During the 2024–2025 admissions cycle, Vanderbilt University reported an acceptance rate of 5,86%, their lowest ever and firmly placing it among the most selective universities in the country. Not a shocker it’s considered the Ivy of the South! But that top-line statistic doesn’t explain much on its own. How is that number determined? What forces are pushing it lower each year? While Vanderbilt shares some admissions data publicly, getting real clarity requires peeling back another layer (okay, onion!). We do deep-dives into the raw admissions data annually to help students approach highly selective admissions with realistic expectations and intentional strategy.
Most colleges and universities in the U.S. fill out the , or CDS. The CDS was created to standardize institutional reporting for organizations such as U.S. News & World Report, the College Board, and Peterson’s, allowing for more consistent comparisons across schools. It includes a wide range of information, but for our purposes, we’re going to focus on one specific portion of : first-time, first-year admissions.
Trend Spotting: Five Years of Vanderbilt Admissions
Before narrowing in on this specific admissions cycle, it’s worth pulling back to look at what’s been happening at Vanderbilt over time. Vanderbilt is kind of an interesting exception to what we’ve been seeing across the board at many elite schools. Their application numbers aren’t skyrocketing; in fact, they seem to be sort of balancing out, but they’re accepting fewer students each year. Applicant numbers stay the same(ish), but acceptance rates keep decreasing.
| Year | Total Applicants | Number of Admitted Students | Overall Acceptance Rate | ED Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 45,409 | 2,662 | 5.86% | 15.40% |
| 2024 | 45,313 | 2,844 | 6.28% | 16.94% |
| 2023 | 46,377 | 3,093 | 6.67% | 17.64% |
| 2022 | 47,152 | 3,368 | 7.14% | 17.90% |
| 2021 | 36,646 | 4,259 | 11.62% | 20.57% |
*Denotes our own calculation based on the raw numbers
Why This Matters: Not only is overall acceptance getting harder, but ED acceptance is slowly getting more selective every year.
When you apply to Vanderbilt, you’re competing against tens of thousands of applicants who look impressive on paper. As we’ll explore, strong grades and scores are the baseline, not the differentiator. The statistics can help you understand what academic readiness typically looks like, but clearing that bar alone won’t separate you from the crowd. Standing out requires depth, intention, and a profile that goes beyond meeting minimum benchmarks.
C1: First-Time, First-Year Admission, Applications
Let’s take a look at the specific numbers broken down by gender and geography:
| First-time, first-year applicants | Total | Admitted | Acceptance rate | Enrolled | Yield rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 20,851 | 1,238 | 5.94% | 744 | 60% |
| Women | 24,553 | 1,424 | 5.80% | 886 | 62.20% |
| Unknown gender | 5 | 0 | 0% | n/a | n/a |
| Total | 45,409 | 2,662 | 5.86% | 1,630 | 61.23% |
*Denotes our own calculation based on the raw numbers.
| First-time, first-year applicants | Total | In-state | Out-of-State | International |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 45,409 | 2,463 | 34,605 | 8,341 |
| Admitted | 2,662 | 266 | 2,034 | 362 |
| Acceptance rate* | 5.86% | 10.80% | 5.89% | 4.34% |
*Denotes our own calculation based on the raw numbers
Key Takeaways for Acceptance Rates:
More women apply, are admitted, and enroll than men – which surprises us based on the culture of the school
45k+ applicants is a ton, more than even most Ivies
Like at most schools, international students face the biggest hurdle when it comes to admissions
Vanderbilt is a tough nut to crack – but that part isn’t exactly a secret. Still, if you’re serious about building a smart admissions strategy, you need more than vibes and reputation. You need concrete data. Without clear benchmarks or an understanding of who actually gets admitted, it’s almost impossible to plan intentionally or assess how competitive your profile really is. Remember, a 5,86% acceptance rate means a 94.14% rejection rate.
