Complete List: Colleges With Rolling Admissions

Deadlines are stressful—so why not get rid of them? Well, some colleges do just that. Rather than having a fixed application deadline, these schools open up a period of time for you to submit your application.

Rolling admission doesn't mean you won't have any timeline, though. This guide will go over what rolling admission means as you apply to college and also provide you with a complete list of colleges with rolling admissions.

What Is Rolling Admission?

Rolling admission is an application option that allows you to apply within a window of time. This window usually opens up in the fall, commonly September 1, and lasts through the spring, or until all spots in the upcoming class have been filled.

This option differs from regular decision, early action, and early decision, which all have set deadlines and are unlikely to accept a late application.

That being said, the fact that rolling admission colleges will accept your application throughout the year doesn't take the pressure off completely. As I mentioned above, the application window will be open until all spots have been filled. Admissions committees review applications as they roll in and send back a decision soon after. Typically, you'll hear back four to eight weeks after you apply. In some cases, you might hear back just two weeks later!

Additionally, some schools with rolling admissions still have deadlines. For example, Michigan State University advises students to submit their applications by November 1 if they want maximum scholarship consideration.

Keep in mind that this is generally how rolling admissions work, but this process can vary from school to school. That's why it's very important you check with each school to see how their rolling admissions process works. (To see how rolling admissions can vary from school to school, be sure to read our write-ups on Michigan State's and Penn State's rolling application processes in the next section.) Doing a little research on each university's policies can save you headache—and heartache—later.

Let's take a look at some popular colleges with rolling admissions.

Popular Schools With Rolling Admissions

Here are some popular universities with rolling admissions (listed alphabetically)

• Michigan State University*
• Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)*
• University of Alabama
• University of Maine
• University of New Haven
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of Tulsa

While all of these schools have a rolling admissions process, it's worth pointing out that Michigan State's and Penn State's rolling admissions work a little differently.

Michigan State divides their admission process into three stages: early action, regular, and rolling. If you apply before November 1, you're considered an early action applicant. If you apply after November 1 but before February 1, you're applying with regular admission. Any application submitted after February 1 will be considered with rolling admission.

The key difference between these three types of applicants is when you'll receive an admission decision. Early action applicants will get their notifications by January 15, regular applicants will hear by March 31, and rolling applicants will hear eight to 12 weeks after they submit their admissions materials. Also, while applying early doesn't increase your chances of admission, it does increase your odds of receiving scholarship money. 

Like Michigan State, Penn State handles their rolling admissions a little differently as well. Penn State uses what they call a "rolling admissions process." Penn State begins accepting both Early Action and rolling admission applications on August 1, but rolling admission application deadlines extend past the Early Action deadline of November 1.

Additionally, while Penn State accepts rolling admission applications as early as August 1, admissions decisions for this group of applicants will go out later than Early Action admissions decisions. And while rolling admissions applications can be submitted after November 1, Penn State highly recommends submitting applications before December 1 for the best chance of admission.

Complete List of Schools With Rolling Admissions

Here's the full list of schools with rolling admissions in alphabetical order. Just scroll down to find the ones you're interested in or use ctrl + F to search for a school directly. We've also included the admission rate for each school so you can see how difficult it is to get in.

If you're interested in applying to any of these schools, make sure to set a deadline for yourself and stick to it! Also be sure to check the school's website to see if there are any deadlines applied to scholarship or financial aid applications. If, however, these schools aren't on your college list, they could be a good fallback option should your other schools not work out.

Treat schools with rolling admissions as if they have a fall or winter deadline, but keep in mind there are some that will accept late applications if you need to send one off at the last minute.

When Should You Apply Under Rolling Admission?

Because rolling admissions is done on a first come, first served basis, it's a good idea to get your application in as early as you can. Not only will submitting early ensure available space, but it will also demonstrate your enthusiasm for the school to the admissions committee.

If you're really hoping to get in (which presumably you are for any school on your college list), then you should apply at least within the first half of the application window. Submitting by January should be a safe bet, but earlier in the fall could be even better if you're ready.

Besides the motivation of finding out early and expressing your excitement about the school, you might also apply early in the window of time to meet a priority deadline. Eastern Michigan, for example, has a financial aid priority deadline of January 15 for incoming freshmen, though you can apply any time for admission up until July 1 for the fall semester.

So much for rolling admission not having a deadline. If you really want to get in and your school has a priority deadline, you should take all necessary steps to meet it. Even if there's no priority deadline, you should set one for yourself. Otherwise, it could be all too easy to keep putting it off.

Not only could applying late in your senior year hurt your chances of admission, but you could also end up forgetting to complete certain key requirements. There are a few pieces of your application that take at least a few months of prepping and planning. The main ones are your SAT/ACT scores, recommendation letters, and personal essay(s).

When Should You Start Preparing Your Application?

Don't be fooled by the lack of a deadline! There are still plenty of pieces to your application that require months of planning and preparation. The ones that especially call for forethought are your SAT/ACT, recommendation letters, and personal essay.

If your school has a priority deadline in November, then your last chance to take the ACT or SAT would be in September or October of your senior year. Ideally, you'd have your test scores all set by the end of your junior year. This means you could take the test in the fall of junior year and again in the spring or summer before senior year, or even start as early as sophomore year for extra opportunities to test. While your school might have rolling admission, you'll still be prepping your application in your junior or even sophomore year.

Another piece of your application that can't be left last minute is your letters of recommendation. Try to ask your teachers and counselor at least a month before you apply. You might also ask at the end of your junior year. Besides making the request, you also want to spend some time filling out a detailed "brag sheet" and reflecting on what would go into your ideal recommendation letter.

Finally, you could work on your personal essay over the summer. Just taking the time to mull over topics for a few weeks is a key part of the writing process. Even if it doesn't feel as if you're getting anywhere, your subconscious is turning over some good ideas!

After, you'll want to spend time drafting, revising, and getting feedback from others. Some students end up changing their topics, so you want to have time to switch tracks in case you're struck with new inspiration.

The application itself also takes time, as well as requesting documents from your school, such as your official transcript. Setting a deadline for yourself will help you plan out each step and stay accountable. Remember, the sooner you apply, the sooner you'll get an admissions decision!

What's Next?

Learn more about college deadlines with our guides. This article goes more in-depth about the different options for admission, including rolling admission, regular decision, early action, and early decision.

If you're interested in early admissions, check out these guides. Here are all the schools that offer early action and their deadlines, and all the colleges with early decision and their deadlines.