Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Princeton's yield is 12 pts higher than Vanderbilt's
Yield rate - 2
Princeton admits 4.6% vs. 5.4% at Vanderbilt
Acceptance rate - 3
Princeton's SAT midpoint is 10 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
- VanderbiltUltra selective
- PrincetonUltra 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
- VanderbiltTest-optional
- PrincetonTest-optional
How they read a record
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.
Princeton
The high school record is required; GPA, class rank, and a college-prep program are considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Vanderbilt | Princeton |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Very important | Considered |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Very important | Considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Considered |
| Recommendations | Important | Required |
| Essay | Very important | Required |
| Legacy status | Considered | Considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Not considered | Considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources:Vanderbilt University (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Vanderbilt University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;College Scorecard, most recent releaseAbout 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