The average acceptance rate at Vanderbilt over the past 10 years is 8.94%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 5.86%. Vanderbilt maintains an extremely selective admissions process, making it very difficult for applicants to be admitted.
The acceptance rate has decreased each year for the past 4 years, indicating increasing selectivity.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 49.09%, and the 2025 yield is 61.23%. Overall, the yield has increased by 39.99% from 2015 to 2025.
Key Takeaways: Vanderbilt Admission Metrics
Acceptance Rate Overview
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 5.86%, representing an increasingly selective admissions process. This indicates that Vanderbilt has become more competitive over the past decade, as the institution receives a growing number of applications while maintaining or reducing the number of admitted students.
Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 61.23%. This rising yield trend demonstrates that Vanderbilt is increasingly successful at converting admitted students into enrolled students. An increasing yield rate suggests stronger student preference for Vanderbilt and indicates that the institution's admitted class quality and perceived value continue to improve.
Application Volume & Admission Trends
For the 2025 admission cycle, Vanderbilt received approximately 45,409 applications, admitted 2,662 students, and enrolled 1,630 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that Vanderbilt is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
Acceptance Rate Changes
Vanderbilt 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Vanderbilt over the past decade show a consistent pattern of increasing selectivity, with the acceptance rate declining year-over-year for 4 consecutive years. The average acceptance rate over this period is 8.94%, while the most recent rate stands at 5.86%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 5.86%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 9.84% and for women is 8.31%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Vanderbilt have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes
Vanderbilt has demonstrated an improvement in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has increased from 43.74% in 2015 to 61.23% in 2025, representing a 39.99% increase. The 10-year average yield stands at 49.09%, reflecting strengthening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Vanderbilt from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has increased by 39.99% over this period.
Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 38,789, the average number of admitted is 3,344, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 1,617.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Vanderbilt University from 2015 to 2025.
Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares Vanderbilt University' acceptance rate to similar schools.