Early Action vs Early Decision: What’s the Difference?

The Office of Admissions and Recruitment often receives questions from prospective students and their families about the difference between Early Action and Early Decision. These terms are used quite frequently in the college search and can lead to confusion about the processes in place at different institutions. We hope to provide you with a helpful way to distinguish between these two types of application deadlines. Early Action
  • Decisions are non-binding. This means that if a student is admitted as an Early Action applicant, they are not required to commit to attending that institution.
  • UW–Madison offers Early Action as an option to applicants.
  • Like many other institutions that offer Early Action, UW–Madison’s Freshman Early Action deadline is November 1.
  • Students receive their admission decision earlier in the application cycle. At UW–Madison, we guarantee an admission decision for Early Action applicants by the end of January.
  • Students have more time to compare financial aid packages from multiple institutions.
  Early Decision
  • Decisions are binding. This means that if a student is admitted as an Early Decision applicant, they are committing to attending that institution.
  • UW–Madison does not offer Early Decision as an option to applicants.
  • Applicants will apply early, usually in November or December to their first-choice institution.
  • Students must withdraw all applications at other institutions if they are admitted by their Early Decision institution.
  • Students receive their admission decision earlier in the application cycle.
  • Students do not have the ability to take time to compare financial aid packages from multiple institutions.