30 Colleges Accepting Applications After May 1

All sorts of things could happen and keep you from applying or accepting on time. I even knew straight A students who only applied to Ivy League schools just to be rejected by all of them.

You may probably think that your only option is to go to a community college or take a gap year. While both options are not bad, and for some people, they may be even the best, you should know that you are not limited to those two.

Most college deadlines fall anywhere from November to January of your senior year of high school — early admission plans typically end in November, while regular decision plans usually end in January.

And students who receive an acceptance letter commonly have until May 1, which is National Decision Day, to make up their minds.

But if you missed those important dates, there are colleges and universities, many of which have a rolling admissions policy, that still accept applications.

See which of the following you might want to shortlist if it’s too late for you to send applications to some of your top-choice institutions:

Auburn University

• Location: Auburn, Alabama
• Application deadline: June 1

Ranked #97 in National Universities 2023 by US News, Auburn University is a public land-grant research institution whose popular majors include business, engineering, management and marketing.

Considered the second-largest university in the state of Alabama, it has an acceptance rate of 71%.

Admitted first-time, first-year students have SAT scores ranging from 1170 to 1350 and ACT scores ranging from 24 to 30. On the other hand, their average high school GPA is 3.9.

Austin College

• Location: Sherman, Texas
• Application deadline: July 31

A private liberal arts college, Austin College is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.

Its 70-acre campus with a city setting is, as of this writing, home to 1,228 students. Around 59% of its attendees are from minority groups.

The institution’s acceptance rate is 43%, while its graduation rate is 65% — the median starting salary of its alumni members amounts to $49,700. Tuition and fees as of the academic year 2022 to 2023 amount to $44,925.

Ball State University

• Location: Muncie, Indiana
• Application deadline: June 1

Founded in 1918, Ball State University is a public research institution with satellite campuses in Fishers and Indianapolis, both of which are in the state of Indiana, too.

It has a large 1,180-acre suburban campus, which has a total of 2 quadrangles and 109 buildings, plus more than 400 additional acres for its research facilities.

Ranked #212 in National Universities 2023 by US News, it offers 120 majors, some of the most popular of which include business, commerce, education and liberal studies.

If you are interested in the BSU, we have a podcast with the BSU student about her experience of getting in.

Butler University

• Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
• Application deadline: August 1

A private university founded in 1855, Butler University has a number of high US News rankings. They include #1 in Regional Universities Midwest 2023, #1 in Best Colleges for Veterans 2023 and #1 in Most Innovative Schools 2023.

It has a high acceptance rate of 81% — the average SAT and ACT scores of accepted first-time, first-year students range from 1150 to 1340 and 25 to 31, respectively.

Columbia International University

• Location: Columbia, South Carolina
• Application deadline: July 1

According to Columbia International University, it’s the premier Christian college of South Carolina.

Offering a range of career-focused degree programs, some of the most popular majors the private school offers are business, education, kinesiology, management, marketing and, of course, theology and religious vocations.

Ranked #38 in Regional Universities South 2023 by US News, the institution charges undergraduate students, based on the academic year 2022 to 2023 rate, $26,740 in tuition and fees.

Columbus State University

• Location: Columbus, Georgia
• Application deadline: June 30

Founded in 1958 as Columbus College, Columbus State University is ranked by US News #67 in Regional Universities South 2023. Based on the academic year 2022 to 2023 rate, its tuition and fees amount to $7,334 (in-state) and $21,152 (out-of-state).

Undergraduate students can choose from over 90 majors, some of the most popular of which include biology, business, criminal justice, kinesiology and sociology. The public university is also known for its good nursing program.

Concordia University – St. Paul

• Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
• Application deadline: August 1

A member of the Concordia University System, which is under the administration of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Concordia University – St. Paul is a private institution with a 37-acre campus with a suburban setting.

It has an acceptance rate of 68%, and the average high school GPA of admitted first-time, first-year students is 3.1.

Nursing practice is the most sought-after major at the institution — undergraduates can choose from more than 100 majors. The student-to-faculty ratio is 15:1, and around 69% of all classes have fewer than 20 students.

