Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Stanford's yield is 19 pts higher than Vanderbilt's
Yield rate - 2
Stanford admits 3.6% vs. 5.4% at Vanderbilt
Acceptance rate - 3
Stanford's SAT midpoint is 15 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
- StanfordUltra 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
- StanfordTest scores required
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.
Stanford
, GPA, class rank, and tests are all very important. 89% of first-years who sent test scores 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 | Vanderbilt | Stanford |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Very important | Very important |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Very important | Very important |
| College-prep program | Required | Considered |
| Recommendations | Important | Very important |
| Essay | Very important | Very important |
| Legacy status | Considered | Considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Not considered | Considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Considered |
| 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 release;Stanford University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Stanford University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Stanford University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;Stanford University (Fall 2025), Fall 2025About 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