As of October 2026. Every number below is sourced; the list is at the end.
As of October 2026, the fall 2027 applications are already open. Common App launched the 2026-27 season on Saturday, August 1, 2026, with more than 1,200 member colleges. The University of California application also opened August 1, and so did Cal State Apply. The first big deadlines land on November 1.
The two California systems
UC opened its application on August 1 for fall 2027 applicants. The filing period is October 1 through November 30, 2026. Decisions go out March 1 through March 31, 2027, though some campuses release earlier, and admitted students must submit the SIR by May 1, 2027. The FAFSA, the California Dream Act Application and the GPA Verification Form opened October 1 and are due March 2.
The CSU priority filing period for fall 2027 is August 1 through November 30, 2026. Students could start working in Cal State Apply on August 1; submission opened October 1.
Neither system reads an SAT or ACT score in admission. Both are test-blind, as our California test-policy page lays out. A score still matters for the private and out-of-state colleges beside them on the list.
Early and regular deadlines, as three colleges state them
| College | Early decision | Early action | Regular decision | Decisions released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern California | November 1 | November 1 | January 10 (December 1 for performing arts) | ED mid-December, EA late January, RD by April 1 |
| University of Florida | October 15 | November 1 | January 15 | December 11, January 22, March 19 |
| Purdue University | not offered | November 1 | January 15 | EA January 15, RD by March 31 |
Early decision is binding at both USC and Florida. Early action at all three is not. Each college's score bands, cost and test policy sit on its Reach page: USC, Florida, Purdue.
The last test date that still counts
Pair the deadline with the last sitting whose scores are released before it. These are the testing agencies' own dates.
| Deadline | Last SAT | Last ACT |
|---|---|---|
| November 1 | October 3, 2026 (scores October 16) | October 17, 2026 (scores October 27) |
| December 1 | November 7, 2026 (scores November 20) | October 17, 2026 (scores October 27) |
| January 10 or January 15 | December 5, 2026 (scores December 18) | December 12, 2026 (scores December 22) |
Two cautions. Released is not the same as delivered; College Board says processing times vary by college once scores are received. And a few colleges set a separate, later date for official scores. Florida is one: its application materials are due November 8 for early action and January 22 for regular decision, but official test scores are accepted through May 1.
What this means in October
A student aiming at a January deadline has about seven weeks from mid-October to the December 5 SAT, and about eight to the December 12 ACT. That sits inside the 6-to-12-week window we plan for, so this is the week to start rather than the week to decide. Prepare for the whole SAT or ACT every sitting, never one section.
The move
Pick the deadline that governs the list, count back 6 to 12 weeks from the test date that feeds it, and put the start date on the calendar this week. Then book the free mock SAT and free mock ACT so your student takes the right exam: prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step. Or call 949.229.5359 and we will map the testing year against the deadlines.
Questions parents ask
Is it too late to apply for fall 2027?
No. As of October 2026 the fall 2027 applications are already open, and the first big deadlines land on November 1.
When is the UC application due?
The UC filing period is October 1 through November 30, 2026, and decisions go out March 1 through March 31, 2027.
What is the last test date that will reach a January deadline?
The December 5, 2026 SAT, with scores released December 18, and the December 12, 2026 ACT, with scores released December 22.
Written by Nick Standlea, founder of Test Prep Gurus. Updated October 2026.
Sources
- https://www.commonapp.org/blog/common-app-opens-application-launch-2026-27-season/
- https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-first-year/dates-and-deadlines.html
- https://www.calstate.edu/apply/Pages/application-dates-deadlines.aspx
- https://admission.usc.edu/prospective-students/how-to-apply/first-year-students/
- https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/freshman/deadlines
- https://admissions.purdue.edu/deadlines/first-year-college-student/
- https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/dates-deadlines
- https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/scores/score-release-dates
- https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration/test-dates.html
- https://highschoolreach.com/test-policy/california