How to Get Into Vanderbilt: Acceptance Rate and Strategies

In 1999, Vanderbilt received under 10,000 applications and sported an acceptance rate of 61%. The turn of the millennium saw annual incremental increases in selectivity that led to the Vanderbilt acceptance rate hitting an all-time low of 5.6% in 2023. If you are a regular reader of our content, you know that we frequently point out staggering drops in admit rates at elite universities over the last decade or two. We cite these statistics not to scare you, but to make sure you and the influential voices in your lives (parents, family friends, peers, older siblings, teachers, and counselors) are up to speed on just how competitive many top schools are today.

If you told an adult who was a Commodore alum from another era, or even just a decade ago, that you have a 1400 SAT and mostly ‘A’s in AP courses, they would instantly congratulate you on joining the Vanderbilt family. Based on old criteria, their optimism would be warranted. Yet, today, a student with a 1400 SAT would find themselves well below the 25th percentile of attending freshmen.

Given how rapidly the admissions landscape at Vanderbilt has shifted, the aim of this article is to provide you with an understanding of the following topics:

• Vanderbilt University acceptance rate
• Vanderbilt ED acceptance rate
• SAT, ACT, and class rank of accepted Vanderbilt University applicants
• Admissions trends
• The demographics of current undergraduates
• Yield rate
• How Vanderbilt University’s admissions officers evaluate candidates
• Tips for applying to Vanderbilt University
• Vanderbilt essay advice 
• How to assess whether applying to Vanderbilt is even worth the $50 application fee (for you)

Let’s begin with an examination of the most recent admissions data.

Vanderbilt University Acceptance Rate – Class of 2027

The Vanderbilt acceptance rate was 5.6% for those vying for a spot in the Class of 2027. There were 47, 120 total applications received. The Regular Decision rate was only 4.2%.

Over the last few years, the Vanderbilt acceptance rates were as follows:

• Class of 2026: 6%
• 2025: 8%
• 2024: 9%

Vanderbilt University Early Decision Acceptance Rate – Class of 2027

Any applicant who views Vanderbilt as their top choice should definitely consider applying via binding early decision. This school offers an ED1 and ED2 option. The Vanderbilt Early Decision acceptance rate was 15.7% for the Class of 2027. The university has not yet released any data on ED1 vs. ED2 for this cycle. However, the ED 1 acceptance rate for the Class of 2026 was 24.1%, a much higher figure than the ED2 acceptance rate of 10.3%.

Vanderbilt University Admissions – SAT, ACT, GPA, and Class Rank

Accepted students into the Class of 2027 (different from enrolled) earned ACT Composite scores of 34-36 and an SAT range of 1520-1580. In one recent cycle, 80% had an unweighted GPA of greater than a 3.75 and all but 6% earned at least a 3.5 GPA. The average GPA of all entering first-year students was 3.86 and 89% placed in the top decile of their graduating class; 97% landed in the top quartile.

Admissions Trends & Notes 

• Vanderbilt will remain test-optional through at least the Class of 2028.
• The acceptance rate declined slightly from 6.1% to 5.6% for the Class of 2027.
• 54% of students submitted test scores with their application.
• Admitted students into the Class of 2027 hail from all 50 U.S. states and 61 countries around the world.
• To highlight just how competitive the school has become, the admissions dean stated, ““Our waitlist students today would be like our Cornelius Vanderbilt scholars four years ago.”

Who Actually Gets Into Vanderbilt University?

Let’s look at the demographics of the Vanderbilt University student body:

• South: 34%
• Midwest: 15%
• Mid-Atlantic: 8%
• West: 9%
• Southwest: 9%
• New England: 14%
• International: 10%

The states sending with most current undergrads are:

1. Tennessee
2. Illinois
3. California
4. New York
5. Georgia
6. Texas
7. New Jersey
8. Ohio
9. Virginia
10. Massachusetts

As at any highly-selective university, competition is toughest among those hailing from states with endless streams of qualified applicants (the entire Northeast & the West Coast). If you hail from a less populated state like Alaska, North Dakota, or Montana, your location is more likely to provide a boost to your admissions chances. The states with the fewest current Vanderbilt undergrads include:

• Wyoming
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Alaska
• West Virginia
• Montana
• Idaho
• Vermont

Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown of all current undergrads is as follows:

• Asian American: 18%
• Hispanic: 12%
• African American: 11%
• International: 10%
• Multiracial: 6%
• White: 38%

The breakdown by gender of all current undergraduates is almost completely even:

• Male: 48%
• Female: 52%

The type of high school attended by recent freshmen was as follows (most recent data available):

• Public: 64%
• Private: 34%

Yield Rate

Vanderbilt University’s yield rate—the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted– was 48% for the Class of 2026. For comparison, many other top private universities have superior yield rates such as Notre Dame, Northwestern, Duke, However, Vanderbilt has a higher yield than USC, Carnegie Mellon, and Emory.

How Vanderbilt University Rates Applicants

Vanderbilt receives tens of thousands of applications to fill a first-year class of approximately 1,600 students. Every application at Vandy is reviewed by at least two readers. Typically these are admissions officers assigned to your geographic area, but sometimes other officers weigh in on students outside of their traditional territory. The process is genuinely holistic with readers “looking for students who have performed well within the context of their high school’s most challenging academic programs. We evaluate activities outside the classroom in terms of depth of involvement, roles and responsibilities, and leadership. We also evaluate applicants’ writing through the application essay and short answer.”

Seven factors are rated as being “very important” to the Vanderbilt admissions process: rigor of secondary school record, class rank, GPA, standardized test scores (test-optional for now), the essays, extracurricular activities, and character/personal qualities. Application components deemed “important” are recommendation letters and talent/ability. “Considered” items include the admissions interview (more on this in a moment), first-generation status, alumni status, geographical residence, state residency, racial/ethnic status, and volunteer work. It definitely helps if you are recruited as an athlete to join one of Vanderbilt University’s 14 Division I sports teams. Over 350 undergrads are varsity athletes. Those who excel in a given sport can gain an edge in the admissions process.

Tips for Applying 

If you plan on joining the 47,000+ Commodore hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:

• Vanderbilt University offers Early Decision I and Early Decision II.  As cited earlier in the blog, ED acceptance rates are typically double that of the Regular Decision round.
• Vanderbilt University does offer optional alumni interviews. These are interviews conducted through the Commodore Recruitment Programs are mostly informational in nature, but an evaluative report of the interview is included in the student’s application file.
• Vanderbilt University does not consider “demonstrated interest” in the admissions process. Still, given that their yield rate is under 50%, it is still worth taking the simple steps of following them on social media, signing up for a virtual tour, or emailing an admissions officer with any questions you may have.
• Make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the supplemental essay required by Vanderbilt. In the 2021-22 cycle it is as follows:

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (200-400 words).

For detailed advice on tackling this essay, visit our blog: Vanderbilt University Essay Prompt and Tips.

Vanderbilt University Acceptance Rate – Final Thoughts 

With overall acceptance rates as low as 5.6% in recent years, Vanderbilt is a school that is looking for students that are at the 97th percentile or above on standardized tests and among the very top of their high school class. Just about all “A”s in an AP-heavy curriculum are expected. If Vanderbilt University is your aim, make sure to also have multiple other schools on your list where you are more likely to gain acceptance. All students need to make sure that they formulate an appropriate college list, containing a complement of “target” and “safety” schools. You’ll also definitely want to get your counselor’s input during this process.