When Do You Apply for College?

Most high school students will start applying to traditional on-campus colleges during the summer prior to their senior year in high school. College application deadlines are established individually by different schools. GCU has a rolling admission policy.

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Read time 5 minutes

GCE Editorial Team

Published on Sep 4, 2025

If you’re a current high school student, you should plan on applying to colleges during the summer of your senior year in high school and perhaps continuing into the fall semester. Do note that each college establishes different deadlines for applications, so it’s important to check the deadlines for each school you plan on applying to.

When do you apply for college at GCU? Grand Canyon University has a rolling admission policy, which means there are no application deadlines for most programs.

Applying to college is an exciting process because you’re taking an important step toward your future career. As a current high school student looking ahead to college, you will have a lot of information to sort through and some big decisions to make. Some students may find it a little confusing.

In this guide, we will cover common questions you might be asking about the college application process:

When should you start applying for colleges?
When is the earliest you can apply for college?
Is early decision the same as early action?
What goes into a college application?

Fortunately, applying to GCU can be simple, especially when the application is no-cost. There are a variety of scholarship opportunities, and you can receive individualized help from full-time GCU university counselors. Here, you can find out when to start applying for college, explore admission requirements at GCU and how you can reap the benefits of applying early.

When Should You Start Applying for College?

You should ideally start submitting your college applications during the summer before your senior year in high school. Some students apply earlier or later. Since GCU has a rolling admission policy, there is no specific deadline for applications for most programs. You should check with your university counselor to determine if the program you’re interested in has an applicable deadline.

The college application process is made up of many components. Plus, admission decisions can vary widely by institution, so it’s important to do your research and determine exactly what is required of you when applying to each school of your choice. For example, you should take the time to read through the undergraduate admission requirements at GCU.

Some universities require applicants to submit the application along with a personal statement and letters of recommendation. Most universities require either SAT or ACT scores, and some prefer one over the other.

At GCU, if you have a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher, you are not required to submit either SAT or ACT scores. However, submitting test scores is recommended to potentially qualify for scholarships or to be considered for admission if the GPA requirement is not met. GCU does not require you to submit an essay for the application process.

Each school’s application varies in terms of the information it requires. At GCU, you submit your unofficial transcript, and within 24 hours, you will be provided a proposed graduation plan that includes estimated costs, start date options and estimated graduation date, if you follow the schedule provided.¹ As you complete each task, you come one step closer to finding your purpose at GCU!

Perhaps the most important factor in applying to college is making sure to meet the deadline. Early application deadlines are important because many institutions have a limited number of students they can accept each year. Applying early may put you in a position to fill a coveted and highly competitive spot.

When are college applications due at GCU? Unlike other universities, GCU does not have specific admission deadlines. That means you can apply at any time for the opportunity to start a degree program on campus or online.

When Is the Earliest You Can Submit College Applications?

If you apply to a rolling admission school, such as GCU, then you can apply whenever you’re ready. (This could even be as early as your junior year in high school, in which case you can defer enrollment if accepted.) Otherwise, you’ll need to check the school’s website to find out when they begin accepting applications.

Regarding the question of when to apply for college at GCU: You can apply as early as the end of your junior year in high school (after your sixth semester). Applying early to GCU has its perks and is encouraged.

The benefits of applying to GCU early include:

Class schedule preference
Preferred housing

Are Early Decision and Early Action From Universities the Same?

Some schools offer early decision and early action admission plans — or both. They are not the same thing. While GCU does not offer an early binding decision option, students are encouraged to explore our flexible admission process to find what best fits their timeline and goals.

Timeline: College Application Deadlines for 2025

When do you apply for college at GCU in 2025? Grand Canyon University doesn’t have a specific application deadline for most programs, but you are encouraged to apply early. You can apply as early as the last semester of your junior year in high school. With our rolling admission policy, you can receive an admission decision within a few weeks.

If you are currently a GCU student and wish to apply to the Honors College, the deadline is August 1 for the fall term and December 1 for the spring term.

How to Apply to College at GCU

GCU maintains rolling admission. Schools without rolling admission establish hard deadlines. They collect applications up until that deadline and then begin reviewing them. In contrast, as a rolling admission school, GCU reviews application materials continuously as they come in.

This means you can apply to GCU at any time of the year. If you get accepted in the middle of a semester, you may begin classes the following semester. For some people, applying early for college may mean applying more than a year before enrollment, while others may consider applying the summer prior to be enough time.

"GCU's counselors made everything so easy. They took the stress out of registering and choosing classes."

— Savannah Moffitt, Class of 2023

The first step to take to apply for admission at GCU is to fill out the form on this page. This allows you to schedule a phone call with a university counselor, who will answer your questions and provide guidance on the application process.

You’ll be able to submit your application online. You can contact SAT and/or ACT to submit your test scores if you wish, although test scores aren’t a requirement if your GPA is at least 3.0. You can have your high school submit your official transcripts directly to GCU. Unlike many schools, GCU does not require an admission essay.

GCU invites you to fuse your passion with purpose by applying to become an on-campus student. Our colleges offer numerous degree programs that teach foundational skills intended to help our graduates launch their chosen careers. Fill out the form on this page to learn more about joining our learning community.

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Approved and verified accurate by the Registrar and Associate Vice President of the Office of Academic Records on Aug. 21, 2025.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.