News
February 9
Ivy Day 2026: Everything You Need To Know & Expect
Ivy Day 2026 is March 26th. Find out your next steps for every outcome.
Summary
Ivy Day is when all eight Ivy League universities release their Regular Decision admissions results on the same day. In 2026, Ivy Day falls on Thursday, March 26, 2026, and decisions are typically released in the evening (often around 7:00 pm ET, with slight variation by school). After you receive your decision, the right next step depends on the outcome: accepted students should compare financial aid and fit before committing, waitlisted students should opt in immediately and follow the school’s LOCI instructions (if allowed), and rejected students should shift quickly to the best offers and deadlines already on the table.
When is Ivy Day 2026?
Ivy Day 2026 is Thursday, March 26, 2026. Ivy League Regular Decision results are released on the same day across all eight schools.
Most years, decisions are released in the evening, commonly around 7:00 p.m. ET. Individual portals can update a little earlier or later, so you should treat the published time as an approximate window rather than a guarantee.
If you applied Early Decision or Early Action, your result would have been released earlier in the cycle, typically in December.
What time do Ivy Day decisions come out?
Ivy League decisions are usually released in the evening Eastern Time, commonly around 7:00 p.m. ET. Some years, schools release decisions within a broader window (for example, 5–7 p.m. ET).
If you are outside the U.S., convert the time in advance and plan around a window rather than a single minute. The main goal is to avoid last-second stress and to make sure you have access to your login details and a stable internet connection.
Ivy Day Dates Over The Years
Year | Date | Typical Release time |
2026 | Thursday, March 26th | ~7pm ET |
2025 | Thursday, March 27th | ~7pm ET |
2024 | Thursday, March 28th | ~5-7pm ET |
2023 | Thursday, March 30th | ~5pm ET |
2022 | Thursday, March 31st | ~7pm ET |
2021 | Tuesday, April 6th | ~7pm ET |
2020 | Thursday, March 26th | ~7pm ET |
2019 | Thursday, March 28th | ~5pm ET |
2018 | Wednesday, March 28th | ~7pm ET |
What is Ivy Day?
Ivy Day is the synchronized release of Regular Decision admissions decisions by the eight Ivy League Schools. It matters because it creates a single, predictable moment when a large share of top applicants receive outcomes at once, including acceptances, waitlists, and rejections.
The eight Ivy League schools are:
— Brown University
— Columbia University
— Cornell University
— Dartmouth College
— Harvard University
— Princeton University
— University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
— Yale University
Ivy Day applies to Regular Decision. It is separate from Early Decision or Early Action notifications.
What to do before Ivy Day
You do not want your Ivy Day experience to be decided by a password reset email.
Ivy Day checklist
— Confirm your portal login for each school and save it somewhere secure.
— Check whether each portal uses a specific login provider or multi-factor authentication.
— Make sure your email inbox has space and your spam filters are not overly aggressive.
— Decide where you will open decisions and who, if anyone, will be with you.
— Make a realistic plan for the next 24 hours that does not depend on one outcome.
A simple framing that reduces stress
Ivy Day is one data point, not a final judgment of your ability. The practical goal is to turn the result into an action plan quickly, whether that means committing, writing a LOCI, or focusing on the strongest options already on the table.
Ivy League portals sometimes may crash on Ivy Day
Portals can slow down or temporarily crash because a large number of applicants attempt to log in at the same time. Even if the admissions office is fully prepared, the traffic spike can be substantial.
If the portal is slow:
— Wait 10–20 minutes and try again.
— Avoid refreshing continuously, which can worsen congestion.
— Check your email for an official decision notice or status update.
— Step away briefly if you feel yourself spiraling. You are not losing your decision by logging in a few minutes later.
Common Ivy Day myths
These are persistent misconceptions that create unnecessary panic.
Myth: All decisions release at exactly the same minute.
In practice, portals update within a window. Some schools post earlier, some later.
Myth: If the portal is down, it means you were rejected.
Portal issues are almost always traffic-related, not outcome-related.
Myth: A waitlist is basically a rejection.
A waitlist is uncertainty, not a no. Whether it becomes a yes depends on enrollment numbers and institutional priorities.
Myth: You must decide immediately on Ivy Day.
For Regular Decision, you generally have until the standard decision deadline (often early May) to commit. You should confirm deadlines on each admitted-student portal.
What to do after Ivy Day
Your next steps depend on the outcome. The best approach is to treat each outcome as a specific workflow with a 24–72 hour plan.
Quick rule
Save every letter and status page as a PDF or screenshot. You may need exact wording for appeals, waitlist instructions, financial aid follow-ups, or scholarship processes.
What to do if you are accepted on Ivy Day
An acceptance is exciting, but your best decision usually comes from a structured review rather than momentum.
