Vanderbilt University Acceptance Rate
Nashville, Tennessee · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 45,313
- Admitted
- 2,844
- Yield
- 57%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Vanderbilt University's acceptance rate has fallen from 13.1% in 2014–15 to 6.3% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 29,518 to 45,313 (+54%) over that period.
Its 6.3% rate makes Vanderbilt University more selective than about 99% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 33 tracked Tennessee schools, it is more selective than about 97%.
Vanderbilt University has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 57% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 29,518 | 3,865 | 13.1% | 1,605 |
| 2015–16 | 31,464 | 3,674 | 11.7% | 1,607 |
| 2016–17 | 32,442 | 3,487 | 10.7% | 1,601 |
| 2017–18 | 31,462 | 3,415 | 10.9% | 1,607 |
| 2018–19 | 34,313 | 3,298 | 9.6% | 1,602 |
| 2019–20 | 37,310 | 3,402 | 9.1% | 1,604 |
| 2020–21 | 36,646 | 4,259 | 11.6% | 1,698 |
| 2021–22 | 47,152 | 3,368 | 7.1% | 1,626 |
| 2022–23 | 46,377 | 3,093 | 6.7% | 1,619 |
| 2023–24 | 45,313 | 2,844 | 6.3% | 1,622 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 25,177 | 1,484 | 5.9% |
| Men | 20,136 | 1,360 | 6.8% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 740–770 | 25% |
| SAT Math | 770–790 | |
| ACT Composite | 34–35 | 26% |
How Vanderbilt University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Vanderbilt University's acceptance rate?
Vanderbilt University's acceptance rate is 6.3% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (2,844 admitted of 45,313 applicants).
Is Vanderbilt University test optional?
Vanderbilt University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Vanderbilt University?
Vanderbilt University received 45,313 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 2,844.
What SAT score do you need for Vanderbilt University?
Admitted students at Vanderbilt University typically scored 740–770 on SAT Reading/Writing and 770–790 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Vanderbilt University getting harder to get into?
Vanderbilt University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 13.1% in 2014–15 to 6.3% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.vanderbilt.edu/.