Dalton State College

• Location: Dalton, Georgia
• Application deadline: July 1

When it came into being in 1963, Dalton State College was a junior college. US News ranks the school, which is a part of the University System of Georgia, #60 in Regional Colleges South 2023. It has an acceptance rate of 100%.

Having a test-optional admissions policy, applicants may or may not submit their SAT or ACT scores.

Some of its most popular majors are biology, business, criminal justice, elementary education, English and nursing.

Elizabeth City State University

• Location: Elizabeth City, North Carolina
• Application deadline: June 1

A public historically black college and university (HBCU), Elizabeth City State University has a total of 2,054 students, around 70% of which are blacks.

It has an acceptance rate of 77% and a graduation rate of 20% — the median starting salary of its alumni members is $38,200. On the other hand, the average debt of students at graduation amounts to $24,109.

Undergraduates can choose from 24 majors, some of the most popular of which include business-related ones such as management and marketing. US News ranks it #31 in Regional Colleges South 2023.

Eureka College

• Location: Eureka, Illinois
• Application deadline: August 15

According to Eureka College itself, the private institution is considered the best in the state of Illinois for vocations like teacher education, nursing, communications and criminal justice.

It is a very small school in terms of both student population and campus size — it has 476 attendees and a 65-acre suburban campus.

Having an acceptance rate of 87% and a graduation rate of 43%, US News ranks the institution #23 in Regional Colleges Midwest 2023 and #21 in Top Performers on Social Mobility 2023.

Fayetteville State University

• Location: Fayetteville, North Carolina
• Application deadline: June 30

When it was founded in 1867, Fayetteville State University was the second HBCU in the state of North Carolina for teachers. As of this writing, it has a total of 6,754 students, around 61% of which are blacks.

The public institution, which is a part of the University of North Carolina System, is ranked #72 in Regional Universities South 2023 by US News.

It has an acceptance rate of 83% — those who get into the institution as first-time, first-year students have an average high school GPA of 3.1 and SAT and ACT score range of 830 to 1040 and 14 to 19, respectively.

Fort Valley State University

• Location: Fort Valley, Georgia
• Application deadline: June 15

A part of the University System of Georgia, Fort Valley State University is an HBCU that was founded in 1895.

Undergraduate students, which amount to 2,783, can choose from 29 majors.

Some of the most popular ones include biology, criminal justice, homeland security and psychology. Using the academic year 2022 to 2023 rate, tuition and fees at the public land-grant institution amount to $6,408 (in-state) and $19,810 (out-of-state).

Fresno Pacific University

• Location: Fresno, California
• Application deadline: July 31

Founded in 1944 as the Pacific Bible Institute, Fresno Pacific University is a private Christian institution. Its 42-acre urban campus is home to a total of 3,524, around 61% of which are undergraduates.

And speaking of which, students pursuing a bachelor’s degree can choose from more than nearly 60 majors within 25 broad fields of study.

Tuition and fees, based on the academic year 2022 to 2023 rate, amount to $34,112. It has an acceptance rate of 78% and a graduation rate of 55% — the median starting salary of alumni members is $44,700 per year.

Georgia Gwinnett College

• Location: Lawrenceville, Georgia
• Application deadline: May 3

A member of the University System of Georgia, Georgia Gwinnett College came into being in 2006. What started out with 118 students now has 10,949 attendees.

Ranked #54 in Regional Colleges South 2023 and #12 in Top Public Schools 2023 by US News, the public institution offers 17 degree programs, all of which are designed to meet the needs of the local region and state.

Some of the top majors at the institution include business, commerce, information technology and psychology.

Georgia Southwestern State University

• Location: Americus, Georgia
• Application deadline: July 21

When it was founded in 1906, Georgia Southwestern State University was known as the Third District Agricultural and Mechanical School.

The public institution now has 3,158 students, around 78% of which are undergraduates — some of the most popular majors among them include accounting, business administration, psychology and registered nursing.

As of this writing, tuition and fees amount to $6,032 (in-state) and $19,434 (out-of-state). The school has an acceptance rate of 86% and a graduation rate of 20%.

