How To Get Into Vanderbilt: Admissions Stats + Tips | CollegeVine Blog

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What’s Covered:

• How Hard Is It to Get Into Vanderbilt?
• Average Academic Profile of Accepted Vanderbilt Students
• What is Vanderbilt Looking for?
• How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into Vanderbilt
• How to Apply to Vanderbilt
• Learn more about Vanderbilt

 

Consistently ranked as one of the “happiest” colleges in the US, Vanderbilt University is a highly selective university located in Nashville.

 

Vanderbilt has three undergraduate schools within the larger university, each with its own criteria and personality:

• College of Arts and Science
• Blair School of Music
• School of Engineering
• Peabody College of Education and Human Development

 

What does it take to get into this prestigious, selective university? Here’s what you should know.

 

How Hard Is It to Get Into Vanderbilt?

 

For the class of 2024, 36,646 students applied, and 4,259 were admitted, for an acceptance rate of 11.6%.

 

The overall acceptance rate is not yet available for the class of 2025, but according to the Vanderbilt Hustler, the Early Decision acceptance rate was 18.1%.

 

This admissions rate might seem intimidatingly low, but bear in mind that your personal chances of admission may be higher or lower, depending on your unique profile.

 

In order to determine your chances of success at Vanderbilt, try CollegeVine’s admissions calculator. This free tool uses your information, including grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, and other factors, to estimate your real odds of admission.

 

 

Average Academic Profile of Accepted Vanderbilt Students

 

GPA

 

The average high school GPA for the class of 2024 was 3.86, and 32.8% had a GPA of at least 4.0.

 

SAT/ACT

 

In the 2020–2021 admissions cycle, 44.8% of matriculating students submitted SAT scores, and 56.4% submitted ACT scores.

 

The middle 50% SAT score range was 1470-1570, and the ACT score range was 33-35.

 

Class Rank

 

Of matriculating students, 89.6% were in the top 10% of their graduating high score class, while 96.8% were in the top 25%.

 

What is Vanderbilt Looking for?

 

Vanderbilt employs a holistic admissions process, using criteria that are consistent with the Ivies and other highly selective schools of its caliber. Exemplary academic credentials, including GPA and standardized test scores, are a must, and the university also values extracurricular achievements, such as awards and leadership positions. The university notes that they don’t consider demonstrated interest in evaluating applications.

 

Vandy seeks out students with unique passions, who have made an impact on their communities. They’re looking for “depth over breadth” — a “genuine commitment to one or a few activities” over superficial involvement.

 

“Our mission includes finding, choosing, and enrolling talented and accomplished students who bring countless experiences and perspectives, and represent a broad array of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds,” says Vanderbilt. “Our promise is to provide a residential educational experience that challenges our students to listen to many different perspectives and learn from each other. The result is a community that produces graduates who are ready to make an impact on the world.”