Ivy League decisions are released twice: once in mid-December for early applicants, and then on Ivy Day in late March , when all eight Ivies release regular decisions on the same evening.

Quick Scoop: When Are Ivy Decisions Released?

1. Early Decision / Early Action

Most Ivy League schools have an early deadline around November 1 , with decisions coming out in mid-December.

Typical pattern (may vary slightly by year and by school):

  • Application deadline: around November 1
  • Decision release: around December 15 (mid-December window)
  • Time of day: usually evening local time, via your applicant portal and often an email notification

Think of early as the “winter reveal” before the big Ivy Day rush.

2. Regular Decision (Ivy Day)

For Regular Decision, all eight Ivy League schools coordinate their release on what’s called Ivy Day.

Key points:

  • Application deadline: usually January 1
  • Decision release: late March , on Ivy Day
  • Time: usually evening Eastern Time , commonly between 5–7 p.m. ET , often around 7 p.m. ET
  • Method: decisions appear in your school-specific applicant portal; many schools also send an email telling you to check

Ivy Day is basically the “season finale” of the admissions cycle: all eight Ivies drop their decisions at nearly the same time, and the internet (and forums) light up.

3. What About This Year? (Current Cycle)

For the current admission cycle (Class of 2030, decisions in spring 2026), multiple counseling and admissions sites report that:

  • Ivy Day 2026 is expected to be Thursday, March 26, 2026
  • Most decisions should come out between 5–7 p.m. Eastern Time , with many sources pointing to around 7 p.m. ET

Some sources list:

  • Brown, Columbia, Cornell: March 26, 2026 (anticipated)
  • Dartmouth: March 26, 2026 (confirmed)

News and education outlets are also describing March 26, 2026 as this year’s Ivy Day, when the eight Ivies send out acceptances and release admission data.

Do keep in mind:

  • Exact times are approximate ; individual portals may update a bit earlier or later.
  • Each university can still adjust its schedule, so always double-check your specific school’s admissions website or recent emails.

4. How It Usually Feels (Forum-Style Peek)

If you browse forums and Reddit threads around Ivy Day, you’ll see the same cycle every year:

“Anyone else refreshing the portal every 10 seconds?”
“My portal logged me out—this has to mean something… right?”

Common “day-of” experience:

  • Students watch the clock in the afternoon, waiting for the release window.
  • Portals can lag or crash because everyone logs in at once.
  • Social media fills with acceptance posts, waitlist strategies, and “what now?” discussions.

A lot of counselors recommend having a plan: maybe have a friend or family member with you, schedule something relaxing afterward, and remember that one decision doesn’t define your future.

5. Quick FAQ-style bullets

  • Q: When are Ivy decisions released for early applicants?
    • A: Mid-December, usually around December 15, in the evening.
  • Q: When are regular Ivy decisions (Ivy Day) released?
    • A: Late March, on a coordinated Ivy Day, typically between 5–7 p.m. ET.
  • Q: What’s Ivy Day 2026 expected to be?
    • A: Thursday, March 26, 2026, with decisions in the evening Eastern Time.
  • Q: Where do I see my result?
    • A: In your Ivy’s applicant portal; many schools send an email prompting you to log in.

TL;DR:

  • Early Ivy decisions: mid-December each year.
  • Regular Ivy decisions: Ivy Day in late March , usually evening ET , with this year’s Ivy Day expected on March 26, 2026.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.