Top 10 Early Admissions Trends: Class of 2028

Between ever-increasing early application numbers, unexpected current events and other external factors, colleges seeking to further diversify (gender diversity, economic diversity, geographic diversity, etc.) the Class of 2028 early admissions results continue an ongoing trend in college admissions—higher application volumes (in most cases) and lower acceptance rates.

TOP 10 EARLY ADMISSIONS TRENDS: CLASS OF 2028

1. Record-Low Acceptance Rates: Many universities experienced record-low acceptance rates in their early decision rounds, reflecting an increasingly competitive admissions landscape. Yale, for instance, had a 9.02 percent early acceptance rate, the lowest in history since adopting its current non-binding early admissions model for the Class of 2008.

2. Impactful Initiatives: Brown University’s new initiative, The Brown Promise, which replaces all loans in financial aid packages, likely had a significant impact on the size and composition of the early applicant pool. Ivy League schools are continuing to look for ways to set themselves apart from their peer institutions to entice the strongest applicants, regardless of financial need.

3. Diversity Initiatives: Universities, including Brown, Dartmouth, and Harvard, are actively working to diversify their student bodies. There are noticeable increases in the number of first-generation students and students of color in early admission rounds. Harvard Magazine states, “Of the admitted cohort, 15.5 percent come from first-generation college backgrounds, continuing a trend (the figure was 14 percent for the class of 2027 early admits, and 12 percent the year before that). In light of the Supreme Court ruling, the College no longer provides information on the admitted students’ ethnic or racial background. Nor did the College announce the percent of students accepted who are eligible for federal Pell grants; the news announcement did note that among those accepted today, 20.8 percent had applications fees waived because of financial need, up from 19.7 percent last year.”

4. Impact of External Factors on Application Volume: Some universities cited external factors such as natural disasters, power outages, and teacher strikes as potential reasons for fluctuations in application volumes. Harvard’s early application numbers plummeted 17 percent for the Class of 2028. This decline might be, in part, due to the controversy around former Harvard President Claudine Gay’s responses to campus antisemitism, as well as the university’s role in the Supreme Court case on affirmative action.

5. Gender Balance Concerns: Cornell University saw a decrease in the percentage of admitted women, possibly indicating a strategic approach to maintain gender balance in the overall class. On the flip side, for their Class of 2028, The Brown Daily Herald reported, “52% of the incoming ED cohort was female. In recent years, data shows that women have accounted for nearly twice as many applications as men, despite being admitted at a similar rate. Brown University’s gender disparity in acceptance rates is the largest among the Ivy League.” And the University of Vermont’s Class of 2027, was 62% women, earning its hometown the moniker, “Girlington.”

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6. Geographic Diversity: Students admitted to various universities come from a wide range of countries and states, showcasing the geographic diversity of these institutions. Georgetown’s Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Charles Deacon states, “… in the past two years the university has turned to increasing the geographic diversity of its accepted students, looking at whether students are from rural, small town, suburban or urban areas. The university aims to give attention to underrepresented students from rural areas.”

7. QuestBridge Impact: The QuestBridge program played a significant role in admissions at several universities, with a notable number of students accepted through this initiative. With more and more new schools (Johns Hopkins Class of 2028 introduces its inaugural cohort of QuestBridge Scholars) accepting QuestBridge applicants as they seek to enhance diversity, we assume this trend will continue.

8. Financial Aid Applications: A growing percentage of admitted students applied for financial aid, indicating an increasing need for financial support in pursuing higher education. The Williams Record reports, “This year marks the second admission cycle since Williams announced the elimination of all loans and work-study contributions from financial aid packages. In a recent survey, nearly a quarter of current first-years on financial aid said that the all-grant program was the deciding factor in enrolling at Williams.”

9. Application Volume Fluctuations: Some universities observed fluctuations in application volumes, with factors like changes in standardized testing and external events influencing the number of early applicants. Harvard’s massive application volume drop is a prime example.

10. High Percentage of Enrolled Class Admitted Early: Ivy League and other selective schools consistently maintain a high percentage of early admissions in the overall enrolled class, reflecting the importance of early decision in shaping their student bodies.