C9-C2: First-Time, First-Year Profile, or Scores and Grades
Vanderbilt, at least through 2027, continues to allow students to apply . But don’t confuse that flexibility with indifference. Across higher education, schools are paying closer attention to how students perform after enrollment, and there’s increasing evidence that students admitted without test scores often perform poorly (as compared to their test-submitting counterparts) once on campus. That reality has pushed some universities back toward testing requirements, while others, including Vanderbilt, are still figuring out what they’re going to do beyond 2027.
Even in a test-optional environment, admissions data can tell us a lot. Looking closely at who submits scores and what those scores actually look like offers good insight into how Vanderbilt evaluates academic readiness.
Breakdown of enrolled students who submitted test scores:
| Percent | Number | |
|---|---|---|
| Submitting SAT Scores | 27.40% | 447 |
| Submitting ACT Scores | 24.60% | 401 |
| Total Submitting Scores* | 52% | 848 |
*Denotes our own calculation based on the raw numbers.
Why This Matters: Although Vanderbilt does not require test scores, the majority of enrolled students still submitted them, and their scores were exceptionally high.
About half of applicants chose to include SAT or ACT scores, even though they didn’t have to. And unsurprisingly, those scores clustered at the very top of the range. That signals two important things: high-achieving students aren’t shying away from submitting results, and strong scores still function as a competitive advantage when you have them.
You could argue that the numbers are inflated because only confident testers opt in – but we looked at the data from 2018-2019, and the testing ranges were basically the same back when they required scores.
| Test | 25th Percentile | 50th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Composite | 1510 | 1540 | 1560 |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading + Writing | 730 | 750 | 770 |
| SAT Math | 770 | 790 | 800 |
| ACT Composite | 34 | 35 | 35 |
| ACT Math | 32 | 34 | 35 |
| ACT English | 35 | 35 | 36 |
| ACT Science | 33 | 34 | 36 |
| ACT Reading | 34 | 35 | 36 |
First-time, first-year students with scores in each range:
| Score Range | SAT Evidence-Based Reading + Writing | SAT Math |
|---|---|---|
| 700-800 | 97.30% | 98.20% |
| 600-699 | 2.50% | 1.60% |
| 500-599 | 0.20% | 0.20% |
| Score Range | SAT Composite |
|---|---|
| 1400-1600 | 98.40% |
| 1200-1399 | 1.60% |
| 1000-1199 | 0% |
| Score Range | ACT Composite | ACT English | ACT Math | ACT Reading | ACT Science |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30-36 | 98.50% | 98.30% | 91.30% | 97.80% | 95.30% |
| 24-29 | 1.50% | 1.50% | 8.50% | 2.20% | 4.50% |
| 18-23 | 0.00% | 0.20% | 0.20% | 0.00% | 0.20% |
Standardized Test Score Takeaways:
The average Vanderbilt admit is scoring a 1550+ or 35+ on their standardized tests
Vanderbilt has some of the highest test score data outside of the Ivy League
Submitting something lower than a 1400 or 30 greatly reduces your chance of admission, but we’d argue that less than a 1500 or 34 is the true cutoff
The sub 5% categories you see here do not mean you have a real shot with poor scores
Even with Vanderbilt continuing to offer a test-optional pathway, the students who do submit scores at the top end of the admitted pool are coming in with extremely strong results – think 1550+ SATs or 35+ ACTs. That’s undeniably competitive, but we aren’t trying to scare you off. We’re trying to reflect what the numbers are telling us, so you can arm yourself with knowledge. They say it’s power, after all!