Goshen College

• Location: Goshen, Indiana
• Application deadline: July 1

When it was founded in 1894, Goshen College was known as the Elkhart Institute of Science, Industry and the Arts. The private Mennonite liberal arts college is ranked #8 in Regional Colleges Midwest 2023 by US News.

Its 135-acre campus with a city setting is shared by 19 major buildings and a total of 811 students. It also has an additional 1,189-acre natural sanctuary, which is 31 miles away from campus.

It offers 40 majors, some of the most popular of which include business, commerce, molecular biology and registered nursing.

Keystone College

• Location: La Plume, Pennsylvania
• Application deadline: June 15

US News ranks Keystone College #20 in Regional Colleges North 2023 and #8 in Best Colleges for Veterans 2023.

Undergraduate students attending it, which amount to 1,171, can choose from over 50 degree programs.

Some of the most popular majors at the private institution include biomedical sciences, business management, homeland security and psychology. Its graduates make a median salary of $37,300 per year.

Norfolk State University

• Location: Norfolk, Virginia
• Application deadline: May 31

US News ranks Norfolk State University #63 in Regional Universities South 2023, #27 in Top Public Schools and #19 in Historically Black Colleges and Universities 2023.

The popular college ranking site also gives the HBCU’s business, computer science and engineering undergraduate programs some rankings.

Having a high acceptance rate of 89%, the school’s tuition and cost based on the academic 2022 to 2023 rate amount to $9,622 (in-state) and $20,790 (out-of-state). As of this writing, it has a total of 5,458 attendees.

North Central University

• Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Application deadline: June 1

A Catholic institution, North Central University is affiliated with the Assemblies of God. It offers more than 60 programs for its undergraduate students, which amount to 950 as of this writing.

Some of the most popular majors include business administration, elementary education and teaching, music management and, of course, pastoral studies.

Other than being small enrollment-wise, the school is also small in terms of campus — it has a 9-acre campus with an urban setting. Around 72% of its classes have fewer than 20 students.

Olivet Nazarene University

• Location: Bourbonnais, Illinois
• Application deadline: May 15

Established in 1907, Olivet Nazarene University was named after its founding location and originally supposed to be an institution for grammar.

These days, undergraduates can choose from more than 70 majors, some of the most popular of which include business administration, engineering and registered nursing.

It has a graduation rate of 55%, and the median annual salary of alumni members amounts to $47,600.

Oregon State University

• Location: Corvallis, Oregon
• Application deadline: June 22

According to Oregon State University itself, it was founded in 1868 on the notion that everybody deserves an extraordinary education that’s both attainable and accessible.

Not only is the public land-grant research institution the largest in the state of Oregon but also the tenth-largest engineering college in the country.

Needless to say, engineering majors are some of the most popular ones among undergraduate students — the school has 27,562 of them, making up around 83% of its student body (33,193). Computer science and business are also popular.

Saint Martin’s University

• Location: Lacey, Washington
• Application deadline: June 18

A Benedictine institution that’s guided by the Catholic intellectual tradition, Saint Martin’s University is ranked #32 in Regional Universities West 2023 by US News.

The trusted college ranking site also ranks it #12 in Best Value Schools 2023 — the private school’s tuition and fees amount to $42,220 based on the academic year 2022 to 2023 rate.

It has an acceptance rate of 72%, and the SAT and ACT scores of admitted freshmen students range from 995 and 1225 and 18 to 23, respectively. Their average high school GPA, meanwhile, is 3.4.

Salem State University

• Location: Salem, Massachusetts
• Application deadline: June 1

A part of the system of state universities in Massachusetts and considered the largest institution of higher education on the North Shore, Salem State University is ranked #117 in Regional Universities North by US News.

Every admissions cycle, about 90% of all applicants are accepted, the average high school GPA of whom is 3.3.

While it has a test-optional admissions policy, the school recommends students with SAT scores above 990 or ACT scores above 19 to submit theirs because it will give their applications the highest consideration.

