Vanderbilt University
范德堡大学- Tier 2
- Nashville, TN
- Data last checked 2026-10
Vanderbilt University admits about 5% of first-year applicants. The middle 50% SAT range is 1510–1560, and the GPA reference is 3.80 (Unweighted 4.0 scale, 25th percentile). SAT / ACT optional for the 2026-27 cycle (fall 2027 entry); strong scorers should submit. Applying for financial aid can affect admission for international students. A year costs about $99,994 (2026-27).
Admit rate by applicant pool
At the same school, admit rates can differ a lot depending on who is applying.
Source: Fall 2025 · CDS
Flagship Majors and Admit Data
| Major | Admit rate | vs overall | One-liner |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Arts & Science - Biology★ Flagship | ≈ overall 5% | ≈ overall | |
| Peabody College (Education / HOD)★ Flagship | Not published | Easier | |
| Blair School of Music★ Flagship | Not published | Harder |
Where no official major admit rate is published, difficulty is estimated from the school's public information.
US applicants
- Overall admit rate
- 5%. The actual number for the domestic pool (which holds most seats) is roughly aligned with the official figure.
- Financial aid / FAFSA
- Need-blind for domestic; FAFSA aid applications don't affect admission (need-aware applies only to international).
- Privates have no in-state preference
- Domestic applications don't differentiate by state, but schools care about state representation (over-concentrated areas face competitive squeeze).
- Test policy
- SAT / ACT optional for the 2026-27 cycle (fall 2027 entry); strong scorers should submit. Official policy ›
- Application timing
- ED/EA deadlines early November, RD January. Domestic families typically begin college visits at the end of 11th grade.
International (F-1) applicants
- International friendliness 3 / 3
- High international ratio (15%+), relatively friendly
- Need-blind for international
- ✗ No — F1 applicants applying for aid see significantly lower admit rates (need-aware)
Cost per year
Published cost of attendance for 2026-27 (tuition, housing, food, books and fees): about $99,994.
This is the published sticker price; what a family actually pays depends on financial aid and scholarships.
Waitlist
The school uses a waitlist and admitted 279 students from it in 2024-2025, but has not published how many accepted a spot.
- Extra materials
- You may send a letter of continued interest or updates
- Confirming your spot
- Reply in MyAppVU by May 1 (the sooner the better)
- When you'll hear
- Offers start in early May as spots open up, may continue into June, and usually wrap up before midsummer
Numbers are from the school's Common Data Set (section C2), checked 2026-10. They can change a lot from year to year; the school's latest release is authoritative. Official waitlist policy ›
Already on a waitlist? The Application Rescue Kit lays out the timeline and real cost of four paths: waitlist, gap year, transfer and spring admission ›Transfer
Fall transfer, Fall 2025: 3,177 applied and 831 were admitted (about 26%).
Are popular majors open to external transfers?
- Computer scienceOpenCS is in the new College of Connected Computing, which is open to transfers with no extra application materials required.
- EngineeringLimitedAccepted, but not admitted directly into a major; by the time of admission you must have finished (or be taking) college physics, calculus and chemistry.
Vanderbilt University · US College Application Deep Read · Chinese-American Lens
In the Chinese-American US college application pool, Vanderbilt University sits in the Elite-select private (high-pressure layer for Chinese-American families) layer. Overall admit rate is 5%, with traditional strength in Pre-Med / Liberal Arts / Business, and College of Arts & Science - Biology as the entry that Chinese-American families track most.
Vanderbilt University is need-aware for international applicants — requesting financial aid reduces admit probability, intl-friendliness 3/3. Hardware bar: GPA 25th 3.80/4.0, SAT mid-range 1510-1560, AP expectation 7 courses. Only half of admission is on the numbers — the other half is EC depth, essays, and recommendations. Test scores are a ticket, not a verdict.
If you or a parent is evaluating whether Vanderbilt University is a reach, match, or safety in this US college application cycle, the "I have 4.0 / 1500, can I get in?" question is not answerable from public forums alone — real judgment requires layering this season's admissions policy, your high-school competitive density, within-major selectivity, and ED/EA timing into one model. At the elite-select tier, EA vs ED choice can shift admit probability by 1-2 tiers; lock the call before September. The Kaiso engine assigns Vanderbilt University to a tier based on your real profile, and every judgment is auditable.
What parents ask about Vanderbilt University
What is Vanderbilt University's undergraduate admit rate?
Vanderbilt University (范德堡大学) overall undergraduate admit rate is about 5% (private or public). SAT mid-range (25-75 percentile) 1510-1560. GPA threshold reference 3.80 (Unweighted 4.0 scale, 25th percentile). Data last verified 2026-10.
Does Vanderbilt University require the SAT or ACT?
SAT / ACT optional for the 2026-27 cycle (fall 2027 entry); strong scorers should submit.
What early rounds does Vanderbilt University offer?
2026-27 cycle: ED1 due Nov 1, ED2 due Jan 1, RD due Jan 1. ED is binding: if admitted, you must enroll.
What are Vanderbilt University's admit rates for in-state, out-of-state and international applicants?
International applicants 4.0%. Source: Fall 2025 · CDS.
How much does a year at Vanderbilt University cost?
Published cost of attendance for 2026-27 (tuition, housing, food, books and fees): about $99,994. This is the published sticker price; what a family actually pays depends on financial aid and scholarships.
How hard is it to transfer into Vanderbilt University?
Fall transfer, Fall 2025: 3,177 applied and 831 were admitted (about 26%).
How many students get in from Vanderbilt University's waitlist?
The school uses a waitlist and admitted 279 students from it in 2024-2025, but has not published how many accepted a spot.
What are Vanderbilt University's flagship majors?
Vanderbilt University flagship majors: College of Arts & Science - Biology, Peabody College (Education / HOD), Blair School of Music. Pre-med 强，VU Medical Center 校内资源
Is Vanderbilt University friendly to international (F1) applicants?
Vanderbilt University is need-aware for international students — F1 applicants applying for aid see significantly lower admit rates. International friendliness 3/3.