Vanderbilt University acceptance rate, scores and deadlines
Source: Common Data Set 2025–26 · deadlines from Vanderbilt's admissions site.
Acceptance rate
Vanderbilt acceptance rate by year
2,593 of 48,196 applicants admitted for Fall 2025, against 5.9% for Fall 2024.
Show the numbers
| Entering class | Applied | Admitted | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | 48,196 | 2,593 | 5.4% | Common Data Set |
| Fall 2024 | 45,409 | 2,662 | 5.9% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2023 | 45,313 | 2,844 | 6.3% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2022 | 46,377 | 3,093 | 6.7% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2021 | 47,152 | 3,368 | 7.1% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2020 | 36,646 | 4,259 | 11.6% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2019 | 37,310 | 3,402 | 9.1% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2018 | 34,313 | 3,298 | 9.6% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2017 | 31,462 | 3,415 | 10.8% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2016 | 32,442 | 3,487 | 10.8% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2015 | 31,464 | 3,674 | 11.7% | IPEDS |
2026–27 applications
Vanderbilt deadlines for 2026–27
Apply with Common App or Coalition (Scoir) or QuestBridge. Checked October 24, 2026 on Vanderbilt's admissions site. Dates can change; confirm them there before you submit.
- Early decision Apply by Decisions Mid-December
- Early decision II Apply by Decisions Mid-February
- Regular decision Apply by Decisions Late March
Early rounds
Early decision and early action at Vanderbilt
Early pools include recruited athletes and other special cases, so the gap overstates the boost for a typical applicant. Early decision is binding: apply only if you would enroll.
Scores and GPA
Test scores and GPA at Vanderbilt
Scores are for enrolled students who sent them, not for everyone admitted.
- 4.031.6%
- 3.75–3.9956.6%
- 3.50–3.749.1%
- 3.25–3.491.4%
- 3.00–3.240.6%
- 2.50–2.990.6%
- Below 2.500.1%
What counts
What Vanderbilt weighs
From section C7 of Vanderbilt's Common Data Set 2025–26.
Very important
- Course rigor
- Class rank
- GPA
- Essays
- Activities
- Character
Important
- Test scores
- Recommendations
- Talent or ability
Considered
- Interview
- First-generation status
- Alumni relation
- Where you live
- State residency
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not considered
- Religious affiliation
- Demonstrated interest
Cost
What Vanderbilt costs
From the College Scorecard. For your own estimate, use Vanderbilt's net price calculator.
Compare
Colleges with a similar acceptance rate
Close to Vanderbilt's 5.4%, from the same official data.
FAQ
Questions about Vanderbilt admissions
What is Vanderbilt's acceptance rate?
Vanderbilt admitted 2,593 of 48,196 first-year applicants for Fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 5.4%. That is down from 5.9% for Fall 2024. Source: Common Data Set 2025–26.
Is Vanderbilt test-optional for 2026–27?
Yes. Vanderbilt is test-optional for 2026–27: you can apply with or without SAT or ACT scores.
When are Vanderbilt's application deadlines for 2026–27?
Early decision: November 1, 2026; Early decision II: January 1, 2027; Regular decision: January 1, 2027. Check Vanderbilt's admissions site before you apply, as dates can change.
What SAT score do you need for Vanderbilt?
There is no cutoff. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1510–1560 on the SAT (Fall 2025), and 24% of them sent a score. A score at or above 1560 is in the top quarter of enrolled students.
Does applying early decision help at Vanderbilt?
For Fall 2025, Vanderbilt admitted 14.1% of 6,202 early decision applicants, compared with 5.4% overall. Early pools include recruited athletes and other special cases, so the gap overstates the boost for a typical applicant.
Where the numbers come from
Sources
- Vanderbilt University Common Data Set 2025–26
- College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), IPEDS admissions 2015–2024
- Vanderbilt first-year admissions, checked October 24, 2026
Odds are estimates from public data, shown as a range. An estimate, not a guarantee.
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