Admit rate has ranged 6%–12% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Vanderbilt University is a Southern Ivy with a rare alchemy of rigorous academics, SEC school spirit, and Nashville's vibrant music scene. Its 340-acre arboretum campus fosters tight-knit residential communities where 96% of freshmen return—fueled by Peabody College's top-ranked education programs, a culture of high achievement, and full-tuition promises for families earning under $150K.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
7,208
In-state tuition
$67,498
Out-of-state tuition
$67,498
Campus Size
340-acre arboretum
Acceptance Rate
4.7% (Class of 2029)
Student-Faculty Ratio
6:1
6-Year Graduation Rate
93%
Median Early-Career Earnings
$85K
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$91,565
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
5.8×
Median debt at graduation
$14,000
Graduation rate
94%
First-year retention
96%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
84%
Pell (lower-income) share
54%
First-generation share
12%
Endowment / student
$1,421,716
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer Science$102,409
Mathematics$80,309
Chemical Engineering$73,446
Economics$72,134
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$70,680
Mechanical Engineering$69,817
Engineering Science
Campus & location
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
81
Summer high
88°F
Winter low
34°F
Annual rain
75.5"
Annual snow
5.1"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
1,104
Scholarly works
173,055
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.5%
Bottom → top quintile
59%
From bottom quintile
2%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Vanderbilt University?
Vanderbilt University's acceptance rate is approximately 6% (Nashville, TN), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Vanderbilt University?
Admitted students at Vanderbilt University typically score 1500–1570 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Vanderbilt University cost?
At Vanderbilt University, the average net price (after aid) is about $15,846 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Vanderbilt University?
Vanderbilt University enrolls approximately 7,208 undergraduate students.
Where is Vanderbilt University located?
Vanderbilt University is located in Nashville, TN.
Admissions
Vanderbilt's admissions process is fiercely competitive, with the Class of 2029 seeing a record-low 4.7% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. from over 47,000 applications—a 16% increase from the previous year. The mid-50% SAT range (1510–1560) and ACT range (34–35) reflect academic excellence, though only 24% submitted SATs and 28% submitted ACTs in the Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. era. With a 96% first-year retention rate, admitted students clearly thrive here.
Vanderbilt blends research university resources with liberal arts intimacy across four undergraduate schools. Peabody College of Education is a crown jewel, while 65+ majors span from neuroscience (6% of students) to human and organizational development. The 6:1 student-faculty ratio enables signature programs like Immersion Vanderbilt, requiring hands-on research or creative projects. Pre-professional tracks in medicine, law, and business thrive alongside quirky interdisciplinary options like Medicine, Health, and Society.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$66,169
Civil Engineering$64,913
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
The 340-acre arboretum campus—just 1.5 miles from Broadway’s honky-tonks—buzzes with SEC pride (especially basketball) and over 475 student organizations. Dining halls and Greek life (40% participation) anchor social scenes, though students describe a culture where ‘achievement is the air we breathe.’ The Vanderbilt Hustler student paper critiques the administration’s rankings obsession, but most praise responsive faculty and lush green spaces like Alumni Lawn for frisbee and hammocking.
Vanderbilt’s 93% six-year graduation rate outpaces national averages, with 90.5% of recent grads employed or in grad school. Median early-career earnings hit $85K—peaking at $101K for engineering alumni—while education majors leverage Peabody’s network for top teaching roles. The university’s ‘knowledge rate’ (97% of grads tracked) reflects robust career center outreach, with Goldman Sachs and Deloitte among top employers.
Vanderbilt’s $20,374 average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. reflects aggressive aid policies like Opportunity Vanderbilt, guaranteeing full tuition for families earning ≤$150K. No-loan packages are standard for demonstrated need, with median debt at graduation ($27,795) well below national averages. The MyinTuition calculator helps estimate costs, though Nashville’s rising rents add pressure for upperclassmen moving off-campus.
Vanderbilt delivers Ivy-caliber academics with SEC football Saturdays and Nashville’s songwriting energy—all on a campus so lush it doubles as an arboretum. Its Peabody College rivals Teachers College at Columbia, while the Immersion program ensures every undergrad applies learning beyond classrooms. The ‘work-hard-play-hard’ ethos balances 3AM library sessions with rooftop concerts at nearby Ascend Amphitheater. For high-achievers craving big-school spirit with small-college support (and maybe a country music internship), Vandy’s gold rush is irresistible.
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