CostByCollegeAdmissions
Vanderbilt acceptance rate
The acceptance rate at Vanderbilt University is 6.3% for fall 2023. Out of 45,313 applicants, 2,844 were admitted and 1,622 enrolled.
The application numbers
| Figure | Fall 2023 |
|---|---|
| Applicants, fall 2023 | 45,313 |
| Admitted, fall 2023 | 2,844 |
| Acceptance rate, fall 2023 | 6.3% |
| Admitted students who enrolled, fall 2023 | 1,622 |
How this rate compares
Against the Tennessee pilot school average of 61.3%, the rate at Vanderbilt University is 55.0 points lower, which means a smaller share of applicants were admitted.
Against the national pilot school average of 53.0%, the rate at Vanderbilt University is 46.7 points lower, which means a smaller share of applicants were admitted.
Averages here are simple averages across the pilot schools that publish a rate, 5 schools in Tennessee and 235 schools nationwide on this site.
What the acceptance rate does and does not mean
The acceptance rate is the share of applicants who were offered a place. It is worked out by dividing the number of students admitted by the number who applied, for fall 2023.
A low rate means many more people applied than the school could admit. It does not by itself prove that a school is better, that teaching is stronger, or that graduates earn more. Some schools draw very large applicant pools because applying is free or simple, and some excellent schools admit a large share of a smaller, well matched pool.
A high rate does not mean admission is automatic. Schools still set entry requirements, and popular programs inside a school can be far harder to enter than the overall rate suggests. The rate also says nothing about cost. Read it beside the total cost, the average net price, and the outcomes on the cost page for Vanderbilt University.
Similar schools to compare
- The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee. Total cost $33,678 for one year.
- University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee. Total cost $28,070 for one year.
- Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Total cost $27,820 for one year.
- Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee. Total cost $25,868 for one year.
- Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire. Total cost $87,793 for one year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Vanderbilt?
The acceptance rate at Vanderbilt University is 6.3% for fall 2023. It is the number admitted, 2,844, divided by the number who applied, 45,313.
How many students apply to Vanderbilt each year?
In fall 2023, 45,313 students applied to Vanderbilt University, 2,844 were admitted, and 1,622 admitted students enrolled.
How selective is Vanderbilt compared with other schools in Tennessee?
The average acceptance rate across the pilot schools in Tennessee that publish a rate is 61.3%, and the national average across the pilot schools on this site is 53.0%. The rate at Vanderbilt University is 6.3%.
Does a low acceptance rate mean a school is better?
No. A low rate means far more people applied than the school could admit. It says nothing on its own about teaching quality, cost, or graduate earnings, which is why this site prints the rate beside cost and outcomes figures.
How much does Vanderbilt cost?
The total cost for one year at Vanderbilt University is $89,590 for in state students. The cost page on this site breaks that total into tuition, fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses.
What is the graduation rate at Vanderbilt?
The graduation rate at Vanderbilt University is 93%, measuring the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
Sources: the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, United States Department of Education. Admissions figures are for fall 2023. See the methodology page for full detail.