Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Vanderbilt's yield is 2 pts higher than Columbia's
Yield rate - 2
Columbia admits 4.9% vs. 5.4% at Vanderbilt
Acceptance rate - 3
Columbia's SAT midpoint is 4 points higher than Vanderbilt's
SAT midpoint
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- ColumbiaUltra selective
- VanderbiltUltra selective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1400–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 30–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- ColumbiaTest-optional
- VanderbiltTest-optional
How they read a record
Columbia
, GPA, and class rank are all very important; tests are considered. This college reports (average 4.25), which pile most students into the top band; the bands can't show how crowded unweighted GPAs are.
Vanderbilt
, GPA, and class rank are all very important; tests are important. 88% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight.
What they look at
| Factor | Columbia | Vanderbilt |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Very important | Very important |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Very important | Very important |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Recommendations | Very important | Important |
| Essay | Very important | Very important |
| Legacy status | Considered | Considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Considered | Required |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources:Columbia University in the City of New York (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Columbia University in the City of New York Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Columbia University in the City of New York Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;Vanderbilt University (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;Vanderbilt University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why