My list

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee · Private · 7,208 undergrads

Vanderbilt admits 5.4% of applicants (fall 2025, Common Data Set 2025-26), is test-optional for fall 2027, and regular decision is due Jan 1, 2027.

See your odds and what families like yours paid. It stays on your device. Add my SAT and income

Can I get into Vanderbilt?

5.4% of applicants get in

Almost everyone who applies is turned down, including many students with perfect grades. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent scores had 1510–1560 on the SAT.

Add your SAT to see where you sit

Likely: even the low end of our estimate is 60% or more, and the college admits at least 25% of applicants. Target: our estimate is 30% or more. Reach: our estimate is under 30%, or the college admits under 15%. Long shot: our estimate is under 12%, or the college admits under 12%. Estimates use the college's admit rate and score range plus your grades and scores. They are not a promise.

48,196 applied, 2,593 admitted, fall 2025 (Common Data Set).

What does Vanderbilt cost?

$15,497 a year

What students who got federal aid paid on average after grants, 2024-25. The sticker price, with housing and food, is $94,142.

Tap your family income:

Average paid after grants by family income
under $30,000$3,637
$30,000–$48,000$1,908
$48,000–$75,000$5,651
$75,000–$110,000$11,284
over $110,000$42,583

Own a business or have divorced parents? Run Vanderbilt's own calculator.

Net price 2024-25, College Scorecard.

When is Vanderbilt due?

53 days left

Closed
Early decisionBinding
Was due Nov 1, 2026
53days
Early decision IIBinding
Due Friday, Jan 1, 2027
53days
Regular decision
Due Friday, Jan 1, 2027

Merit scholarships: apply by Dec 1, 2026.

Add to calendar Every Vanderbilt deadline

Checked on admissions.vanderbilt.edu Nov 5, 2026. See the source

Does Vanderbilt need the SAT or ACT?Optional

No.

Test-optional for fall 2027. 27% of enrolled first-years sent the SAT. Send your SAT if it's 1540 or higher, the middle of what enrolled first-years scored.

Which colleges require scores

Checked on admissions.vanderbilt.edu Nov 2, 2026. See the source

What it's like

7,208
undergrads. Mid-size: plenty of people, and professors who can learn your name.
City
Campus setting in Nashville, TN.
96%
of first-years come back for year two.
87%
finish in four years. 93% within six.
$99.1k
median pay 10 years after starting.
$15k
median federal debt at graduation.

Lists Vanderbilt is on

Test-optional collegesColleges due Jan 1Early decision II collegesMost selective in TennesseeCheapest after aid in TennesseeColleges for a 34 ACTCheapest after aid, families under $30kCheapest after aid, families $48–75k

Questions people ask

Is Vanderbilt University test-optional for fall 2027?
Yes. Vanderbilt is test-optional for students entering in fall 2027, so you choose whether to send SAT or ACT scores. Checked on admissions.vanderbilt.edu on Nov 2, 2026.
What is Vanderbilt University's acceptance rate?
5.4% for fall 2025: 2,593 of 48,196 applicants were admitted (Common Data Set).
What SAT score do you need for Vanderbilt University?
The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent SAT scores had 1510 to 1560 (Common Data Set, fall 2025). A quarter scored higher and a quarter lower, so a score in that range is typical, not a cutoff.
How much does Vanderbilt University cost for a family earning $60,000?
Families earning $48,000–$75,000 paid an average of $5,651 a year after grants in 2024-25 (students who got federal aid). The sticker price is $94,142.
When is the Vanderbilt University application deadline for fall 2027?
Early decision closed Nov 1, 2026. Early decision II is due Jan 1, 2027. Regular decision is due Jan 1, 2027. Checked on admissions.vanderbilt.edu on Nov 5, 2026.
Does Vanderbilt University have early decision?
Yes. 874 of 6,202 early decision applicants were admitted (14%) in fall 2025. Early decision is binding: if you're admitted, you go.