When applying to colleges, what's the difference between Early Action, Early Decision, and Priority?

Question

I know one of them just allows you to apply early, and if you're accepted, you're allowed to choose whether or not to go.

Another one has you "locked in" if you get accepted by a university, making you select it. Does that mean you can only apply to one university with this option?

I'm not sure which is which and I'm totally clueless about what priority is.

Please help me out and thank you in advance.

Answer 1

Early Action or EA is generally non-binding. You can apply to as many EA colleges as you want. It's the same as regular decision, just earlier. I've heard of a few binding EA programs, but I'm not sure how they work. Maybe you can apply to several, but only one binding one, and if you get accepted you have to attend that one, but if you're rejected you could go to the other EA schools.

Early Decision, or ED, is binding. Unless you can't attend for financial reasons, you must attend the school.

From what I'm reading, Priority is like EA. Just an earlier date.