January 3 (Closed)
Caltech University January 3 (Closed)
Villanova University January 15 (Closed)
Columbia University January 1 (Closed)
Harvard University January 1 (Closed)
University of Pennsylvania January 5 (Closed)
Tufts University January 4 (Closed)
Duke University January 4 (Closed)
Cornell University January 2 (Closed)
UNC Chapel Hill January 15 (Closed)
UMass Dartmouth December 1 (Closed)
Wellesley College January 8 (Closed)
University of Notre Dame January 1 (Closed)
Stanford University November 1 (Closed)
Johns Hopkins University January 3 (Closed)

There are a few universities whose regular decision application deadlines are in the months of February, March, April, May, June, July, and even September. These universities have been listed below.

University Fall/Summer Application Deadline
Abilene Christian University February 1 (Closed)
Meredith College February 15 (Closed)
Massachusetts College of Art and Design February 15 (Closed)
Catholic University of America February 15 (Closed)
Boston Baptist College March 15 (Closed)
University of North Carolina at Greensboro March 1 (Closed)
New Jersey Institute of Technology March 1 (Closed)
Appalachian State University March 15 (Closed)
University of Minnesota, Morris March 15 (Closed)
Berea College April 30
Georgia College and State University April 1 (Closed)
Louisiana State University April 15
Johns Hopkins University April 1 (Closed)
University of the Virgin Islands April 30
Bayamon Central University May 6
Princeton University May 1
College of Saint Rose April 1 (Closed)
Texas State University June 1
University of Nevada, Reno April 7
Art Academy of Cincinnati July 1
University of Alaska Anchorage July 15
University of West Georgia July 15
Virginia Union University June 30
University of the District of Columbia June 6
Alabama State University July 31
California Institute of Integral Studies March 15 (Closed)
Louisiana Tech University July 31
Manhattan Christian College July 1
University of Texas, Dallas May 1
Cleveland State University May 15
Georgetown College August 1
Western Kentucky University August 1
York College August 31

Spring Deadlines of Popular Universities to Study in the USA

Spring semester deadlines are mostly available in the regular application option. Most universities’ deadlines for spring semester admission fall in October or November. But it is advisable to send in the complete application package to the university by the end of August. Sending in the application a month or two before the deadline indicates a sense of eagerness to join the university which has a positive impact on admission officers.

University Application Deadlines
American University October 1 (Closed)
Boston University November 1 (Closed)
Columbia University November 1 (Closed)
UMass Dartmouth December 1 (Closed)
New York University October 15 (Closed)
Wesleyan University November 1 (Closed)

Early Action Deadlines to Study in the USA

Early action deadlines push the application timeline early by a few months. The most common early action deadlines offered by universities and colleges are November 1 and November 15. Students are recommended to go through the application process to study in the U.S.A carefully before applying for the course.

Under early action application, a student is either accepted, rejected or deferred. When a student is deferred, it means that his/her application will be re-evaluated in the regular applicant pool. The results are notified in December.

There are certain schools that have a restrictive early action application policy that prevents an applicant from applying to more than one school. A few of these schools are

  • Harvard University
  • Princeton University
  • Yale University
  • Stanford University
  • University of Notre Dame

Early Action Deadlines of Top Universities in USA

Although early action applications already bring the deadlines early, still it is always advisable to not wait for the deadline date to submit the application.

University Fall/Summer Application Deadline
American University January 15 (Closed)
Boston University November 1 (Closed)
Johns Hopkins University November 1 (Closed)
UNC Chapel Hill October 15 (Closed)
Princeton University November 1 (Closed)
University of Michigan November 1 (Closed)
Caltech University November 1 (Closed)
Tufts University November 1 (Closed)
MIT November 1 (Closed)
UMass Dartmouth November 15 (Closed)
Stanford University November 1 (Closed)
Villanova University November 1 (Closed)
University of Pennsylvania November 1 (Closed)
University of Chicago November 1 (Closed)
Harvard University November 1 (Closed)
Georgetown University November 1 (Closed)
University of Notre Dame November 1 (Closed)
University of Virginia November 1 (Closed)
Yale University November 1 (Closed)

Early Decision Deadlines to Study in the USA

A major difference between early action and early decision application is that early decision applications are binding. When a student chooses an early decision application to study in the USA, they are expected to sign a contract with the school that they would take admission to if selected.

This contract puts a compulsion on students to attend the school if selected. This option is mostly selected by students who are sure about their choice. The students opting ED are expected to commit before exploring the financial aid opportunities of the school. The applicant must not depend on scholarships to finance his/her studies if opting ED.
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: Intakes in USA

Early decision application deadlines are of 2 types- ED I and ED II. ED I deadlines usually coincide with early action deadlines whereas ED II deadlines fall in January. Results are notified in February for both ED I and ED II.

Early Decision Deadlines of Popular Universities in the USA

Following are the universities to study in USA, offering admission through the intakes of an early decision I and II:

University Early Decision I Early Decision II
Colby University November 15 January 1
Villanova University November 1 January 15
Columbia University January 15 March 1
Vanderbilt University November 1 January 1
Duke University November 1 N/A
Bowdoin University November 15 January 1
Wellesley College November 1 January 1
Brandeis University November 1 January 1
American University November 15 January 15
Brown University November 1 N/A
Cornell University November 1 N/A
Emory University November 1 January 1
Johns Hopkins University November 1 January 3
Wesleyan University November 15 January 1
New York University November 1 January 1
Northwestern University November 1 N/A
Tufts University November 1 January 4
University of Pennsylvania November 1 N/A
Pomona College November 1 January 1
Smith College November 15 January 1
University of Chicago November 1 January 2
Boston University November 1 January 4

It is recommended by almost all universities that international students should apply at the earliest for admission to their targeted university. However, after the application deadline, a few universities offer admission to study in USA on a first-come-first-serve basis depending upon seat availability.