Vanderbilt Transfer Acceptance Rate and Requirements — 2025
January 16, 2025
Nashville-based Vanderbilt is a dream school for many stellar high school students. Unfortunately, that dream will remain an unrealized one for most, as an astounding 94% of those who apply for freshman admission are turned away. However, if Vandy remains your ideal postsecondary destination, there are still compelling reasons to keep striving toward this goal. Accordingly, this blog will cover the Vanderbilt transfer acceptance rate as well as other critical pieces of information like the Vanderbilt transfer decision date, deadline, requirements, and much more.
Vanderbilt Transfer Acceptance Rate
Below we present the most current available Vanderbilt transfer acceptance rate as well as historical data.
For entry in the fall of 2023, 2,932 students applied for transfer admission and 553 were accepted. This means that the Vanderbilt transfer acceptance rate is 18.8%. If we break this down by gender, the acceptance rates are as follows:
- Male transfer applicants: 16.4%
- Female transfer applicants: 21.7%
When trying to get the complete picture of how difficult it is to transfer into a given school, it is important to look at historical data. Many schools have significant swings in transfer acceptance rates from year to year. As you can see, the Vanderbilt transfer acceptance rate has fluctuated between 16% and 37% over the past six years.
Historical transfer rates are as follows:
| Year | Acceptance Rate |
| 2022 | 16.6% |
| 2021 | 17.6% |
| 2020 | 37% |
| 2019 | 23% |
Vanderbilt Transfer Deadline
The university offers only a fall transfer option. The Vanderbilt priority transfer deadline for fall applicants is March 15. They will continue accepting applications on a rolling basis after that date until May 1. However, it is strongly recommended that you meet the priority deadline.
Vanderbilt Transfer Requirements
The Vanderbilt transfer requirements are as follows:
- Completed Coalition App for Transfer or Common App for Transfer
- Final high school transcripts (including date of graduation)
- Official college transcripts
- Documentation of spring coursework
- SAT or ACT scores (optional in 2024-25)
- College Report
- Two letters of recommendation (strongly preferred that one is from a college instructor)
- Supplemental materials or auditions for certain programs. The College of Arts and Sciences, the Peabody College of Education and Human Development, and the School of Engineering do not require additional materials. However, the Blair School of Music does. Additionally, you must apply to a specific major at both Peabody and Blair.
Vanderbilt University Transfer Acceptance Rate (Continued)
Students who have the best chance to gain admission to Vanderbilt have done the following:
- Completed at least 12 semester credit hours.
- Earned exceptional grades in their first year at a community college or 4-year university.
- Been significantly involved in their previous campus community, if transferring from a four-year residential college.
Vanderbilt Transfer GPA
According to the admissions committee, “admitted transfer students have a GPA of a B+/A- or higher.” In previous years, admissions has specified that the admitted transfer GPA range is A-/A, so we’d recommend a 3.7 and above to be the most competitive.
Vanderbilt Transfer Writing Supplement
All transfer applicants must complete two essays. The first is a broad essay covering why you want to transfer to Vandy:
- Please provide a personal essay that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve (250-650 words).
Vanderbilt University Transfer Acceptance Rate (Continued)
The second is a short-answer question (approx. 250 words) related to your personal growth:
- Vanderbilt University’s motto, Crescere aude, is Latin for “dare to grow.” In your response, reflect on how one or more aspects of your identity, culture, or background has played a role in your personal growth, and how it will contribute to our campus community as you dare to grow at Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt Transfer Decision Date
Vanderbilt transfer decisions are made on a rolling basis, beginning in late April. There is no single notification date.
Final Thoughts – Vanderbilt University Transfer Acceptance Rate
In addition to community involvement and strong academic preparation, Vanderbilt is looking for students to provide a compelling reason why transferring is the best option for them. As such, be sure to utilize your essays to fully explain your reasoning as well as how Vanderbilt in particular will help you achieve your academic aspirations.
For an elite school, Vandy remains quite friendly for transfers. If admitted, you’ll also have access to the range of resources available for transfer students, which include transfer orientation as well as special on-campus groups, mentorship, and programming.
Looking for information on how to apply to Vanderbilt as a first-year student? You may find the following blogs to be of interest:
Looking for additional transfer resources? You may wish to check out the following:
- Transfer Admissions Deadlines
- Transfer Acceptance Rates
- How to Complete the Transfer Common App
- How to Transfer to an Ivy League School
- How Do I Get My High School Transcript?
- How to Write a Winning College Transfer Essay
- How to Transfer Colleges
