Vanderbilt University
Private university in Nashville, TN known for education and Peabody College. Founded in 1873, Peabody College of Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt is consistently ranked among the top education schools in the country, and the Blair School of Music offers a rare undergraduate conservatory experience within a broader research university. All first-year students live together on The Commons, a shared residential program designed to build community from day one. Strong in business, medicine, and the humanities, with Nashville healthcare and music industries close at hand.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education. Figures reflect the most recently published class — always confirm current-cycle numbers on Vanderbilt's official admissions site before applying.
What SAT/ACT Scores Do Admitted Students Have?
The middle 50% of Vanderbilt's admitted students scored within these ranges:
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (25th–75th percentile of admitted students). Get your own personalized chance estimate →
Will You Get Into Vanderbilt?
This estimate compares the test score you enter against Vanderbilt's real published middle-50% band (1500–1570 SAT, 34–35 ACT) and its 5.9% acceptance rate to produce a Safety, Target, or Reach label. It intentionally does not use GPA — no institution publishes real per-school GPA distribution data, so we don't invent one.
With only a 5.9% acceptance rate, Vanderbilt is a reach for almost every applicant, regardless of test scores.
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Source: Vanderbilt admissions, 2026–27 (fall 2027 entry), verified Oct 2026.
Required Supplements
- Common App
- Vanderbilt Supplement
- School Report
- Teacher Evaluation
Requirements vary by cycle. Confirm what Vanderbilt currently asks for on its official admissions site.
What Should Your Vanderbilt Essay Focus On?
- Show fit with Vanderbilt's collaborative culture
- Demonstrate interest in specific academic areas
- Explain why Nashville matters to your interests
- Show you understand the residential college system
What Is Vanderbilt Looking For in Applicants?
- Academic excellence clearly matched to strengths in education, medicine, and the humanities
- Fit with a collaborative culture reinforced by having all first-years live together on The Commons
- A real plan to make use of the healthcare and music industries in Nashville, not just an interest in campus
- A specific, believable contribution to campus life beyond a general interest in Vanderbilt
See where you stand at Vanderbilt.
Skora estimates your chances from Vanderbilt's acceptance rate and its admitted students' test scores, then gives you feedback on every essay. Free to start.
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