August 2026: IvyWise Publishes First Comprehensive Class of 2030 Early Admission Rates

The first comprehensive dataset of early admission results for the incoming Class of 2030 has been published, offering a crucial benchmark for students and families navigating the highly selective admissions landscape. The data, compiled and released by admissions consultancy IvyWise on August 19, 2026, aggregates early decision (ED) and early action (EA) acceptance rates from dozens of top-tier institutions for the 2025-2026 application cycle.

According to the newly updated resource, early admission rates at many selective schools remain significantly higher than their regular decision counterparts, though they continue to trend at historically low levels overall. The IvyWise table includes rates for a range of institutions, from highly selective liberal arts colleges like Carleton College (34.61% ED) to major national universities. The data confirms the enduring strategic advantage of applying early to many top schools; as noted by CollegeVine analysis, students applying ED see an average 60% increase in their chances of admission at very selective institutions.

The publication of this dataset is particularly valuable as many elite universities have become less transparent with detailed application numbers in recent years. For instance, Barnard College has not released applicant numbers for its early decision round for the second consecutive year, as reported by the Columbia Spectator. The IvyWise compilation therefore serves as one of the few centralized sources for comparing early-round selectivity across institutions for the current cycle, allowing families to make more informed decisions about application strategy as the next round of early deadlines approaches.