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Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN
Known forUltra-selectiveTop test scoresBig endowment per studentVery diverseHigh earnersFew students borrowHigh graduation rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2025

1 in 19 applicants admitted

Vanderbilt admits about 1 in 19 applicants (5.4%). That puts it in the "Most selective" tier, more selective than 99% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

5.4%

5.4%

acceptance rateMost selective

Applied

48,196

Admitted

2,593

Yield

63%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.90

SAT middle 50%

1510–1560

10001600
ACT middle 50%

34–35

1836
Applications +54% since fall 2014 · admit rate 13% → 5.9%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 7,355 undergrads, where 20% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

7.4K

undergrads · larger than 84% of colleges

Diversity index

0.77

Pell Grant

20%

below the median

First generation

12%

below the median

Large cityFirst-years live on campusNCAA D-I FBS · Southeastern ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.63 → 0.77 (to fall 2024) since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Social Sciences, General (15% of graduates). 8 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 89% of colleges. 85% of faculty are full-time. Spends $34,184 a year on instruction per student.

8 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 89% of colleges

Most popular major

Social Sciences, General

15% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Science

$160K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

85%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$34.2K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $46,508 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $22.2K more than the national median. The 67% who received grants paid $25,186 on average; the other 33% paid the full sticker price of $89,590.

48%

$46.5K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $22.2K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$89,590 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
8.2% · avg $33K
of first-years without need got merit aid
Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 48% of full price

Federal loans

10%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · −1% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $91,565 ten years after enrolling, more than at 96% of colleges; 93% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.0 years of that salary.

93%

93%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$91.6K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$14K

≈ $148/month for 10 years

Retention

96%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 93% → 94% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 11% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid held about steady, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 54% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 13% to 5.9%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    −1% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +54%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 13% → 6% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.63 → 0.77 (to fall 2024)

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Yale University

3.9% admit · SAT 1520 · 6.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Stanford University

3.6% admit · SAT 1550 · 7.6K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Emory University

10% admit · SAT 1505 · 7.3K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Princeton University

4.6% admit · SAT 1545 · 5.7K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Vanderbilt University Common Data Set 2025–26

    Vanderbilt University · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; 2025–26 (estimated); Fall 2026 entrants; Entered fall 2019; 2025–26; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-03

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Vanderbilt University (2026–27)

    Vanderbilt University · 2026–27 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  12. 12
    Vanderbilt University Common Data Set

    Vanderbilt University · 2024-25 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  20. 20
    Vanderbilt University (2026)

    Vanderbilt University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 221999 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything