Is Vanderbilt test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1530 and hold it if it's under.

What is Vanderbilt's acceptance rate?

5.9% of applicants were admitted in 2025–26, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 2,662 of 45,409 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 44%, from 31,464 in 2015 to 45,409 in 2024, and Vanderbilt's admit rate went from 12% to 5.9%.

What ACT score do you need for Vanderbilt?

28% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 34–35, with a median of 35. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1510–1560 works out to about 34–35.

Why might Vanderbilt's SAT range look high?

Only 24% of enrolled students sent an SAT. The range counts only those who did, and students with lower scores tend to hold theirs back.

What GPA do you need for Vanderbilt?

There's no published cutoff. First-year students averaged a 3.90 high school GPA, and 91% of those who reported a class rank were in their top 10%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26. Colleges compute GPA differently, so compare it loosely.

Does applying early decision help at Vanderbilt?

14% of early decision applicants were admitted (874 of 6,202), against 5.9% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Vanderbilt? (Middle 50%: 1510–1560)

First-year students at Vanderbilt who sent an SAT scored 1510–1560, with a median of 1530 (Common Data Set 2025–26). Vanderbilt admits 5.9% of applicants and is test optional.

Vanderbilt University · Nashville, TN

Where your score lands at Vanderbilt

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1510–1560, median 1530

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median Fewer than half sent a score, so the range runs high

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Vanderbilt is for you and whether to send your score.

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Vanderbilt by the numbers

Admit rate: 5.9%
Middle 50% SAT: 1510–1560
Median SAT: 1530
About on the ACT: 34–35
Sent an SAT: 24%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Vanderbilt admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2025–26; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Vanderbilt admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 44%, from 31,464 in 2015 to 45,409 in 2024, and Vanderbilt's admit rate went from 12% to 5.9%.

12%
5.9%

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	45,409	2,662	5.9%
2023	45,313	2,844	6.3%
2022	46,377	3,093	6.7%
2021	47,152	3,368	7.1%
2020	36,646	4,259	12%
2019	37,310	3,402	9.1%
2018	34,313	3,298	10%
2017	31,462	3,415	11%
2016	32,442	3,487	11%
2015	31,464	3,674	12%

In fall 2024, 1,630 of the 2,662 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Vanderbilt

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1530Far reachHold
1530–1550Far reachSend
1560 and upReachSend

135014001450150015501600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Vanderbilt SAT sections, ACT, GPA and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	770	780	790
SAT Reading and Writing	740	750	770
SAT total	1510	1530	1560
ACT composite	34	35	35

Of enrolled first-year students, 24% sent an SAT and 28% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2025–26.

Average high school GPA: 3.90; 100% of new students reported one
Top 10% of their class: 91%; of new students who reported a rank

Vanderbilt early decision

Early decision

874 of 6,202 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision14%
All applicants5.9%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Common Data Set 2025–26.

Vanderbilt cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $15,846; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 94%
Median earnings: $91,565; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 7,353

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Vanderbilt

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

More colleges in Tennessee

Every college for an SAT of1510 1530 1560

Sources

Vanderbilt Common Data Set 2025–26
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Vanderbilt admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Vanderbilt website
Vanderbilt University

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1510–1560, and the median was 1530. At 1530 or higher you're above half of them. Vanderbilt admits 5.9% of applicants, so a top score keeps you in the running but doesn't decide it.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$