Vanderbilt University

If you are planning on applying to Vanderbilt, the regular decision application deadline is January 1 and the application fee costs $50.

Students who submit their applications to Vanderbilt for fall semester should receive an admissions decision no later than April 1.

Vanderbilt Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of Vanderbilt's admissions stats.

Vanderbilt 2022	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	3.9
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	90.5%
Admissions Test Policy	Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	25%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	32%
Waitlist	Yes

Vanderbilt University Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Vanderbilt University.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Info Not Available	––	December 15
Early Decision II	Yes	January 1	February 15
Early Action	No	––	––

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Applying Early to Vanderbilt?

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Vanderbilt University may or may not offer early admission, however the school has not provided any application information. Check with Vanderbilt directly for more information about early applications.

🗓️ Early Decision II applications are due January 1. ED II Applicants will recieve their decision before February 15.

The early decision acceptance rate at Vanderbilt is 18%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 7%. In 2022, Vanderbilt admitted 901 of the 5021 students who applied early decision.

➡️ Find a list of some competetive colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on Vanderbilt University Admissions

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Transferring to Vanderbilt University

Transfer student admissions is extremely difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What Does Vanderbilt Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when choosing who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are they consider most important when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that prioritize the admissions factors where you're strong.

Admissions Factors at Vanderbilt

What does Vanderbilt consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Academic GPA	Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities	Very Important
Class Rank	Very Important
Extracurricular Activities	Very Important
Application Essay	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Standardized Test Scores	Very Important
Recommendation(s)	Important
Talent/Ability	Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Geographical Residence	Considered
Work Experience	Considered
First Generation	Considered
Interview	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
State Residency	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered

Make sure to check with Vanderbilt for more information on admission factors.

Vanderbilt Application Requirements

To apply to Vanderbilt, all applicants must submit the following items. Check in with Vanderbilt's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Interview
Transcript(S) of College Record
Standardized Test Scores
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)
Letter(s) of Recommendation	3
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√
Other Requirements	√			3 letters of recommendation (2 from teachers in core subject areas and 1 from counselor)
Transcript of High School Record	√

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Vanderbilt?

Students admitted to Vanderbilt have an average unweighted GPA of 3.9.

Out of all students that were admitted, 30.9% submitted a class rank. At Vanderbilt 90.5% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 95.6% were in the top 25% and 98.6% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Vanderbilt University, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	40.6%
3.75 and 3.99	45.3%
3.50 and 3.74	9.9%
3.25 and 3.49	2.4%
3.00 and 3.24	0.9%
2.50 and 2.9	0.9%
2.00 and 2.49	––

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Vanderbilt directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Vanderbilt considers standardized tests scores during the admissions process.

Vanderbilt is a test optional school. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 25% of Vanderbilt's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 32% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Vanderbilt?

To be competitive with other Vanderbilt applicants, you should aim to earn between 1480 and 1570 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Vanderbilt 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1570 and 25% of scored lower than 1480, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Vanderbilt students scored 800 or higher and 75% of students scored 720 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Vanderbilt students scored 770 or higher, and 75% scored a 720 or higher.

What is a Good ACT Score for Vanderbilt?

To be most competitive at Vanderbilt, you should strive to earn between 34 and 35 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 35 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Vanderbilt's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 35, and three out of four students scored lower than 35 on the ACT.

A 34 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Vanderbilt students. Only one out of every four students scored below 34.

Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.

More Information on Transferring to Vanderbilt University

For transfer students, it is extremely difficult to get admitted to Vanderbilt.

Transfer students can enroll in Vanderbilt during the following terms:

• Fall Term

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Vanderbilt Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to Vanderbilt?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Vanderbilt.

Does Vanderbilt accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Vanderbilt accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits and Advanced Placement (AP) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Vanderbilt?

❌ No, Vanderbilt is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you may want to send them. If your scores are average or below average, you may want not want to include them in your application.

What is Vanderbilt's acceptance rate?

✅ Vanderbilt has an acceptance rate of 7%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Vanderbilt?

✅ Vanderbilt's early decision acceptance rate was 18% in 2021.

Want To Learn More About Vanderbilt?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

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