UNIVERSITY · CDS 2023-2024
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN 7,151 undergrad Updated 2026-04-22
Top 15Need-Blind
Accept
5.6%
Yield
61.0%
Test
Optional
Academic Profile · CDS C9 / C11
The numbers a parent will ask about first.
SAT Total (mid 50%, computed)
1510–1580
SAT EBRW (mid 50%)
740–780
SAT Math (mid 50%)
770–800
ACT Composite (mid 50%)
34–35
GPA
Not reported
GPA NOTEVanderbilt does not have a minimum GPA requirement, but successful applicants typically have a very high GPA.
METHODTotal SAT range is computed by summing the reported EBRW and Math mid-50% ranges from the school’s CDS (Section C9). Use as an approximation — a student’s actual total places them within, not at, the summed endpoints.
Decision Plans · CDS C1 / C21
When and how the school reads applicants.
| Plan | Deadline | Accept rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ED | Nov 1 | — | ED1: Nov 1 |
| ED | Jan 1 | — | ED2: Jan 1 |
| RD | Jan 1 | — | RD: Jan 1 |
Cost & Aid · CDS H Series
What it costs and what families actually pay.
Tuition
$67,934
Total COA
$97,374
Avg need-based aid
—
Avg merit award
None
Named merit programs
Ingram ScholarshipFull ride
Highly competitive
For students who plan to combine a professional or business career with an exceptional commitment to civic-minded service, innovation, an entrepreneurial spirit, and leadership.
Cornelius Vanderbilt ScholarshipFull ride
Highly competitive
For students who combine outstanding academic achievement with strong leadership and contributions outside the classroom.
Chancellor's ScholarshipFull ride
Highly competitive
For students with outstanding leadership skills, strength of character, high school academic achievement and a deep-seated commitment to fostering collaboration among students from different backgrounds and perspectives.
AP Impact Calculator
What the student's APs are actually worth here.
Vanderbilt's AP Policy
Vanderbilt awards credit for AP exams with scores of 4 or 5, with a maximum of 18 credit hours. AP credit cannot be used to fulfill College Core requirements.
Min score
4
Credit cap
18 credits
Mode
Credit + placement
Per-score grid
Exam-level
Add the student's APs
No APs selected. Click Add AP exam to start, or use the sample profile to see what a strong student might recover.
What They Value · CDS C7
Every CDS factor, weighted exactly as the admissions office files it.
- Rigor of secondary school recordVery Important
- Class rankConsidered
- Academic GPAImportant
- Standardized test scoresImportant
- Application essayVery Important
- Recommendation(s)Very Important
Mission & Narrative
What this school says it is — in their own words.
Vanderbilt University’s core purpose is to create, preserve, and disseminate knowledge through teaching, research, and the arts. In a culture of inquiry and debate, we create a community driven by radical collaboration and unwavering commitment to academic, professional, and personal growth.
Distilled Themes
Radical collaborationUnwavering commitment to growthA culture of inquiry and debateFreedom to teach, learn and conduct research
The Coach's Read
What 'what they value' actually means at the table.
- 01Intellectual curiosity and a love of learning for its own sake.
- 02Students who are actively engaged in their communities and have a desire to make a difference.
- 03A collaborative spirit and a willingness to work with others.
Application Targets
What a strong application here should signal.
- 01Demonstrated intellectual curiosity beyond the classroom.
- 02Evidence of leadership and community engagement.
- 03A strong sense of how you will contribute to the Vanderbilt community.
Quiet Disqualifiers
Things that hurt applicants here, even when they look fine on paper.
- Applying with the same essay to multiple top schools
- Lack of demonstrated interest in Vanderbilt's specific programs
- Not taking advantage of the opportunity to challenge yourself academically
Signature Programs
Where this school is genuinely best-in-class.
Peabody College of Education and Human DevelopmentBlair School of MusicSchool of EngineeringCollege of Arts and ScienceLaw SchoolSchool of Medicine
Application calendar
Every date the family needs to know.
Deadlines & Decision Dates · 2025-2026
Family deadline matrix
Plan
Deadline
Decision release
Early Decision I
Binding
Decision release is mid-December.
Nov 1, 2025
→ Dec 15, 2025
Early Decision II
Binding
Decision release is mid-February.
Jan 1, 2026
→ Feb 15, 2026
Regular Decision
Non-binding
Decision release is late March.
Jan 1, 2026
→ Mar 31, 2026
Early Action
Not offered
—
Restrictive Early Action
Not offered
—
Rolling Admission
Not offered
—
See every school side-by-side on the Deadline Tracker →
CDS C7 · Level of applicant's interest
Does effort toward this school move the needle?
Demonstrated Interest·CDS C7 (2024-2025)
Not trackedWeight: Not Considered
Vanderbilt does not track demonstrated interest; official policy states all applicants are evaluated identically regardless of contact.
Save the energy
Do not spend effort on interest signals — focus on essays and academics instead.
Provenance