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Undergraduate Admission

Early Action and Early Decision

Choosing the option that is right for you

Students applying for freshman admission are offered the choice of applying Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision. Below you can learn about the differences between Early Decision and Early Action admission to Pace, and which one will work best for you.

Early Decision

Application deadline November 1

  • Applying under the Early Decision plan is ideal for students for whom Pace University is their first choice school and who do not need to compare financial aid packages among other schools. Early Decision students can apply to only one school as an Early Decision Applicant, but can apply to other schools as a regular decision student.
  • Early Decision is binding – if you apply under this plan, are accepted to Pace, and agree to the financial aid package, you are required to attend and you must withdraw all applications to other schools. Part of the application process is submission of an Early Decision Agreement form (PDF), which provides all of the details about Early Decision and is signed by you, your parent(s) or guardian(s), and your high school guidance counselor.
  • If you are not accepted to Pace under Early Decision, your application will be reviewed, without any bias, as part of our Regular Decision process, and you will be released from the binding Early Decision Agreement.
  • Please note that applicants for all majors of the School of Performing Arts are eligible Early Decision provided that they complete the in-person audition/interview by the November 1 deadline. Auditioning or interviewing for the Pace School of Performing Arts requires an initial digital audition or portfolio (electronic submission) to be completed before applicants will be invited to on-campus or regional auditions/interviews. For detailed information on the application and audition process for the School of Performing Arts, please visit the Performing Arts website.

Early Action

Application deadline for Early Action 1 is November 15 and Early Action 2 is December 1

  • Applying under the Early Action plan is ideal for students for whom Pace University is one of their top choice schools and who also want an admission decision earlier than the Regular Decision process. Early Action is not binding, so students can apply to other schools and compare financial aid packages.
  • Applying Early Action allows you to receive an admission decision earlier than Regular Decision students and have the option to consider multiple college offers.
  • If you are not accepted to Pace under Early Action, your application will be reviewed, without any bias, as part of our Regular Decision process.

Housing Preferences

Your building placement will be based on the preferences you enter when you complete your housing application, and can be impacted by any roommate(s) requests you make. Changing your indicated preferences, or failing to enter your preference correctly, will impact your placement. Requesting a roommate who indicates a different building preference than you, or one who applied later than you (and therefore is not guaranteed their preferred building and/or (Pleasantville only) FIG placement) may result in you not being placed according to your preferences.

Regular Decision

Admission Decision Notification: Applicants will be notified on a rolling basis after the application deadline.

Please note: Your application for admission also serves as your application for a Pace Merit Scholarship Award.