May 1st is widely known as National College Decision Day – the date by which most high school seniors traditionally need to make their final college choice and submit a deposit. It can feel like a hard deadline, closing the door on the college application process for the year.
Why Do Some Colleges Accept Applications After May 1st?
There are a few key reasons why colleges might still have openings:
- Rolling Admissions: Many colleges, particularly state universities and some private colleges, use a rolling admissions process. This means they review applications as they are received and make decisions on an ongoing basis until all spots in the freshman class are filled. These schools often have final deadlines well into the summer.
- Space Availability: Sometimes, colleges simply don’t fill their entire incoming class by the May 1st deadline. They may find they still have space available overall or in specific academic programs after the initial deposit deadline passes.
- Later Deadlines: Some institutions simply have later standard application deadlines than the typical January/February window.
The Best Resource: The NACAC College Openings Update
The most reliable and comprehensive resource for finding colleges with openings after May 1st is the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) College Openings Update.
- What it is: This official list (formerly known as the Spring College Openings List) details which NACAC member colleges and universities are still accepting applications for the upcoming fall term. It often includes information on available housing and financial aid, too.
- When it’s available: The list is typically published online starting around May 1st each year and is updated periodically.
- How to access it: Keep an eye on the official NACAC website (nacacnet.org) around early May for the updated list. This is your go-to source.
So, what colleges are still accepting applications after National College Decision Day?
Read on!
Auburn University
- Location: Auburn, AL
- Acceptance Rate: 44%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 25,379
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 36%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 20:1
- Application Deadline: February 1
AU or Auburn is the second-largest university in Alabama. It’s also one of the two flagship institutions in the state, with the other being the University of Alabama.
It has an R1: Doctoral University designation.
Some of the most popular majors at AU include business, engineering, and various health professions.
Austin College
- Location: Sherman, TX
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,169
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 60%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 12:1
- Application Deadline: July 1
Austin College is the oldest postsecondary institution in Texas operating under its original charter.
This small private liberal arts college offers 40+ majors.
Research opportunities and study-abroad programs (where students can fly to more than 60 countries) are integral components of an undergraduate degree program at Austin College.
Ball State University
- Location: Muncie, IN
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 14,416
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 52%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 15:1
- Application Deadline: August 7
BSU undergraduate students can choose from approximately 180 majors, some of the most popular are special education, business, registered nursing, and liberal arts and humanities.
Started as the Eastern Indiana Normal School, it acquired Indiana Normal Institute in 1917.
It has a 1,180-acre suburban campus serving as home to 100+ buildings, plus over 400 acres of various research facilities, given that it’s an R2: Doctoral University.
Butler University
- Location: Indianapolis, IN
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,427
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 48%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 11:1
- Application Deadline: August 1
With six schools and colleges, Butler University has various top rankings from US News: #1 in Regional Universities Midwest, #1 in Best Undergraduate Teaching, and #1 in Most Innovative Schools.
There are over 60 majors available, plus an honors college for high-performing undergraduates.
Students not living at home with their parents or guardians must reside on campus for six semesters.
Columbia International University
- Location: Columbia, SC
- Acceptance Rate: 48%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,001
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 74%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 13:1
- Application Deadline: August 1
Another one of those universities taking applications past May 1 is CIU.
Despite the name, it’s not affiliated with Columbia University. Instead, it’s a private Christian institution consisting of six schools and colleges and offers nearly 30 majors.
CIU is strict, requiring students to sign a form agreeing to abide by the school’s lifestyle standards.
Columbus State University
- Location: Columbus, GA
- Acceptance Rate: 99%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,022
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 58%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 17:1
- Application Deadline: June 30
Starting as a junior college called Columbus College, CSU is a part of the University System of Georgia.
All first-time, first-year students at this public research institution must live on campus for two semesters.
CSU offers 45 undergraduate degree programs, and some of the most popular majors include business, communication, psychology, and registered nursing.
Concordia University, St. Paul
- Location: Saint Paul, MN
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,035
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 70%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 16:1
- Application Deadline: August 1
Nursing is the most popular major at CSP, with about one-third of its undergraduates majoring in it.
There is an accelerated nursing program that takes as quick as 16 months to complete.
A private institution, CSP is a part of the Concordia University System, which is under the administration of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, the second-largest Lutheran Church body in the United States.
Dalton State College
- Location: Dalton, GA
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,525
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 41%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 18:1
- Application Deadline: July 1
A part of the University System of Georgia, Dalton State or DSC started as a junior college.
It became a four-year institution 35 years after its founding.
Students can choose from more than 30 majors, some of the most popular include business, elementary education, biology, registered nursing, and liberal arts and humanities.
