Admissions data
Current admit rates, ED/EA splits, application volume, and the structural trends that explain them. Sourced from each school's Common Data Set and admissions reports for the 2025-26 cycle.
Data reflects published Class of 2029 results where available (some schools haven't published yet — those rows show 2024-25 cycle data). Numbers can shift by ±0.5 percentage points between preliminary and final reporting. Always verify on the school's admissions page before making decisions.
| School | Overall | ED | EA / REA | Apps | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard | 3.6% | — | 8.3% (REA) | 54,008 | |
| Yale | 4.5% | — | 9.4% (REA) | 57,465 | |
| Princeton | 4.5% | — | 10.1% (REA) | 39,644 | — |
| Stanford | 3.7% | — | — | 53,733 | |
| MIT | 4.5% | — | 5.1% (EA) | 28,232 | |
| Caltech | 3.3% | — | — | 13,026 | |
| Columbia | 3.9% | 11.0% | — | 60,248 | |
| Penn | 5.4% | 12.9% | — | 65,236 | — |
| Brown | 5.1% | 13.9% | — | 51,302 | |
| Dartmouth | 5.3% | 17.0% | — | 31,656 | |
| Cornell | 7.5% | 21.0% | — | 67,846 | — |
| Duke | 6.0% | 13.4% | — | 54,194 | |
| Northwestern | 7.0% | 20.0% | — | 50,047 | — |
| UChicago | 5.0% | — | — | 38,800 | |
| Vanderbilt | 6.7% | 16.6% | — | 47,022 | — |
| Notre Dame | 11.3% | — | 16.0% (REA) | 30,084 | |
| UCLA | 8.6% | — | — | 146,279 | |
| Berkeley | 11.1% | — | — | 128,191 | |
| Michigan | 17.7% | — | 30.0% (EA) | 98,113 | |
| Williams | 8.5% | 29.0% | — | 12,963 | |
| Amherst | 9.2% | 27.7% | — | 13,839 | — |
| Pomona | 6.8% | 16.6% | — | 11,985 |
Trend column reflects year-over-year change in application volume — up means more competitive, down means slightly less.
Sources: Each school's published Common Data Set (Section C), official admissions blogs, and press releases for the Class of 2029 cycle. Where Class of 2029 data is not yet published, Class of 2028 data is shown. Figures may shift by ±0.5 pp between preliminary and final reporting. Last updated May 2026.
1. Application volume continues to climb
Top schools have seen 30-50% application growth since 2019. Harvard went from ~43K to ~54K. UCLA from ~110K to ~146K. The Common App ecosystem makes it cheaper to apply to more schools, and selective schools' brand visibility grew during pandemic-era media coverage. Practical effect: even with similar credentials, your odds at top schools are lower than they were 5 years ago.
2. ED admit rates are 2-3x higher than RD at top schools
Brown ED 13.9% vs RD ~3-4%. Penn ED 12.9% vs RD ~4-5%. Cornell ED 21% vs RD ~5-7%. The boost is real but partly self-selecting — ED applicants are stronger on average. The honest read: ED matters most when you have a clear top choice you'd attend regardless of aid comparisons.
3. Test-optional policies are rolling back fast
The test-optional era is ending at top schools. As of the 2025-26 cycle, Yale, Brown, Cornell, and Dartmouth have reinstated test requirements, joining MIT, Caltech, and Georgetown. Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Penn, and Columbia remain test-optional but strongly favor score submitters. The trend is clear: expect more schools to re-require scores for 2027.
4. Demographic shifts post-SCOTUS
After the 2023 ruling banning race-conscious admissions, the Class of 2028 saw modest decreases in Black and Latino enrollment at most Ivies and modest increases in Asian American enrollment. Magnitude varied by school — Yale and Princeton saw smaller shifts than MIT. Most schools attribute their relative demographic stability to changes in essay supplements that emphasize identity and lived experience.
5. Yield rates determine waitlist activity
Yield (the % of admits who enroll) is more variable than ever. When schools over-yield, waitlists don't move. When they under-yield, waitlists move. Recent years: 2023 saw heavy waitlist movement at top schools (yield surprises after pandemic-era admit pool); 2024 was more normal; 2025 is mixed. Don't plan around waitlist movement — it's noise.
6. First-gen admit rates are rising
Several Ivies have publicly increased first-gen recruiting. Brown reported 19% of admitted Class of 2028 was first-gen — up from 13% in 2022. Princeton reports similar. The post-SCOTUS focus on socioeconomic and first-gen factors has accelerated this trend. If you're first-gen, the data says applying to top schools is a stronger play than it was 5 years ago.
Average acceptance rates vary dramatically by tier. Ivy-plus schools range from 3.3% (Caltech) to 7.5% (Cornell). Top-20 schools range from 5-10%. Top-50 schools range from 10-25%. State flagships range from 25-75% depending on the state.
Yes. ED admit rates are typically 1.5-3x higher than Regular Decision rates. For example, Columbia admits about 11% ED vs 3.9% overall. However, ED is binding -- you must attend if admitted. Apply ED only to a school you'd attend over all others, and verify financial fit first.
At most top schools, yes. Application volumes have increased steadily due to the Common App making it easy to apply to more schools, growing international demand, and (until recently) test-optional policies. More applications with roughly the same class sizes drive rates lower. As schools like Yale, Brown, Cornell, and Dartmouth reinstate test requirements, application volumes may stabilize somewhat -- but the structural trend is unlikely to reverse.
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