Vanderbilt University
What Vanderbilt University's own numbers say, from its Common Data Set 2025-26.
See your odds at Vanderbilt University →All 4 insights at Vanderbilt University PRO
Early DecisionVanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University's ED number is inflated.
14% of Early Decision applicants get in, but that pool includes recruited athletes and legacies, admitted at far higher rates. Without them, our estimate is about 10%. Everyone else: 4.1%.
ED, as reported14%
ED, without hooks (estimate)≈10%
Everyone else4.1%
Source: Vanderbilt University's Common Data Set 2025-26; hooked share is an estimate (A12)
Getting harderVanderbilt University
Getting into Vanderbilt University is 1.7× harder than in 2019.
The admit rate fell from 9.1% (2019-20) to 5.4% (2025-26).
2019-209.1%
2025-265.4%
Source: Vanderbilt University's Common Data Set 2025-26
MoneyVanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University meets 100% of need.
The average need-based grant is $77,563 a year, against tuition of $69,822.
Average grant$78k
Tuition$70k
Source: Vanderbilt University's Common Data Set 2025-26
Early DecisionVanderbilt University
53% of Vanderbilt University's class is filled in Early Decision.
That leaves about 761 seats for 41,994 applicants outside ED.
Admitted Early Decision53%
Everyone else47%
Source: Vanderbilt University's Common Data Set 2025-26
7 more things the data says PRO
- ED applicants were admitted at 14%, against 4.1% for everyone else: 3.4 times the rate.
- After ED, 761 of 1,635 seats were left for 41,994 other applicants: about one seat for every 55.
- The admit rate has moved down steadily, from 9.1% in 2019-20 to 5.4% in 2025-26. If the trend holds, expect about 4.1% in 2026-27.
- Early Decision filled about 53% of the 2025-26 first-year class, less than most similar colleges.
- Only 24% of enrolled first-years sent an SAT score, so its SAT range describes a minority of the class.
- It reports meeting 100% of financial need for first-years who have need.
- Applications rose 40% from 2018-19 to 2025-26 (34,313 to 48,196), faster than 59% of colleges here.
What students say PRO
From students' own posts on Reddit and admissions forums: self-reported, unverified, never used in your odds.
- Most admits who named a round applied Regular Decision (about 26 of 34), with about 6 Early Decision and 2 ED II.
- Admits had very strong academics, mostly an SAT of 1470-1600 or ACT 33-36 where shared, and GPAs of 3.9-4.0 for most.
- Many admits had research or publications, from conference talks to first-author papers, bioinformatics or quantum physics work.
- Many admits founded or led organizations, such as nonprofits, startups, large clubs or statewide groups, often with measurable reach.
- Debate, policy and civic leadership showed up often among admits (class president, debate captain, youth policy group, legislative interns).
- Students report Vanderbilt's regular-round admit rate is about 4.7%, and a former admissions reader says most denied applicants were qualified.
- Students report the waitlist is unranked and rarely moves: roughly 150-200 admitted out of about 7,000 waitlisted, with offers starting in early to mid May.
- Students report Vanderbilt is test-optional and an officer reportedly advised sending scores only at 34-35 or higher.
- Students report big merit awards exist (Chancellor's, Ingram Scholars, full tuition), under 1% for the top one, and the school is need-blind with generous need-based aid.
- Students report some admits start overseas or via a transfer pathway (Verto), contingent on grades such as a 3.5 GPA.
Every number, year by year: Vanderbilt University on Open College Data. Something wrong? Suggest a correction.