Class of 2030 Early Decision Results: Brown, Duke, Dartmouth Acceptance Rates Decline

August 2, 2026 — Early decision acceptance rates at several elite universities declined for the Class of 2030, according to newly compiled data from the 2025-2026 admissions cycle. The results show continued pressure on early admission pathways as application volumes remain high and selectivity increases across top-tier institutions.

Brown University's early decision acceptance rate fell to 16.46% for the Class of 2030, down from 17.92% the previous year, according to data from Ingenius Prep. Brown admitted 890 students from 5,406 Early Decision applications, maintaining its position as one of the most selective early rounds in the Ivy League. The university continues to fill over half of its incoming class through binding early decision, with early admits accounting for approximately 53.6% of the Class of 2026, as reported by Fortuna Admissions.

Duke University also saw a competitive early decision cycle, admitting 847 students from 6,159 ED applications, according to the same Ingenius Prep analysis. While Duke's early decision acceptance rate wasn't explicitly stated in the available data, the university's overall selectivity has remained consistently high, with total acceptance rates hovering around 5% in recent years, as noted by Oriel Admissions. The early decision advantage remains significant at Duke, where early applicants typically see substantially higher acceptance rates compared to regular decision applicants.

The broader trend shows early decision continues to fill substantial portions of elite university classes, despite slightly declining acceptance rates. According to College Kickstart, these early admission results represent the 2025-2026 admissions cycle for the incoming college Class of 2030, which corresponds to the current high school Class of 2026. The data confirms that early decision remains a critical pathway for admission to highly selective institutions, though the statistical advantage may be narrowing slightly as application volumes remain elevated.

Sources: Ingenius Prep analysis of Class of 2030 early decision results; Fortuna Admissions Ivy League ED acceptance rates; College Kickstart Class of 2030 early admission results.