Think about your daily routine—you wake up to your alarm, hurry to get to school on time, and follow a set schedule for classes. The college application process can feel just as strict, with deadlines for early action, regular decision, and financial aid. It’s like there’s always a clock ticking during your senior year. But there’s another option called rolling admission. Instead of having one big deadline where everyone applies at the same time, Colleges Offering Rolling Admission accept applications over a longer period. They review them as they come in, sort of like a first-come, first-served system. Some colleges even keep accepting applications until they’ve filled up their freshman class, sometimes into the spring or summer. While you won’t find rolling admission at Ivy League schools, there are still many top colleges that offer rolling admission. If you’re looking for a more flexible way to apply to college, rolling admission could be a great choice for you.
Also read Major Selection Effect of College Admissions
10 Public Universities with Rolling Admission
Ever heard of rolling admissions? It’s a cool way that some public universities in the U.S. handle applications. Instead of having one big deadline, they accept applications all throughout the year. Here are a few awesome public schools that do this:
1) Ripon College
This little school in Wisconsin starts taking applications super early, like in September. And they keep accepting them until spring! With only 800 students, you’ll get lots of attention in class. Plus, almost all their grads find jobs or go to grad school within six months of finishing. Ripon is also pretty generous with financial aid.
2) Warren Wilson College
Warren Wilson in North Carolina is a special place. They have their own farm that students work on! It’s a small school, like Ripon, and people go there for majors like Environmental Studies and Biology. The student-to-faculty ratio is awesome, and they have a cool program called “integrated learning experience.” And the best part? They accept applications until April 15th, so no need to stress about deadlines.
3) Eckerd College
This college in Florida starts looking at applications in December and gives you an answer within 4 weeks. It’s a beautiful place with a small student body, just under 2,000 students. Classes are small too, with an average of 19 students. And the best news? They accept about three-quarters of the people who apply, so it’s worth giving it a shot!
4) Baruch College (CUNY)
Love the idea of getting a top-notch business degree without breaking the bank? Baruch College could be your spot. They start taking applications as early as September and keep going until February 3rd. It’s kind of picky though, with a 43% acceptance rate, so applying early is smart. If you’re thinking about going there, know that the SAT scores for students usually fall between 1150-1320, and the average high school GPA is around 3.3.
5) University of Pittsburgh
Pitt is all about planning ahead. They review applications as they come in, so it’s best to get yours in early. Plus, Pitt has been getting more selective lately, especially in areas like engineering and business. For the School of Arts and Sciences, the SAT scores usually range from 1250-1410. For other schools like engineering or nursing, they’re even higher!
6) Penn State University
Another top pick is Penn State. They’ve got this thing called rolling admissions that goes on until May 1st. But if you wait too long, you might end up at one of their branch campuses instead of the main one at University Park. So, if you dream of being a Nittany Lion, get that application in early! The SAT scores for main campus students are usually between 1240-1410, while for branch campuses, they’re around 1080-1260.
7) Purdue University
Purdue also likes it when you apply early. Their deadline is November 1st for early action and January 15th for regular decision. But they say your best bet is to apply as soon as you can. It’s competitive to get in, with an average GPA of 3.7 and SAT scores between 1190 and 1440 for the Class of 2023.
Also see Importance of Geographic Diversity in College Admissions
8) Milwaukee School of Engineering
MSOE is all about engineering. If you’re into Mechanical, Computer, Electrical, or Civil Engineering, this is the place for you. And guess what? Their admissions process is super flexible. They’re like, “Apply today!” and say it only takes 10 minutes. About 62% of students get in, and the ones who do usually have a GPA of 3.7 and SAT scores between 1160 and 1360.
9) Florida Institute of Technology
At FIT, there’s no deadline to apply. They’re like, “Hey, whenever you’re ready!” It’s a pretty chill admissions process. They have a lot of students studying engineering, but they also have programs in other stuff like Business and Psychology.
10) New Jersey Institute of Technology
NJIT gives you options. You can apply early in November or December, or you can wait until March 1st. It’s ranked really high for graduate return on investment, which is cool. Most students come here for Engineering, Computer Science, or other science-related stuff.
Top Colleges Offering Rolling Admission – Conclusion
In the whirlwind of college applications, it’s easy to get caught up in deadlines and admissions requirements. But remember, there are plenty of options out there with rolling admissions, meaning you have more flexibility in when you apply. Whether you’re into engineering, liberal arts, or any other field, there’s a school out there waiting for you. So take a deep breath, do your research, and find the perfect fit for your future.