Tulane’s Early Decision Ban: What It Teaches Us About “Binding” Commitments

But make no mistake: ED is binding. When you apply that way, you and your parents — and even your guidance counselor — sign an agreement saying that if the college admits you, you will withdraw all other applications and enroll.

Now, colleges love this. It boosts their “yield” (the percent of admitted students who actually enroll) and gives them early certainty about their incoming class. In other words, it’s great for the college’s planning — but not always great for the family’s.

What Tulane Did — and Why It Matters

First, full disclosure – I love Tulane. My son went there; I’ve visited often, and I regularly recommend it to my students. That said, I’m not sure about this case and what kind of message it sends.

Tulane’s decision to punish an entire high school because one family changed their mind sends a message that goes well beyond one student. It says: “You broke the rules, so we’ll make an example of you.”
But the truth is, sometimes life intervenes and students do back out of ED offers for legitimate reasons.

We don’t know the circumstances behind this student’s decision to withdraw from their commitment to Tulane. If the reasons were financial, then Tulane’s response is excessive. If the student simply had a change of heart, then the student (and the parents) bear some responsibility. That’s the nature of Early Decision. It’s binding.

The reality is, sometimes a financial aid package isn’t close to what was expected. Sometimes a family’s situation changes. When that happens, withdrawing from an ED offer isn’t unethical — it’s responsible. Families should never feel forced to take on debt they can’t afford just to keep a promise to a college.

That’s why Tulane’s response may be heavy-handed. It effectively weaponizes the relationship between high schools and universities. Instead of empowering students to make smart, informed decisions, it pressures them to stay quiet and compliant. That’s not what education should be about.

While the Tulane case appears to be isolated, schools are known to ‘follow the leader’, so I’ll be monitoring this situation closely. In the interim, I thought I’d share my initial takeaways for families beginning the college process.

Five Lessons Families Can Take From This Case

1. Read the fine print before you fall in love.
   Early Decision sounds romantic — “If they pick me, I’m theirs.” But it’s really a contract. Once you’re in, you’re committed unless the financial aid offer falls short. You can’t just bail because you decide you like another school better. Before applying, use the school’s net price calculator, compare your numbers, and talk through what four years will cost.
   
   2. Don’t confuse admissions advantage with affordability.
   Yes, applying ED can improve your odds slightly — but at what price? ED admits typically pay closer to full freight because they lose the ability to compare offers. As I said in July, ED is great for universities because it locks in the highest price point possible.
   
   3. Guidance counselors advise — they don’t enforce.
   Tulane’s ban effectively punishes Colorado Academy’s entire senior class, the following year, for one student’s decision. That’s not how college guidance should work. Counselors should guide, not police, their students’ choices.
   
   4. “Binding” doesn’t mean “blind.”
   If your family’s financial aid award doesn’t meet expectations, you can and should walk away. Colleges themselves include that clause for a reason. It’s not a loophole — it’s a lifeline. That said, you, as the applicant, bear the responsibility of understanding your anticipated costs and budget prior to applying. Be careful before making a “binding” decision.
   
   5. Trust your own data more than a college’s promises.
   Colleges are under increasing pressure to maintain yield and rankings. You’re under pressure to make a sound investment. One is emotional; the other is financial. Don’t confuse the two.
   
   

A Bigger Picture: The Power Dynamic at Play

Tulane’s move reveals a truth many families overlook: colleges hold more leverage than ever — and they know it. With record applications and limited staff, ED lets them predict their numbers early and manage yield.

But here’s the irony: this same system that rewards “commitment” often punishes financial transparency. The families who most need to compare aid offers — middle-income households (with incomes around $200,000)— are the ones least served by binding plans.

At Your College Concierge, we see this every day. Our students earn, on average, $32,000 a year in scholarships and grants — largely because they don’t rush to commit early. They plan smart, compare offers, and choose based on fit and affordability, not pressure or prestige.

The Bottom Line

Tulane’s story is dramatic, but the lesson is simple: Don’t let fear or FOMO drive your admissions decisions. Early Decision can make sense for some, but only if it’s both the right fit and the right financial match. Colleges are playing a numbers game. You should be playing the long game.

If you want help building a smart strategy — one that balances admissions chances with financial sanity — let’s talk. Because college isn’t just the next four years; it’s the next forty.