Early Application Programs

Bennington College offers an application plan to fit every college search. Increasingly, our applicants indicate strong interest in early admission programs, and in response, we support both Early Decision and Early Action plans. For our Fall 2021 entering class, more than a third of Bennington applicants chose to submit an early application, and nearly half of our entering students enrolled through an early application program.

Early Decision

  • Binding application
  • Bennington is your first choice
  • Application due November 15 (ED1) or January 15 (ED2)
  • Notification mid-December (ED1) or mid-February (ED2)
  • Admitted students deposit immediately

Early Action

  • Non-binding application
  • Bennington is on your college list
  • Application due December 1
  • Notification late January
  • Admitted students have until May 1 to pay enrollment fee

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Early Decision and Early Action?

Early Decision is a binding application plan, which means that upon receiving an offer of admission, you would withdraw any other applications and enroll at Bennington. 

As an Early Action applicant, you would submit your application and receive a decision earlier than through a Regular Decision plan, but your application is not binding. Early Action applicants may keep all their college applications active until the nationwide May 1 enrollment fee deadline. 

Should I apply Early Decision?

If you’ve completed a full college search and have identified Bennington as your first choice college by November 15, we encourage you to apply Early Decision I. If you’ve completed a full college search and have identified Bennington as your first choice college by January 15, we encourage you to apply Early Decision II. 

Should I apply Early Action?

If you’ve included Bennington on your college list by December 1, we encourage you to apply Early Action. 

What if I apply early and am not admitted?

Early Decision and Early Action applicants who are neither admitted early nor denied will be deferred for consideration with our Regular Decision applicants. In that case, you will receive a final admission decision by April 1. 

What if I’m not ready to apply early?

Take your time, do your research, and feel free to reach out to your admissions counselor or a current student with any questions. Many of our applicants apply on the Regular Decision timeline, which gives you until January 15 to complete your application. Every application to Bennington is given full consideration, no matter the decision plan.

International Students and Early Admission

Financial Aid is available to international students in all admissions rounds: Early Decision I, Early Decision II, Early Action, and Regular Decision.