The high standards don’t end with test scores; let’s take a look at GPA data. 99.94% of freshmen submitted their GPA, and the average high school GPA of all degree-seeking, first-time, first-year (freshman) students was a 3.89.
| GPA Range | Percentage (students who submitted scores) | Percentage (students who did not submit scores) | Percent (all enrolled students) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 40.20% | 31.10% | 35.90% |
| 3.75-3.99 | 51.90% | 54.40% | 53.10% |
| 3.5-3.74 | 6.30% | 8.30% | 7.20% |
| 3.25-3.49 | 0.90% | 3.60% | 2.20% |
| 3.0-3.24 | 0.50% | 1.40% | 0.90% |
| 2.5-2.99 | 0.20% | 0.90% | 0.60% |
| 2.0-2.49 | 0.00% | 0.30% | 0.10% |
Key GPA Takeaways:
A significant portion of the incoming class holds a perfect 4.0
Students who submitted test scores have, on average, higher GPAs than their optional peers
Applicants with GPAs below roughly a 3.75 have a much lower chance of admission
Students with less than a 3.5 GPA who eventually enroll are exceptions. Please remember that despite Vanderbilt’s high standards, it is still an SEC football school. And if you are reading this, you are probably not an SEC D1 football hopeful
These stats hold true for class rank as well:
| Class Rank | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Top 10th of HS graduating class | 90% |
| Top Quarter of HS graduating class | 94% |
| Top Half of HS graduating class | 99% |
| Bottom Half of HS graduating class | 1% |
| Total submitting class rank | 23.40% |
Key Class Rank Takeaways:
Most admitted and enrolled students are in their school’s top 10%
You should not be in the 1% of students in the bottom half of their HS graduating class if you want to get admitted, unless you’re one of the top D1 football prospects in the nation
Not many schools track class rank these days, so it’s not surprising that the number is so low
Before we go any further, let’s talk about the tiny fraction of admitted students who fall into lower statistical bands – the handful with ACT scores in the mid-to-high 20s, or GPAs hovering in the low-to-mid 3s. Those admits are anomalies. You should not look at those numbers and think Yes! I am a shoo-in with my 3.5!
The truth is, we have no idea who those students are or what tipped the scales in their favor. At a school like Vanderbilt, they might be recruited athletes (which, uh, we’re leaning towards this being the case for most of those students), but they could also be first-generation students, applicants from under-resourced schools, or students with extraordinary personal circumstances. Exceptions exist, but they don’t tell you much about how admissions works for the overwhelming majority of applicants – and you’re probably not one of the exceptions.
TL;DR? For the best shot at admission, you need perfect grades and scores. That’s it.
Early Decision
Vanderbilt has long placed real weight on Early Decision. Historically, ED acceptance rates have landed well above RD, though that advantage has narrowed as more students try to leverage it. It’s easy to look at the comparatively higher ED admit rate and assume it’s a shortcut. The data tells us otherwise:
| Number of ED applications | 5,363 |
|---|---|
| Number of ED acceptances | 825 |
| ED acceptance rate | 15.40% |
| Percent of admitted students accepted through ED | 30.90% |
*Denotes our own calculation based on the raw numbers
Why This Matters: Vanderbilt’s Early Decision admit rate is still meaningfully higher than its overall acceptance rate. While ED is never a guarantee, students who already present as strong, competitive applicants may benefit from applying ED.
In reality, what’s happening is simple math: more applications chasing the same limited number of seats drives the percentage down every year. And like their overall admissions numbers, they’ve actually been accepting less and less students in ED each year. They do accept about 1/3rd of their incoming class from ED, though, so that’s something to keep in mind.
Regular Decision
The Common Data Set doesn’t explicitly break down Regular Decision acceptance rates, but we can approximate them by subtracting ED numbers from the overall data. These numbers may not be perfect, but they do provide a solid estimate for overall strategy:
| Number of RD applications | 40,046 |
|---|---|
| Number of RD acceptances | 1,837 |
| RD acceptance rate | 4.59% |
| Percent of admitted students accepted through RD | 69% |
*Denotes our own calculation based on the raw numbers.
Why This Matters: Most of Vanderbilt’s class ultimately comes from Regular Decision, but RD is dramatically more selective than ED. If Vanderbilt is your top choice and your profile is truly competitive, applying Early Decision is often the most strategic move.