Elizabeth City State University
- Location: Elizabeth City, NC
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,033
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 57%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 16:1
- Application Deadline: August 1
ECSU is a public historically black college and university or HBCU still accepting applications after May 1.
Some of the most popular majors available across 28 undergraduate programs include business, marketing, homeland security, public administration, and social service professions.
There’s no requirement for first-year students to reside on campus for a specified number of years.
Eureka College
- Location: Eureka, IL
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 559
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 59%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 13:1
- Application Deadline: August 15
Related to the Disciples of Christ, Eureka College is a small institution enrollment- and campus-wise.
With a 65-acre rural campus, it was the third degree-granting institution in the US to admit male and female students equally — its current gender distribution is 53% males and 47% females.
US News ranks it #41 in Regional Colleges Midwest.
Fayetteville State University
- Location: Fayetteville, NC
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,748
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 47%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 18:1
- Application Deadline: June 30
An HBCU, FSU is a part of both the University of North Carolina System and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Undergraduate students can choose from more than 30 majors, some of the most popular are psychology, registered nursing, criminal justice, business administration, and liberal arts and sciences.
The average GPA of first-year applicants who get in is 3.3.
Fort Valley State University
- Location: Fort Valley, GA
- Acceptance Rate: 43%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,354
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 53%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 19:1
- Application Deadline: July 19
Formerly referred to as Fort Valley State College, FVSU is another one of those HBCUs accepting applications even after College Decision Day.
Nearly three-fourths of all students at FVSU are black.
Besides traditional undergraduate degrees, there are also various online degrees available, including accounting, marketing, criminal justice, political science, and supply chain and logistics management.
Fresno Pacific University
- Location: Fresno, CA
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,744
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 82%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 11:1
- Application Deadline: July 31
A private Christian institution, FPU started as the Pacific Bible Institute.
Undergraduates can choose from 57 majors, some of the most popular include business, marketing, management, public administration, psychology, and liberal arts and sciences.
A technical college, FPU accepts applications through its own application portal.
Georgia Gwinnett College
- Location: Lawrenceville, GA
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 11,030
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 29%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 18:1
- Application Deadline: May 2
A member of the University System of Georgia, Georgia Gwinnett or GGC is a relatively new institution, opening its doors to degree-seeking students in 2006.
Ranked #47 in Regional Colleges South by US News, it has 17 National Honor Society chapters.
Both first-year students and transferees who enroll in less than 30 semesters must live on campus, and they can choose to reside in one of the so-called home-suite-home apartment-style living.
Georgia Southwestern State University
- Location: Americus, GA
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,466
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 49%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 16:1
- Application Deadline: July 21
GSW started as the Third District Agricultural and Mechanical School.
Its 250-acre campus is home to five schools and colleges, conferring 40 undergraduate degrees.
There are 30 majors available at GSW, some of the most popular include accounting, business, psychology, elementary education, marketing, human resources, and registered nursing.
Goshen College
- Location: Goshen, IN
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 717
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 69%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 9:1
- Application Deadline: July 1
The nearly 20 major buildings of Goshen College are on its 135-acre campus, with a natural sanctuary on more than 1,180 acres of land around 31 miles away.
Ranked #12 in Regional Colleges Midwest by US News, it’s a private Mennonite liberal arts college.
It offers 40+ majors, and undergraduate students may choose from a couple of online degree programs, and they are business management, and RN to BSN.
Keystone College
- Location: La Plume, PA
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,060
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 69%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 14:1
- Application Deadline: Rolling
Here’s another one of those colleges that still accept applications past May 1: Keystone College.
The private college with a 276-acre rural campus allows undergraduate students to choose from more than 50 majors and 40 bachelor’s degree programs.
US News ranks it #29 in Regional Colleges North and #9 in Top Performers on Social Mobility.
Norfolk State University
- Location: Norfolk, VA
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,337
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 56%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 18:1
- Application Deadline: May 31
A public HBCU, NSU started as the Norfolk Unit of Virginia Union University.
Up to 85% of its population consists of black students.
There are more than 60 majors undergraduates can choose from, some of the most popular are business, psychology, sociology, communication, history, biology, and liberal arts and humanities.
North Central University
- Location: Minneapolis, MN
- Acceptance Rate: 58%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 809
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 72%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 13:1
- Application Deadline: June 1
Ranked #23 in Regional Colleges Midwest by US News, NCU is a private Christian institution.
According to NCU, it emphasizes students growing as passionate and spirit-empowered Christ-followers, and each of the floors in its residential halls holds weekly discipleship meetings.
Some of the most popular of the 60+ majors are business administration, marketing, elementary education, high school education, music management, and pastoral studies.
Olivet Nazarene University
- Location: Bourbonnais, IL
- Acceptance Rate: 60%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,519
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 57%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 14:1
- Application Deadline: Rolling
ONU is a private Nazarene university that started as a grammar school.
Undergraduate students have 70+ majors to choose from, including some of the most popular, such as business administration, engineering, and registered nursing.
Its alumni network consists of 50,000 individuals residing worldwide.
Oregon State University
- Location: Corvallis, OR
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 28,905
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 28%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 19:1
- Application Deadline: September 1
Classified as an R1: Doctoral University, OSU is a public research institution.
It has more than 10 colleges with multiple schools and departments.
With very few exceptions, OSU requires first-year students to reside on campus — they can choose from 16 residence halls, with single, double, and triple rooms available.
Saint Martin’s University
- Location: Lacey, WA
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,367
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 78%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 11:1
- Application Deadline: July 31
Saint Martin’s is a Benedictine institution guided by the Catholic intellectual tradition.
Its 300-acre campus has a diverse student body, which consists of about 60% minorities and underrepresented groups.
Undergraduate students can choose from 30+ majors, some of the most popular are nursing, business, education, biology, psychology, engineering, and computer science.
Salem State University
- Location: Salem, MA
- Acceptance Rate: 93%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,078
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 57%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 12:1
- Application Deadline: Rolling
Considered the largest postsecondary institution on the North Shore, Salem State or SSU is a public institution belonging to the system of state universities in Massachusetts.
The average GPA of accepted first-year applicants is 3.3.
It’s a commuter school, with approximately 50% of its population commuting.
South Carolina State University
- Location: Orangeburg, SC
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,374
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 55%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 17:1
- Application Deadline: August 1
SC State or SCSU is yet another one of those colleges still accepting applications after National Decision Day.
It’s the only public HBCU in South Carolina.
Ranked #79 in Regional Universities South and #39 in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, SC State has an online campus offering flexible degree programs for non-traditional or adult learners.
University of Alaska – Anchorage
- Location: Anchorage, AK
- Acceptance Rate: 65%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,991
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 75%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 11:1
- Application Deadline: August 15
Besides its main campus measuring 1,702 acres, UAA also has four community campuses across Alaska.
It offers over 100 degree and certificate programs.
Undergraduate students can take advantage of hundreds of study-abroad program opportunities, including international student exchange programs and international internship programs.
University of Houston
- Location: Houston, TX
- Acceptance Rate: 66%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 37,943
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 34%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 21:1
- Application Deadline: May 31
UH or Houston is the fourth-largest institution of higher education in Texas.
Its 895-acre urban campus consists of 15 colleges and an interdisciplinary honors college, and it was once the home of more than 200,000 alumni members worldwide.
Some of the most popular majors among the 70+ majors undergraduate students can choose from include business, management, marketing, psychology, engineering, and computer and information sciences.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- Location: Charlotte, NC
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 23,461
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 28%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 20:1
- Application Deadline: June 1
UNC Charlotte, a public research university, has an R2: Doctoral University designation.
Ranked #96 in Top Public Schools by US News, some of its high-ranking undergraduate degree programs include business, computer science, psychology, economics, and nursing.
Starting fall of 2025, UNC Charlotte requires all first-year students to reside on campus.
University of West Florida
- Location: Pensacola, FL
- Acceptance Rate: 48%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,305
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 37%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 22:1
- Application deadline: June 1
Among the 12 campuses of the State University System of Florida, UWF or West Florida is the third largest.
Offering more than 110 degree programs, it has a space-grant institution designation.
Undergraduate students who wish to reside on campus can choose from seven residence halls, and they can declare any of the 70 majors available, including licensed practical nursing and mass communication.
Winona State University
- Location: Winona, MN
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,421
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 38%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 16:1
- Application deadline: July 16
WSU started as the First State Normal School of Minnesota. It’s also the oldest among the various members of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.
Its 125-acre campus with a city setting houses five colleges.
Undergraduate students can choose from 80 majors, including popular ones, such as education, public administration, education, business, management, marketing, and various health professions.
Xavier University of Louisiana
- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,696
- Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students: 49%
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 11:1
- Application deadline: July 1
Yet another HBCUs still accepting applications post-May 1 is XULA, a Catholic school ranked #6 in Historically Black Colleges and Universities by US News.
The average GPA of accepted first-year applicants is 3.5.
Up to 86% of the population on its 66-acre urban campus consists of black students, and undergraduates can choose from 50+ majors, some of the most popular of which are business, psychology, and physical sciences.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the College Reality Check.
About The Author
