News

Over 50,000 prospective students apply to join the Class of 2026

The number of early applicants remained constant while proportion of non-white and first-generation applicants grew

By Eileen Powell
January 25, 2022

The University received a record-breaking 50,813 applications for the Class of 2026, marking a 6 percent increase from the last year’s total of 47,971 applications. The admissions cycle ended Jan. 5 after the regular decision deadline.

Of the 50,813 applicants, 32 percent applied during the regular decision cycle, while 61 percent came from the early action cycle and 7 percent applied during the early decision cycle. This cycle, both early action and early decision applications were due on Nov. 1. These statistics are similar to those of the Class of 2025 applicant pool, during which 61 percent of students applied early action and 6 percent applied early decision.

The early decision cycle is a binding application process under which students who are admitted to the University must enroll and submit a deposit. Applicants who are deferred during early decision are reviewed as a part of the regular decision pool. Early action applications are non-binding and allow students to wait until May 1 to confirm their enrollment.

The regular decision admission cycle does not close until Jan. 5 and notifies students of their application status by April 1, allowing students more time to compile applications and offering the opportunity to submit senior year grades as a component of the application. On Jan. 3, the original application deadline, the Office of Admissions announced that the deadline would be extended until Jan. 5 due to a winter storm in Charlottesville that left thousands without power.

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