South Carolina State University

• Location: Orangeburg, South Carolina
• Application deadline: May 31

An HBCU founded in 1890, South Carolina State University has a total of 2,374 attendees, around 87% of which are pursuing bachelor’s degrees, on its 160-acre suburban campus.

Ranked #76 in Regional Universities South 2023 by US News, the public land-grant institution’s tuition and fees cost $11,060 (in-state) and $21,750 (out-of-state).

It has a high acceptance rate of 88%, and the SAT and ACT scores of accepted freshmen students range anywhere from 800 to 1050 and 15 to 19, respectively.

University of Alaska – Anchorage

• Location: Anchorage, Alaska
• Application deadline: June 15

An open-access public institution, the University of Alaska – Anchorage was founded in 1954. The school also administers 4 campuses across the south-central portion of the state of Alaska.

Based on the academic rate 2022 to 2023, tuition and fees amount to $8,418 (in-state) and $25,398 (out-of-state).

Ranked #64 in Regional Universities West 2023 and #32 in Top Public Schools 2023 by US News, some of the popular majors among undergraduates include business administration, liberal arts and nursing.

University of Houston

• Location: Houston, Texas
• Application deadline: May 2

Other than being a part of the University of Houston System, the University of Houston is also considered the third-largest degree-granting institution in all of Texas.

It has an 895-acre campus with a suburban setting, which is occupied by a total of 47,031 students — 38,581 (82%) are undergraduates.

With a 66% acceptance rate, the public research institution, which is ranked by US News #182 in National Universities 2023 and #91 in Top Public Schools 2023, is a moderately selective school.

University of North Carolina – Charlotte

• Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
• Application deadline: June 1

Founded in 1946, the University of North Carolina – Charlotte has a Carnegie R1 designation for its very high research activity. Some of its most popular majors are those that have something to do with business and health professions.

Tuition and fees at the public research institution, which has an acceptance rate of 80%, amount to $7,214 (in-state) and $21,338 (out-of-state).

Currently, it has a massive student body consisting of 30,448 attendees on its 1,000-acre urban campus. It has a graduation rate of 43%, and its graduates make a median starting salary of $51,900.

University of West Florida

• Location: Pensacola, Florida
• Application deadline: June 1

In the entire State University System of Florida, which consists of 12 campuses, University of West Florida is the third largest — it has a suburban campus measuring 1,600 acres and a population that’s made up of 13,317 students.

Around 53% of all applicants are accepted by the public institution. Offering more than 70 undergraduate degree programs, some of the most popular majors at the school include business, computer science, engineering, management, marketing and social sciences.

Tuition and fees, based on the academic year 2022 to 2023 rate, are $7,214 (in-state) and $21,338 (out-of-state).

Winona State University

• Location: Winona, Minnesota
• Application deadline: July 16

When it was founded in 1858, Winona State University was known as First State Normal School of Minnesota and also the oldest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.

It has a city campus measuring 125 acres, and its population consists of 6,563 students — undergraduates make up around 88% of them (5,763).

It has an acceptance rate of 77%, and the SAT and ACT scores of admitted freshmen students range from 970 to 1280 and 19 to 25, respectively. Graduates make a median starting salary of $48,900 per year.

Xavier University of Louisiana

• Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
• Application deadline: July 1

A Catholic HBCU attended by 3,604 students as of this writing, Xavier University of Louisiana is ranked by US News #14 in Regional Universities South 2023, #5 in Historically Black Colleges and Universities 2023 and #5 in Most Innovative Schools 2023.

Undergraduate students can choose from 56 majors, some of the most sought-after of which include biological sciences, business management, physical sciences and psychology.

Just Before You Apply to a College Past May 1

When it comes to applying to institutions of higher education, especially the ones that go at the top of your college list, goes, it’s always a good idea to avoid procrastinating — write your supplemental essays and get your hands on all the required materials without any delay in order to beat the deadline.

However, it’s not recommended to rush things either as it may put your admissions chances in peril.

In case you are about to run out of time, worry not — you can always send your application to colleges and universities that welcome applicants even after May 1. Running out of options should be the least of your fears as there are lots of them.