Early Action is a non-binding application deadline. Early Action applicants submit their applications earlier and receive their admissions decision earlier but will have until the May 1 deposit deadline to consider all of their admissions and financial aid awards before deciding where to enroll in the fall.

Early Action applicants will receive an admit, deny, or defer decision by January 31. Applications deferred to the Regular Decision deadline will be considered again and receive their final decision by April 1. 

Both Early Decision deadlines are binding decision plans, meaning that an applicant and their family are agreeing at the time of application submission to attend AU if admitted.

Early Decision applicants know that AU is their first choice and feel comfortable in their financial aid estimate, as calculated by the net price calculator. The net price calculator provides a close estimate of the financial aid award a family can anticipate.

In addition to the other required application materials, Early Decision applicants must also submit a document called an Early Decision Agreement, signed by the applicant, the parent or guardian, and the high school counselor stating that an applicant is committed to attending AU.

• Common Application Early Decision Agreement Form
• Instructions to access the Coalition by Scoir Early Decision Agreement Form

Once admitted to AU, applicants must withdraw their applications to other universities and should not submit any additional applications.

Early Decision applicants will receive their admissions decision about six weeks after the deadline. Applicants will receive either an admit or deny decision. 

  

Regular Decision is a non-binding application deadline with a later application deadline. Regular Decision applicants will receive an admit, deny, or waitlist decision by April 1. Admitted students will have until May 1 to accept or decline their offers of admission. Closer to the May 1 deposit deadline, we will begin to work with the waitlist to fill any remaining space in the class.  

First-year applicants wishing to enroll in the spring semester may apply by October 1. International applicants should apply by September 1. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until capacity in the class is filled. Spring enrollment applicants will receive an admit, deny, or waitlist decision.

 

What is the difference between the two Early Decision deadlines?

The Early Decision deadlines are the same processes, just at different dates! Early Decision I is for students who are ready to commit by November 1 and feel that they are ready to submit their applications at that time. Early Decision II is for students who determine at a later date that AU is their first choice, or they want some additional time to work on their applications prior to submission. 

Should I apply Early Decision or Early Action?

It depends! If you know that AU is your first-choice school and you are committed to attending if admitted, Early Decision may make the most sense. If you want to see your financial aid award first or aren’t quite sure where you want to attend in the fall, then we recommend you apply Early Action. Early Action students will receive their admissions decision by February and admitted students will have until May 1 to accept or decline their offer of admission. 

Is there an advantage to applying Early Decision to AU?

Most students want to weigh their admissions and financial aid offers, so they choose to apply via a non-binding deadline. Because Early Decision is binding, the applicant pool is smaller, which makes it easier for applicants to stand out. Therefore, Early Decision has a higher admit rate than Regular Decision. Students admitted via Early Decision have priority access to class and housing registration. Plus, they’re able to enjoy their senior years a bit earlier, because they know where they’ll be attending in the fall. 

If I apply Early Decision to AU, can I still apply Early Action to other schools?

Yes. Early Decision applicants to AU can still apply Early Action to other institutions. However, if a student is admitted to AU, they will need to withdraw their Early Action applications. Please note that some institutional Early Action policies may have restrictions on applying Early Decision elsewhere, so applicants should confirm the Early application policies at all institutions to which they intend to apply. 

How does the deadline impact my financial aid award?

Applicants who submit their CSS Profile and FAFSA by the application deadline will be fully considered for need-based financial aid, and they can expect the same financial aid award at each application deadline. All admitted students are considered for merit scholarships. Students awarded a merit scholarship will be notified in their offer of admission. 

If I receive a deny decision at one deadline, can I reapply the same year during a different application deadline?

No. We make every effort to admit students choosing to apply at AU. Unfortunately, if a student receives a deny decision in that admissions cycle, we are unable to offer them admission during that application cycle. For students still wishing to attend AU, we recommend the transfer application process after one successful year at another institution.

I'm an international applicant. Can I apply via any deadline?

Yes, international applicants are welcome to apply Early Action, Early Decision, or Regular Decision.

However, applicants who wish to be considered for the AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship (AU EGLS) must submit their Common or Coalition Application prior to December 1, and must submit their AU EGL Scholarship application via their Future Eagle Portal by December 1, to be considered for the scholarship.

AU EGLS recipients will be notified by April 1.

Students who hope to attend AU with funding support from the AU EGL Scholarship program should apply Regular Decision by the required December special program deadline.