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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

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

  • 1st
    Grinnell College
    Grinnell, IA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $64,862
    Out-of-State
    $64,862
    Acceptance Rate11%

    • 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%

    2. Bates College

  • 2nd
    Bates College
    Lewiston, ME • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $63,478
    Out-of-State
    $63,478
    Acceptance Rate14%

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

    3. College of the Holy Cross

  • 3rd
    College of the Holy Cross
    Worcester, MA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $60,850
    Out-of-State
    $60,850
    Acceptance Rate36%

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

    4. Wesleyan University

  • 4th
    Wesleyan University
    Middletown, CT • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $67,016
    Out-of-State
    $67,016
    Acceptance Rate14%

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

    5. Fairfield University

  • 5th
    Fairfield University
    Fairfield, CT • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $56,360
    Out-of-State
    $56,360
    Acceptance Rate52%

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

    6. Villanova University

  • 6th
    Villanova University
    Villanova, PA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $64,700
    Out-of-State
    $64,700
    Acceptance Rate25%

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

    7. Northeastern University

  • 7th
    Northeastern University
    Boston, MA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $60,192
    Out-of-State
    $60,192
    Acceptance Rate7%

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

    8. Colby College

  • 8th
    Colby College
    Waterville, ME • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $66,600
    Out-of-State
    $66,600
    Acceptance Rate8%

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

    9. Illinois Wesleyan University

  • 9th
    Illinois Wesleyan University
    Bloomington, IL • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $55,704
    Out-of-State
    $55,704
    Acceptance Rate42%

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

    10. Trinity University

  • 10th
    Trinity University
    San Antonio, TX • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $51,352
    Out-of-State
    $51,352
    Acceptance Rate31%

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

    11. Middlebury College

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

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

    12. Macalester College

  • 12th
    Macalester College
    St. Paul, MN • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $64,908
    Out-of-State
    $64,908
    Acceptance Rate28%

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

    13. Washington and Lee University

  • 13th
    Washington and Lee University
    Lexington, VA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $64,525
    Out-of-State
    $64,525
    Acceptance Rate17%

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

    14. Pitzer College

  • 14th
    Pitzer College
    Claremont, CA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $62,692
    Out-of-State
    $62,692
    Acceptance Rate18%

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

    15. Bard College

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

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

    16. Santa Clara University

  • 16th
    Santa Clara University
    Santa Clara, CA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $59,241
    Out-of-State
    $59,241
    Acceptance Rate52%

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

    17. Smith College

  • 17th
    Smith College
    Northampton, MA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    Unknown
    Out-of-State
    Unknown
    Acceptance Rate23%

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

    18. Quincy University

  • 18th
    Quincy University
    Quincy, IL • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $35,740
    Out-of-State
    $35,740
    Acceptance Rate62%

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

    19. Hamilton College

  • 19th
    Hamilton College
    Clinton, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $65,740
    Out-of-State
    $65,740
    Acceptance Rate12%

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

    20. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

  • 20th
    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Troy, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $61,884
    Out-of-State
    $61,884
    Acceptance Rate64%

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

    21. Davidson College

  • 21st
    Davidson College
    Davidson, NC • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $59,510
    Out-of-State
    $59,510
    Acceptance Rate17%

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

    22. St. Olaf College

  • 22nd
    St. Olaf College
    Northfield, MN • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $56,970
    Out-of-State
    $56,970
    Acceptance Rate56%

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

    23. Haverford College

  • 23rd
    Haverford College
    Haverford, PA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $68,020
    Out-of-State
    $68,020
    Acceptance Rate14%

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

    24. Kenyon College

  • 24th
    Kenyon College
    Gambier, OH • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $69,330
    Out-of-State
    $69,330
    Acceptance Rate34%

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

    25. St. Lawrence University

  • 25th
    St. Lawrence University
    Canton, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $62,020
    Out-of-State
    $62,020
    Acceptance Rate57%

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

    26. Williams College

  • 26th
    Williams College
    Williamstown, MA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $64,860
    Out-of-State
    $64,860
    Acceptance Rate8%

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

    27. Trinity College

  • 27th
    Trinity College
    Hartford, CT • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $67,420
    Out-of-State
    $67,420
    Acceptance Rate36%

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

    28. Wellesley College

  • 28th
    Wellesley College
    Wellesley, MA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $64,320
    Out-of-State
    $64,320
    Acceptance Rate14%

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

    29. Maine Maritime Academy

  • 29th
    Maine Maritime Academy
    Castine, ME • 4-Year, Public
    In-State
    $14,746
    Out-of-State
    $30,226
    Acceptance Rate62%

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

    30. Alfred University

  • 30th
    Alfred University
    Alfred, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $39,530
    Out-of-State
    $39,530
    Acceptance Rate51%

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

    31. Colgate University

  • 31st
    Colgate University
    Hamilton, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $67,024
    Out-of-State
    $67,024
    Acceptance Rate12%

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

    32. Lehigh University

  • 32nd
    Lehigh University
    Bethlehem, PA • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $62,180
    Out-of-State
    $62,180
    Acceptance Rate37%

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

    33. American University

  • 33rd
    American University
    Washington, DC • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    $56,543
    Out-of-State
    $56,543
    Acceptance Rate41%

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

    34. Skidmore College

  • 34th
    Skidmore College
    Saratoga Springs, NY • 4-Year, Private
    In-State
    Unknown
    Out-of-State
    Unknown
    Acceptance Rate26%

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

    35. Barnard College

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

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

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