How to Get Into Vanderbilt: Acceptance Rate and Strategies
August 4, 2025
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 in 2024. 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 鈥楢鈥檚 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 (plus how to predict your chances with our free admissions calculator)
- Vanderbilt ED acceptance rate
- GPA, SAT, ACT, and class rank of accepted Vanderbilt University applicants
- Admissions trends
- The demographics of current undergraduates
- Yield rate
- How Vanderbilt University鈥檚 admissions officers evaluate candidates
- Tips for applying to Vanderbilt University
- Vanderbilt essay advice聽
- How to assess whether applying to Vanderbilt is even worth the $50 application fee (for you)
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Vanderbilt University Acceptance Rate 鈥� Class of 2029
Between both ED cycles and the regular decision cycle, 48,681 applications were received for Vanderbilt’s Class of 2029. Of those applicants, 2,302 were accepted, giving Vanderbilt an overall acceptance rate of 4.7%.
However, it’s important to break the overall acceptance rate down by cycle. For the regular decision cycle, the Vanderbilt acceptance rate was just 3.3%. There were 43,332 total applications received, and only 1,411 were accepted. On the other hand, the acceptance rate for the two ED cycles was 13.2%. 891 students were admitted out of 6,762 applicants for the Class of 2029.
Historical overall Vanderbilt acceptance rates are as follows:
| Applicants | Admits | Acceptance Rate | |
| Class of 2028 | 45,409 | 2,662 | 5.8% |
| Class of 2027 | 45,313 | 2,844 | 6.2% |
| Class of 2026 | 46,377 | 3,093 | 6.7% |
| Class of 2025 | 47,152 | 3,368 | 7.1% |
Vanderbilt University Early Decision Acceptance Rate 鈥� Class of 2029
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. As mentioned above, for the Class of 2029, the Vanderbilt Early Decision acceptance rate was 13.2%, slightly lower than last year’s 15.2% mark. 891 students were admitted out of 6,762 applicants for the Class of 2029.
What GPA do you need to get into Vanderbilt?
Among students enrolled in the Class of 2028, the average GPA was 3.89. Moreover, 92% of students had a GPA of 3.75+.
What class rank do you need to get accepted to Vanderbilt?
Among accepted Class of 2029 students (different than enrolled), 91.5% were in the top 10% of their graduating class. Students applying ED had even more impressive statistics鈥�95% of those accepted ED were in the top 10% of their class.
What is the minimum SAT or ACT score for Vanderbilt?
Vanderbilt recently released statistics for the admitted Class of 2028, both regular decision and early decision. The statistics were almost identical, with the regular decision round being slightly higher:
Regular Decision
- Mid-50% SAT Reading: 750-800
- Mid-50% SAT Math: 780-800
- Mid-50% ACT: 34-36
Early Decision
- Mid-50% SAT Reading: 740-770
- Mid-50% SAT Math: 770-790
- Mid-50% ACT: 34-35
Admissions Trends & Notes 鈥� Class of 2029
- The overall acceptance rate declined a full percentage point for the Class of 2029.
- Although Vanderbilt is test-optional (and will remain so for at least the next two cycles), about 50% of students typically submit test scores.
- 100% of students admitted ED into the Class of 2029 received one or more significant honors or held major leadership positions.
- Admitted students into the Class of 2029 hail from 50 U.S. states and hold 46 citizenships.
- 11.4% of admitted students were from a rural or small town.
- 22% of admitted students in the Class of 2029 were first-generation.
- 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?
Historically, the geographic diversity of the Vanderbilt University student body has followed these trends:
- South: 34%
- Midwest: 15%
- Mid-Atlantic: 8%
- West: 9%
- Southwest: 9%
- New England: 14%
- International: 10%
Historically, the states sending the most current undergrads are:
- Tennessee
- Illinois
- California
- New York
- Georgia
- Texas
- New Jersey
- Ohio
- Virginia
- 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. Remember this when you’re looking at Vanderbilt’s acceptance rate. The states that typically send the fewest Vanderbilt undergrads include:
- Wyoming
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Alaska
- West Virginia
- Montana
- Idaho
- Vermont
Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown of the Class of 2028 is as follows:
- Asian American: 18.5%
- Hispanic: 9.4%
- Black or African American: 6.1%
- International: 12.3%
- Multiracial: 5.5%
- White: 41%
The breakdown by gender of all current undergraduates is almost completely even:
- Male: 47%
- Female: 53%
The type of high school attended by recent freshmen was as follows (most recent data available):
- Public: 64%
- Private: 34%
Yield Rate
Vanderbilt University鈥檚 yield rate鈥攖he percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted鈥攚as 61% for the Class of 2028, nearly four points higher than the previous year. Vanderbilt’s rising yield rate鈥攁nd overall desirability鈥攈elps explain why the acceptance rate continues to plummet.
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 鈥渓ooking for students who have performed well within the context of their high school鈥檚 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鈥� writing through the application essay and short answer.鈥� This is something to remember when looking at Vanderbilt’s acceptance rate.
Six factors are rated as being 鈥渧ery important鈥� to the Vanderbilt admissions process: rigor of secondary school record, class rank, GPA, the essays, extracurricular activities, and character/personal qualities. Application components deemed 鈥渋mportant鈥� are recommendation letters, standardized test scores (if submitted), and talent/ability. 鈥淐onsidered鈥� items include first-generation status, the interview, alumni status, geographical residence, state residency, work experience, and volunteer work. It definitely helps if you are recruited as an athlete to join one of . 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 48,000+ Commodore hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:
- Vanderbilt University offers Early Decision I and Early Decision II.聽 As cited earlier in the blog, ED acceptance rates are typically 3-4x that of the Regular Decision round.
- Vanderbilt no longer offers interviews for undergraduate students. Instead, they offer an optional video submission opportunity.
- Vanderbilt University does not consider 鈥�demonstrated interest鈥� in the admissions process. Still, it is 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 2025-26 cycle, applicants were asked to respond to the following prompt:
Vanderbilt University鈥檚 motto, Crescere aude, is Latin for 鈥渄are to grow.鈥� 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.聽(approx. 250 words)
For detailed advice on tackling this essay, visit our blog: Vanderbilt University Essay Prompt and Tips.
Should I apply to Vanderbilt?
With overall acceptance rates dipping below 5%, Vanderbilt is a school that is looking for students who are at the 97th percentile or above on standardized tests and among the very top of their high school class. Just about all 鈥淎鈥漵 in an AP-heavy curriculum are expected.
Vanderbilt University Acceptance Rate — Final Thoughts
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 鈥渢arget鈥� and 鈥渟afety鈥� schools. You鈥檒l also definitely want to get your counselor鈥檚 input during this process.
Ready to start crafting your applications? Be sure to check out the following:
