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Admissions

Vanderbilt University
Admissions

Interested in attending Vanderbilt University?

On this page, you'll learn how difficult it is to get into Vanderbilt University, we'll dig into high school grades and test scores, and you'll find out the factors the school considers when reviewing applications.

6
%
Acceptance rate
3.88
Average High School GPA
January 1
Regular admission deadline
Test Optional
Testing

Admission Rates

Is it difficult to get into Vanderbilt University?

6%

Using the most up-to-date data on record, Vanderbilt accepted 6% of applicants. We classify this as most selective.

In the most recent year, 45,313 people applied and 2,844 were accepted.

Applied/Accepted
Women
1484 / 25177 (6%)
Men
1360 / 20136 (7%)

Acceptance rates at colleges can change over time, with some becoming more competitive and others accepting more students. Here’s a look at the acceptance rate trend for the past 2 years at Vanderbilt University:

100%
80.0
60.0
40.0
20.0
0.0
2023
2024

Acceptance rates at schools can vary depending on if the student is in-state, out-of-state, or international.

57%
Enrollment of those accepted
Very High
Yield rate

Of those accepted, 57% ended up enrolling at Vanderbilt University, making their yield rate Very High. The yield rate is the percentage of accepted students who enroll at the school. You can use the yield rate to find out how coveted a school is for the students who apply to it.

Application Factors

You can increase your chances of getting into Vanderbilt University by looking at what the school considers during the application process.

Here are the things Vanderbilt considers:

Very Important

  • Academic GPA
  • Application Essay
  • Character/Personal Qualities
  • Class Rank
  • Extracurricular Activities
  • Rigor of Secondary School Record

Important

  • Recommendation(s)
  • Standardized Test Scores
  • Talent/Ability

Considered

  • Alumni/AE Relation
  • First Generation
  • Geographical Residence
  • Interview
  • State Residency
  • Volunteer Work
  • Work Experience

Not Considered

  • Level of Applicant's Interest
  • Religious Affiliation/Commitment

Grades & Testing

Do you have the grades and test scores to get into Vanderbilt University?

3.88
Average High School GPA
Test Optional
Testing

Grades

Students who recently attended Vanderbilt University as freshmen had an average unweighted high school GPA of 3.88. 93% of freshmen who attended Vanderbilt were in the top 10% of their graduating high school class, and 95% were in the top 25% of their graduating high school class.

These are the high school grade point averages (unweighted) of students who enroll:

High School GPAs
4.00
38%
3.75-3.99
52%
3.50-3.74
6%
3.25-3.49
2%
3.00-3.24
1%
2.50-2.99
1%

Vanderbilt is Test Optional. This means scores are considered if they are submitted, but applicants do not need to submit scores.

Applicants submitting SAT Scores

25%

Applicants submitting ACT Scores

26%
SAT Math Scores
25th Percentile
770
75th Percentile
790
SAT Verb Scores
25th Percentile
740
75th Percentile
770
SAT Composite Scores
25th Percentile
1500
75th Percentile
1560

Application Deadlines

These are the deadlines for applying to Vanderbilt University. Application deadlines are subject to change, so please verify all deadlines with the school.

Regular Admissions

January 1
Regular admission deadline
April 1
Application notification

Early Decision

Early Decision is a program in which students commit to attend a school if they are accepted. Some schools have a higher acceptance rate for Early Decision than regular decision. Vanderbilt's Early Decision acceptance rate is 17%, compared to 6% overall. If you’re sure you want to attend Vanderbilt University, you might consider applying Early Decision.

November 1
Applications Due
December 15
Notification Date
17%
Early Decision Acceptance Rate

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