Early Decision Benefits

Early Decision is the best option for you if you have identified Nazareth University as your top choice.

If you're an early decision applicant, from the time of paying your enrollment deposit, you have opportunities to:

  • Meet and begin planning with your personal career coach immediately to assess interests and strengths and get an advanced preview of the many options here to explore and enrich your Nazareth experience.
  • Find out how you can participate in internships, study abroad, service learning, and volunteer opportunities, and initiatives for social innovation.
  • Use Handshake, our internship and career development tool starting the spring of your senior year. Plus, get a special invitation to attend our job and internship fair on campus.

Also:

  • Know that you are admissible before the regular decision notification date.
  • Expedite the financial aid process to ensure a Nazareth education is affordable before the regular decision notification date.
  • Secure a place in a fixed-capacity program, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, music therapy, music education, and speech therapy.

Applying early decision requires an Early Decision Agreement Form (included in the Common App) that must be signed by you, your parent(s), and your school counselor.

The Financial Aid Process for Early Decision

The most important first step is to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

This form is used to determine your eligibility for any type of financial aid (scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans), and we encourage all families to submit the FAFSA regardless of your financial situation.

  1. Go to the FASFA website.
  2. Use Nazareth University's school code: 002779 
  3. Select the “IRS Data Retrieval” option to automatically fill the FASFA form with your IRS information.

If your FASFA is complete, your financial aid and scholarship package will be mailed with your admission decision.

If you have any questions regarding Early Decision at Nazareth, please contact your admissions counselor.

Apply online

Complete the FREE Common App
Be sure to complete all required signatures.

Is early decision binding?

The Early Decision Agreement Form establishes a "good faith" agreement between you and your family, the guidance counselor at your high school, and Nazareth. That means if you are accepted Early Decision, and your financial aid package makes Nazareth University affordable, we anticipate that you will enroll and honor your commitment.

If the financial aid process identifies that the available funding and your personal financial situation deem it unfeasible, we will encourage you to pursue other options and will assist in the process. However, we have been very successful in working with families on a personal basis to make your goals a reality.