Early vs. regular acceptance rates (class of 2026)

As a follow-up to the previous post, here are examples of the difference in acceptance rates between the two application phases.

	Early acceptance rate	Regular acceptance rate
Brown University	14.6%	3.6%
Columbia University	10.3%	3%
Dartmouth College	21.3%	4.7%
Duke University	21%	4.6%
Harvard University	7.9%	2.3%
Yale University	12.1%	3.2%

While it is advantageous to apply early, note that special categories of applicants come through early application. Such categories include athletes as well as children of alumni and donors. Nevertheless, applying early is a must when seeking a spot in elite colleges.