Apply Early, Know Early

In its 2025 rankings, U.S. News & World Report named Trinity University the No. 40 liberal arts college in the nation and No. 37 for Best Value. Trinity is on the rise, and prospective students across the nation are increasingly recognizing the value of a Trinity education. In the Class of 2028, a record-breaking 162 students enrolled through Early Decision, meaning 25% of the class picked Trinity as their first choice. 

Trinity’s early application plans allow prospective students to get ahead of the competition and stand out among a smaller applicant pool. Being admitted early also means students are notified early and can fully enjoy their senior year knowing they are officially a Tiger.

Trinity offers three early application plans: Early Decision (ED) I and II, which are binding decisions, and Early Action (EA), which is a non-binding option. ED I and EA applications are due on November 1, 2024, and students are notified of admissions decisions by mid-December. ED II applications are due on February 1, 2025, and students are notified by mid-March.

This year, 62% of ED enrolled students applied via Early Decision I, meaning nearly two-thirds of our ED students were certain Trinity was their top choice by November of their senior year.

"We find that high school students who begin to thoughtfully craft their college list during their junior year put themselves in a more competitive position for admission as a senior," says Justin Doty, dean of Admissions. “Early Decision applicants often tell us that Trinity emerged as their top choice after visiting multiple colleges. When Trinity appears to be the best match academically, socially, and financially, applying ED places applicants in the most competitive position for admission. Knowing the overall acceptance rate was a record low 26% this year, applying Early Decision is a strategic move for a growing number of students.”

The average GPA among Early Decision students this year is a 3.66 which is consistent with the Class of 2027 while the average SAT/ACT scores and number of students graduating in the top 10% of their class is slightly higher compared to last year. “We are absolutely thrilled by the increased volume, academic caliber, and composition of our ED population this year,” Doty says. “These are students who are ‘all in’ and committing themselves to Trinity early in the process. In turn, we are offering our full support to them.”

Trinity understands that one of the biggest questions students need answered before they can fully commit to a college is, “Can I afford it?” That's why, when you say "yes" to investing in a Trinity education, we say "yes" to investing in you. Thanks to the Office of Admissions’ option for ED-interested students and families to request an early financial aid estimate, all students, regardless of their socioeconomic status, can feel comfortable deciding to make Trinity their new home. Admissions provides both merit scholarships and need-based financial aid estimates to ensure Trinity is an affordable option before students even apply ED.

Since establishing this opportunity, Admissions continues to see significant increases in the number of families requesting an early financial aid estimate. Nearly 70% of the Class of 2028’s ED population took advantage of this opportunity, allowing them to assess financial affordability by seeing the true net cost before submitting an ED application.

For more information about scholarships and need-based aid, visit Trinity’s financial aid website. To request an early financial aid estimate, click the button on our ED website.