A college acceptance offer is an official written notification by a school to inform you that you were accepted into the program to which you applied.

College acceptance offers are usually delivered by mail (or email) with additional information needed to attend school. You typically have until May 1st to commit to the school before the letter expires. 

However, it’s important to read the fine details, such as your enrollment deadline.

There are a few other letters that you may receive, such as a deferred acceptance or denial letter. However, that doesn’t have to be the end of road for that school. There are still things you can do be accepted. 

Let’s review the three most common types you may receive to determine how long your college acceptance letter is: 

This type of letter is the one that you’ve been most likely hoping for. An acceptance letter typically arrives in a larger envelope with additional brochures regarding tuition costs and housing arrangements. An acceptance letter can also have information about your financial aid, what type you’ve qualified for, and when your first payment to hold your place will be due. 

If you are not ready to attend this school, communicate with the admissions office to see what options are available to you without losing your spot or financial aid. Asking for deferred enrollment is different from a deferred acceptance letter described below.

A deferred acceptance (or delayed admission) letter means that the college you applied to is considering admitting you as a student, but they need additional time or documentation. You can receive a delayed admission letter for various reasons, such as missing paperwork or an incomplete FAFSA. 

The school of your choice may also send you a letter for no reason within your control, such as a surplus in college applications from other students. If you’re unclear about the status of your application after reading this letter, reach out to the admissions officer or a counselor for clarification.

You may also be put on a waitlist. Learn about college waitlists and waitlist admissions rates here.

A denied admission letter means that you were not accepted into the school you applied for. While it certainly stings, a denied admission letter has most likely nothing to do with you but everything to do with the school. Colleges want you to succeed, so they may not move forward with admissions at this time. But this doesn’t mean you won’t ever be a good fit. It just means you’re not a good fit right now. 

I’ll admit to getting one of these letters my senior year of high school, and it hurt. But, after a few adjustments to both myself and my academics, I was offered admission and succeeded because the time was right.

If you were denied admissions to a school that you really want to attend, ask your admissions officer what you can work on for a better chance next time.

Acceptance letters are generally valid until May 1st.

“How long an acceptance is good for is based on the type of application a student submits,” says Scot Marken, Founder & CEO of Ed| Redefined. “For students who apply Regular Decision or Early Action, the deadline to commit is May 1st, regardless of the date they are accepted.” Some colleges automatically consider you committed upon an acceptance letter received during early admission.

Along with accepting your college offer, you might also be on the hook for a deposit to hold your spot. Allen Koh, founder and CEO of Cardinal Education, says that typically, your acceptance will be canceled if the student fails to submit the deposit by this deadline. “However, some colleges may grant an extension if there is a legitimate reason for missing the deadline, such as a family emergency or a natural disaster.” But as Koh shares, many deadlines are final because, traditionally, colleges have a waiting list ready to go. (Remember the deferrals?)

However, don’t wait too long to commit to your school. Taking time to commit and waiting till the last possible second can severely disadvantage you when competing with your peers. Your housing, class schedule, work-study placement, and financial aid can all be affected when you wait until the last minute. If accommodation is limited, you may not be able to attend at all, as some schools require first-year students to live on campus for their first year. 

So, what happens if you’re waiting to see if you get other offers only to realize that it’s past May 1st, and you’re still empty-handed now with no fallback school? If you fail to commit by the deadline, you have alternative options.

First, don’t write your school off entirely regarding missing your acceptance deadline. Come prepared with a plan to explain your situation and ask if you have any options you can pursue. They might be able to admit you still; if they can’t, they can advise you on your next steps or other options for the next enrollment cycle. You may also get on a waiting list, allowing you to register for classes after all.

Remember, your school is doing you a favor if they can still push you through enrollment, so patience and understanding are key.

If you cannot enroll at your previous school, consider enrolling in a community college. Community colleges offer numerous advantages when compared to universities. Community colleges provide cheaper tuition, more evening classes, and the opportunity to earn an associate degree that you can transfer to another school to use towards your bachelor’s degree.

Getting my associate’s while finishing my bachelor’s helped me navigate the workforce with higher earning potential since I already had some education behind me. With a higher earning potential, I could support myself financially while incurring minimum debt while waiting for my four-year degree.

If you intend to go straight to a university, consider finding a school that offers rolling admissions. Schools that offer rolling admissions accept applications as they are submitted. This means you’re not held to the May 1st date but have more flexibility with attending school.

Many schools with rolling admissions have shorter semesters of 6-8 weeks, so you’ll have more opportunities to start school without waiting. Don’t forget to add your new school to your FAFSA so that you can potentially transfer your financial aid award so that tuition is covered.

If none of these options are available, consider taking a gap year. Gap years look different for everyone. Working full-time, participating in an immersion program, or signing up for the Peace Corps are just a few ways to spend the year before your tentative enrollment.

Pausing school can allow you to set yourself up for success before taking the next step in your academic journey. Not only can you work on becoming financially stable, but you can also ensure you have the correct support network for those moments when school feels hard.

If you receive an acceptance letter, you generally have until May 1st to commit to the school. If it expires you can contact your schools admissions office to see if they can still let you in. However, generally, if you miss the deadline you will have to wait until next year to attend.