First-year admission plans: trends over time and applicant composition

Application plan choices are examined across more than 900 member institutions, highlighting important differences by income, race/ethnicity, first-generation status, and selectivity. The findings show that when students apply, and the type of admission plan they choose can shape equity in access to college opportunities.

Key findings include:

• Early Decision and Early Action applicants are more likely to come from higher-income ZIP codes, while applicants from lower-income communities are more likely to use Rolling Admission.
• White and continuing-generation students are overrepresented among Early Decision and Early Action applicants, while Black, Latinx, and first-generation students are more likely to apply Regular or Rolling Admission.
• More selective institutions tend to offer Early Decision and Early Action, while less selective colleges more often rely on Rolling Admission.

These disparities point out that early admission pathways may unintentionally favor applicants with more resources and institutional advantages. Considering how different admission plan options affect access could help colleges make policies that support a more equitable applicant pool.