Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit · Large city · Website

Admission rate: 5.9%; Extremely selective
Average net price: $15,497; per year, after aid
Graduation rate: 93%
Median earnings: $99,080; 10 years after enrolling

Vanderbilt University is a private nonprofit college in Nashville, TN with 7,208 undergraduates. It admits 5.9% of applicants, and admitted students average 1549 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $15,497 per year ($3,637 for families earning under $30,000). 93% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $99,080 ten years after enrolling.

private nonprofit college

Admissions

Admission rate: 5.9%; Fall 2024
Testing policy: Test optional; Fall 2024
Applicants: 45,313; Fall 2023
Admitted: 2,844; Fall 2023
Yield: 57%; of admitted students enrolled

Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.

SAT Reading & Writing730–770

200800

SAT Math770–800

200800

ACT Composite34–35

136

What Vanderbilt University looks at

As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).

High school recordRequired
High school GPARequired
College-prep courseworkRequired
Class rankConsidered
Essay or personal statementRequired
RecommendationsRequired
Demonstrated competenciesNot considered
Legacy statusConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
English proficiency testRequired

Cost

Cost of attendance: $94,142; sticker price, per year
Tuition & fees: $71,226

Net price by family income

Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.

$0–30k$3,637
$30–48k$1,908
$48–75k$5,651
$75–110k$11,284
$110k+$42,583

Get a personal estimate with Vanderbilt University's net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation rate: 93%
Freshman retention: 96%
Median earnings: $99,080; 10 yrs after enrolling
Median debt: $15,000; at graduation

Students

Undergraduates: 7,208
Student–faculty ratio: 8:1
Receive Pell grants: 25%

White39%
Hispanic11%
Black9%
Asian19%

Vanderbilt University FAQ

What is Vanderbilt University's acceptance rate?+

Vanderbilt University admits 5.9% of applicants, which makes it extremely selective.

What SAT score do you need for Vanderbilt University?+

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 730–770 on SAT Reading and Writing and 770–800 on SAT Math; the average total is 1549.

What ACT score do you need for Vanderbilt University?+

The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 34–35.

Is Vanderbilt University test optional?+

Test optional (considered if submitted).

How many students apply to Vanderbilt University?+

In Fall 2023, 45,313 students applied to Vanderbilt University and 2,844 were admitted; 1,622 enrolled.

Does Vanderbilt University consider legacy status?+

Yes. Vanderbilt University reported that legacy status is considered in admissions (Fall 2023).

Does Vanderbilt University require an essay?+

Vanderbilt University reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).

How much does Vanderbilt University cost?+

The sticker cost of attendance is $94,142 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $15,497.

What is Vanderbilt University's graduation rate?+

93% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Sources

Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
IPEDS unit ID 221999 · How we use this data