When Is Ivy Day 2026? Everything You Need to Know

This year, Ivy Day is expected to be on Thursday, March 26, 2026. All results will be released by 7 PM EST. Keep reading to learn more about what to expect on the day, how to predict future Ivy Day dates, and what steps to take after getting your results.

• What Is Ivy Day?
• When Is Ivy Day in 2025?
• Getting Ready for Ivy Day
• What to Do after Ivy Day
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Is Ivy Day?

Ivy Day is when all eight Ivy League schools—Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Yale—simultaneously release their undergraduate admissions decisions. 

On this day, you’ll be notified whether you’ve been accepted, denied, or waitlisted into your chosen school or schools. While the exact date varies, it generally falls around springtime.

Ivy Day only applies to those who applied Regular Decision (RD) to at least one Ivy League school. For instance, if you applied RD to Brown, Harvard, and Yale, you’d get your admissions results for all three schools online at the same time on Ivy Day.

However, if you applied Early Decision or Early Action, you should have already received your Ivy League decision in December or January, depending on the school.

For the rest of the applicants and their families, Ivy Day can be an emotional rollercoaster. Think of it as the Super Bowl or the Oscars of college admissions. Given that the Ivies are ultra-competitive and have some of the lowest acceptance rates in the country, all eight schools dropping their admissions decisions at the same time creates a nerve-wracking atmosphere where students eagerly wait to see if they made the cut.

History of Ivy League Day

Now, when did this tradition start, anyway? Originally, Ivy Day was a ceremony where schools placed an ivy stone on a residential or administrative building on campus. Known as “planting the Ivy” in the 1800s, this ritual honors academic excellence and welcomes new generations of learners to these prestigious institutions.

This tradition continues to resonate with the importance of Ivy Day, which honors achievement and embraces the next generation of scholars.

Today, Ivy Day has evolved to mean the simultaneous release of decisions from all the Ivy League schools. This modern tradition comes from their similar educational values and commitment to being fair to all applicants.

Why is Ivy Day important?

If you’ve applied to the Ivies through Regular Decision, Ivy Day is when you find out whether or not you’ve been accepted into your chosen schools. It’s a significant moment in your college journey and can be life-changing. 

What makes Ivy Day even more unique is that several schools release decisions simultaneously, making it a very special event. Students all over the world, including you, will be checking your decisions at the same time, creating a memorable experience shared by you, your friends, and your family. Remember that TikTok trend where everyone posted their results?

While Ivy Day specifically refers to the eight Ivy League schools, many other top-ranking colleges and universities also release their admissions decisions around the same time. UCLA and Vanderbilt, which are considered “new Ivy League” schools, have posted on their respective websites that admissions decisions will be available by late March.

This makes late March a crucial time for many college applicants, whether or not they’ve applied to Ivy League schools.

When Is Ivy Day in 2026?

There’s no set date for Ivy Day each year, but it generally falls on the last Thursday of March each year. By that calculation, Ivy Day 2026 will likely be Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 7 PM Eastern time.

Some Ivy League schools, like Harvard, have indirectly hinted at this date. While they haven’t confirmed the exact timing of Ivy Day (which is usually announced a week in advance), their website states that Regular Decision applicants should hear back by the end of March. Similarly, Princeton has indicated on its website that decisions will be sent out in late March.

How does Ivy Day 2026 compare to previous dates? The table below shows the exact dates and times of Ivy Day over the past couple of years:

You’ll quickly notice that Ivy Day 2021 happened a little later than in previous years. This is because of a massive increase in applications, leaving the Ivy League schools unprepared for the influx.

For example, Harvard received 40,248 applications in the 2019-2020 admissions cycle, but in 2020-2021, that number soared to a record-high of 57,000! Dartmouth applications also surged nearly 33%, with over 28,000 applications.

This huge jump is mainly because of factors shaped by COVID-19, particularly colleges implementing test-optional policies, which made it easier for students to apply without standardized test scores.

Now, many Ivies have adapted their processes to handle more applications while still releasing admissions decisions by the end of March. Brown University, for instance, received 50,649 applications in 2022 and was still able to release admissions decisions by March 31.

While you can expect future Ivy Days to follow a similar schedule, it’s not set in stone. It’s always a good idea to check each university’s website regularly for the most accurate and updated information on admissions decision release dates.

Getting Ready for Ivy Day

As the countdown starts, remember to breathe! It’s normal to feel nervous, but remember that getting accepted or not at any particular school doesn’t define you. Try to engage in hobbies you enjoy or connect with friends and family. While being optimistic is great, it also wouldn’t hurt to think of a realistic Plan B.

When Ivy Day comes, simply log into the admission portals to check your results. Make sure you’re in a comfortable and supportive environment—whether that’s with family, friends, or on your own.

Since all Ivy League schools release their notifications at the same time, there’s likely to be a high volume of traffic on Ivy Day, and you might experience long loading times or page crashes. To avoid feeling frustrated, consider checking back an hour or two later when the traffic subsides. Or, you can try accessing your results through a different device or browser.

No matter the outcome, take a moment to celebrate your efforts and achievements. Allow yourself to feel disappointed if needed, but remember that many successful individuals have faced rejection and adversity.