Confirm what you were admitted to
— Some schools admit to specific colleges or programs. Read carefully:
— College/school within the university
— Any conditions, required forms, or next steps
— Housing steps and deadlines
Evaluate financial aid properly
You are not choosing a logo. You are choosing a four-year investment.
— Review the aid package line by line.
— Clarify what is grant vs loan vs work-study.
— Ask questions early if anything is unclear.
Compare offers the right way
A quick pro-con list helps, but you should also compare:
— Academic fit and flexibility to change majors
— Access to research, internships, and advising
— Campus culture and daily lifestyle
— Long-term outcomes in your intended field
Keep your options open until you are sure
If you have multiple decisions pending or multiple offers, you can take time to compare. Most Regular Decision commitment deadlines are later than Ivy Day.
What to do if you are waitlisted on Ivy Day
A waitlist is a test of clarity and execution. The question is whether the school has given you a defined path to remain under consideration.
Accept your place on the waitlist immediately
Many schools require you to opt in. If you do not opt in, you are typically removed.
Write a strong LOCI if the school allows it
— Clear that the school remains a top choice (only say this if true)
— Specific about why the school fits your goals
— Focused on meaningful updates since you applied
— Short and disciplined, typically no more than one page
High-value updates include:
— New academic results (improved grades, exam scores)
— Significant awards or recognition
— Clear progress on a major project, research, publication, or leadership initiative
— Major impact metrics that did not exist when you applied
— Avoid repeating your application. The point is new information and clearer fit.
Keep your deposit strategy realistic
If you have an offer from another school you would be happy to attend, you should typically secure your place there by the deadline. A waitlist can move late, sometimes close to the start of the semester.
Treat the waitlist like a probability, not a plan
The healthiest approach is to pursue your strongest available option while executing the waitlist process professionally. If a waitlist offer arrives, you can reassess with full information.
What to do if you are rejected on Ivy Day
Rejection stings, especially when you worked hard and did everything you believed was required. It is also normal, because Ivy League admissions are extremely selective and reject many highly qualified applicants every year.
Do not rewrite the story of your ability
A rejection is not a verdict on your intelligence or future. It is a decision within a constrained process shaped by institutional priorities, class composition, and the competitiveness of the year.
Switch to execution mode
If you already have strong offers, focus on:
— Visiting if possible
— Comparing academic fit and opportunity access
— Making the best choice quickly and confidently
— If you are still waiting on other decisions, keep your attention on those outcomes and your best alternatives.
If you have no offers yet
This is rarer, but it happens, especially for students with unbalanced college lists. Your next step is to assess:
— Rolling admissions options still open
— Transfer pathways
— Gap year plans with a clear strategy, not vague delay
This is also the moment when structured guidance can matter. Many families wait until after results to seek help, but the strongest decisions usually come from planning earlier.
A practical decision matrix for the week after Ivy Day
This is a simple way to turn emotion into action.
Outcome | 24-hour focus | 7 day focus | Biggest risk |
Accepted | Save documents, review conditions, confirm deadlines | Compare offers and aid, attend admitted events | Committing too fast without comparing fit and cost |
Waitlisted | Opt in, read waitlist rules, draft LOCI if permitted | Execute updates, plan deposit strategy elsewhere | Treating the waitlist as a plan instead of a possibility |
Rejected | Process emotions, then refocus on confirmed options | Choose the best available offer or execute an alternate plan | Spiraling into inactivity and missing deadlines |
FAQs about Ivy Day 2026
Do all Ivy League schools release decisions on Ivy Day?
For Regular Decision, the Ivies coordinate releases on the same day, commonly referred to as Ivy Day. Exact release mechanics vary by portal.
Will I get an email, or do I need to check the portal?
Many schools send an email notification that a status update is available, but the actual decision is usually in the portal. Plan to check portals.
Can I appeal an Ivy League admissions decision?
Some schools have limited appeal processes, typically reserved for major new information or administrative errors. Appeals are uncommon and rarely change outcomes.
If I was deferred earlier, does that change what happens on Ivy Day?
Deferred applicants usually receive their final outcome with Regular Decision decisions, so Ivy Day is often the moment deferred applicants get a final yes, no, or waitlist.
How Crimson can help after Ivy Day
If you are planning your next steps, the most valuable help is targeted and outcome-specific, not generic motivation.
Crimson Education supports students with:
— Decision strategy and offer comparison
— Waitlist planning and LOCI guidance where permitted
— Application strategy for transfers or gap-year reapplication plans
— Long-term planning for students aiming for top U.S. universities
If you want to keep learning, Crimson also runs free events and webinars on admissions strategy, essays, extracurricular positioning, and decision planning. These are designed to help families make high-stakes choices with clearer information.
Final thoughts
Ivy Day 2026 is March 26, 2026, and the most important thing to remember is that your result should immediately translate into a plan. Acceptances require careful comparison, waitlists require disciplined execution, and rejections require a fast pivot to the strongest options still available.