Waitlist
Vanderbilt did not provide their full waitlist data, except for the number of students admitted from the waitlist. Annoying! Give us more data, please! They simply tell us two things:
279 students were admitted off the waitlist
The percentage of waitlist-admits in the total admit pool is 10.5%
Why This Matters: Without an exact waitlist acceptance rate, it’s hard to gauge what your odds really are – but we know the waitlist is challenging. We help students get off the waitlist and into Vanderbilt every single year.
We will say that this number of students admitted is fairly high! Higher than we typically see. Vanderbilt, while as selective as the Ivies, has a lower yield (~60%), meaning 40% of admitted students choose to attend elsewhere. Most elite schools budget for about 70% of admitted students to enroll, leaving some space for waitlisted students. Waitlist-admitted students account for about 10.5% of the total accepted students, which is a relatively high share.
Getting off the Vanderbilt waitlist is hard, but it’s not impossible. We help students do it every single year.
Considerations
This section of the Common Data Set is where things stop feeling neat and start getting a little squishy. Alongside measurable academic metrics like grades and test scores, Vanderbilt also weighs a set of “considerations” that live firmly in the subjective realm – factors that don’t come with a clear definition or formula. And unfortunately for the data-driven among us, the subjective parts are where most of your strategy lies.
| Academic Factors | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | X | |||
| Class rank | X | |||
| Academic GPA | X | |||
| Standardized test scores | X | |||
| Application Essay | X | |||
| Recommendation(s) | X |
Key Takeaways for Academic Factors:
Your in-class academic performance is the most important to Vanderbilt. You should be getting the best grades possible in the hardest classes your school offers
Class rank being “very important” is odd since many schools don’t report it
Test scores, if submitted, are definitely very important to Vanderbilt
| Nonacademic Factors | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interview | X | |||
| Extracurricular activities | X | |||
| Talent/ability | X | |||
| Character/personal qualities | X | |||
| First generation | X | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | X | |||
| Geographical residence | X | |||
| State residency | X | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | X | |||
| Volunteer work | X | |||
| Work experience | X | |||
| Level of applicant’s interest | X |
Key Takeaways for Nonacademic Factors:
Vanderbilt does not track demonstrated interest
Apparently Vanderbilt does not care about volunteer work, like at all. Odd!
Focusing on your extracurricular development is extremely important
Some of Vanderbilt’s nonacademic criteria are easy enough to identify. Geographical residence or first generation, for example, is a straightforward data point. Others, however, are far more interpretive. Qualities like character and talent aren’t things you can quantify or optimize with precision. Admissions officers infer them through the full application package: essays, recommendation letters, patterns in involvement, and overall voice. You can be thoughtful in how you present yourself, but there’s no way to 100% perfectly engineer how those traits are received. They’re looking for personality fit here – and you should really think about whether your traits and values align with Vanderbilt’s.
Now, this is where extracurriculars really matter – but not in the way many students assume. For applicants who are genuinely competitive at Vanderbilt, checking boxes is not enough. The strongest profiles aren’t built on scattered club memberships, some sports, or blatant resume padding. Instead, standout students pursue a small number of interests deeply, often in ways that feel specific, intentional, and sometimes a little unconventional and unique. Their activities clearly connect to how they think, what they care about, and where they’re headed. Sustained commitment and originality go a long way here, and helping students shape that kind of focused narrative is something we do every admissions cycle.
Conclusion
There’s no question that Vanderbilt is among the most selective schools in the country. And hopefully, after reading this post, you have a clearer sense of what “competitive” actually means within their applicant pool.
At the same time, statistics don’t tell the whole story. Data can outline trends and thresholds, but it can’t capture Vanderbilt’s full set of priorities – and it certainly doesn’t capture you. When we work with students, whether they’re applying ED, RD, or as recruits or legacies, the strategy is never one-size-fits-all. Each plan is built around the student’s individual strengths, interests, and goals. There’s no guaranteed formula for admission, but there are things you can do to help set yourself apart from the crowd.
One way to increase your odds? Working with college consultants who are experts in the field and have a high rate of success getting students into Vanderbilt. We help countless students gain admission to top universities every single year – reach out to us today to get started.