So, whatever happens, be ready for the road ahead and know that your self-worth isn’t tied to any college acceptance or rejection.

What to Do after Ivy Day

You’ve gotten your Ivy admission decisions. Maybe you got into a few schools but were rejected from your top choice. Or perhaps you were accepted—or rejected—by all of them. The question is, what should you do next?

You were accepted

Congratulations! Getting into an Ivy League school is a massive accomplishment, especially since Regular acceptance rates are usually below 10%—and even much lower at some schools like Harvard and Yale, which are some of the most rigorous colleges in the U.S.

Celebrate your incredible achievement, but also take time to review your options carefully. Ivy League tuition and the overall cost of attendance can be steep, even at the more affordable schools in the league. Check your financial aid package thoroughly to see if attending is the right choice for you academically and financially.

You might also have received acceptance letters from other amazing schools, both Ivies and non-Ivies. Before making a final decision, compare their programs, campus life, and overall atmosphere to see which school best fits your goals, values, and needs.

Don’t feel pressured to attend an Ivy just because you got accepted! Think about what you really want your college life to be and choose the university—Ivy or not—where you feel you’ll thrive.

If this Ivy is your absolute dream school and you know it’s where you want to go, your next step is formally accepting your invitation. This usually involves submitting signed documents. Most Ivy League schools also require deposits around May 1, but verify the specific deadline with your chosen university.

After you’ve given a resounding YES! to your dream school, you can start declining your offers from other schools if you were accepted elsewhere. It’s a respectful thing to do, and it helps those schools manage their waitlists.

You were rejected

If the news isn’t what you hoped for, it’s okay to feel devastated, angry, or disappointed. Rejection is painful, so take time to process your feelings.

However, it’s also important to remember that all Ivy League schools are incredibly hard to get into, and most applicants are not accepted. The admissions process is highly competitive, and even top students get rejected despite high GPAs or perfect ACT/SAT scores. In other words, many are in the same boat as you are!

Give yourself credit for trying—you wouldn’t have had a shot at getting in if you hadn’t applied! Admissions decisions are highly subjective, and remember that getting rejected (or accepted) says nothing about your intelligence or potential.

The good news is that there are plenty of colleges outside the Ivy League that offer the same level of academic excellence and vibrant campus life. Maybe you’ve gotten into one of the Hidden Ivies, Little Ivies, or New Ivies. Each of these schools offers its own strengths and opportunities, and you might even find them a better fit for your needs and specific goals.

Create a list comparing the pros and cons of each college you were accepted to. If you’re on the fence between two or more schools, try going on campus tours, attending virtual info sessions, or speaking with current or former students to learn more about their experiences.

Take some time to really think about which college you’ll be most satisfied at. Once you’ve decided on a school, accept its offer and decline the others that you received from other schools.

If you’re really set on attending your dream Ivy League school, you can always reapply as a transfer student or take a gap year and reapply the following year. Some students take this route, and if that’s where your heart is, it’s worth giving it another shot.

You were waitlisted

If you wind up on the waitlist for one or more Ivy League schools, don’t lose hope. This means you weren’t accepted or rejected. Most colleges wait to see if other students accept or decline their offers before opening up spots to students on the waitlist.

First, accept the invitation to let the admissions committee know you’re interested. Doing this will keep you in the running for a spot if one becomes available. Then, consider writing a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) if you’re allowed to submit one. This letter should make a compelling case for why they should accept you.

But keep in mind that getting off the waitlist is very rare, so manage your expectations. The waiting game can take several months, and you’ll have to make a nonrefundable deposit to another school. But if you’re really interested in attending this Ivy, you might as well give it a try.

And while waiting, go back to high school, focus on your schoolwork, and finish your senior year strong. Make the most of your time with family and friends, and create memories you can look back on as you head off to different paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When do Ivy decisions come out?

Ivy League admissions decisions are released on Ivy Day, which is typically the last Thursday of March. For 2026, Ivy Day is expected to be Thursday, March 26. Schools typically announce the exact date a week before, so check the official website for confirmation.

2. How do I check my Ivy Day results?

Simply log in to your application portal on the Ivy League school’s website. The admissions results will be posted there, and you’ll be able to see whether you’ve been accepted, waitlisted, or rejected. Make sure to check your results at the specific release time, which is usually 7 pm ET.

3. Does Ivy Day include transfer applications?

No, Ivy Day is for Regular Decision applicants only. Transfer admissions decisions usually come out at a different time, usually later in the spring or early summer, depending on the school.

Takeaways

• Ivy Day is the day when all eight Ivy League schools release their regular admissions decisions at the same time.
• Ivy Day 2026 will likely be Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 7 pm ET. However, this can still change, so double-check your school’s official website for the most updated information.
• Other selective schools also release their admissions decisions around the same time, making late March an important period for many college applicants.
• Whether you’re accepted, rejected, or waitlisted, Ivy Day is a significant milestone in your college journey, so take the time to figure out your next steps.
• Reach out to experts to guide you through the rigorous Ivy admissions process and help you make informed decisions for your future.