Vanderbilt releases admissions decisions in mid-December for Early Decision I (ED I), mid-February for Early Decision II (ED II), and late March for Regular Decision (RD). Waitlisted and transfer decisions are released on a rolling basis.
Below, we’ll cover the Vanderbilt notification dates for the 2026–2027 admissions cycle, the decisions you can receive, and what to do for each one.
- When Does Vanderbilt Release Decisions?
- When Do Vanderbilt Waitlist Decisions Come Out?
- When Do Vanderbilt Transfer Decisions Come Out?
- What to Do After Receiving Your Vanderbilt Decision
- Waiting on Vanderbilt’s Decision? Get Expert Guidance
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Takeaways
When Does Vanderbilt Release Decisions?
Vanderbilt releases first-year decisions three times in a given cycle:
| Application Route | Decision Release | Decision Types |
| Early Decision I | Mid-December 2026 | Admit, Defer, Deny |
| Early Decision II | Mid-February 2027 | Admit, Waitlist, Deny |
| Regular Decision | Late March 2027 | Admit, Waitlist, Deny |
Source: Vanderbilt Undergraduate Admissions
For the Class of 2030, Vanderbilt released ED I decisions on December 17, 2025, ED II results on February 12, 2026, and RD notifications on March 25, 2026. Decisions were made available in MyAppVU at 5pm CST.
When do Vanderbilt Early Decision results come out?
Vanderbilt’s ED I results come out in mid-December, and the deadline for matriculation deposit is December 31. Meanwhile, ED II results are released in mid-February, with the deposit deadline being March 1.
Both ED rounds have three possible outcomes:
- An admit means you’ll have to commit under the binding agreement and withdraw your applications to other schools.
- For ED I applicants, a defer means your application will get a second review in the RD pool. For ED II applicants, a waitlist means you may still receive an offer if admitted students forfeit their spots.
- A deny for both ED I and ED II means your application is closed for that cycle.
When do Vanderbilt Regular Decision results come out?
Vanderbilt’s RD results come out in late March. The deadline for most students is January 1, but Blair School of Music applicants have a priority deadline of December 1.
Three outcomes are possible:
- An admit means you’re offered a spot in the incoming class, but you still have until May 1 to decide.
- A waitlist means you could still be offered a spot after May 1, depending on how many students forfeit their spots.
- A deny means your application is closed for that cycle.
Haven’t applied yet? See every Vanderbilt application deadline
Before you worry about notification dates, you’ll have to meet the deadlines first. Take a look at our guide to Vanderbilt application deadlines to see important dates you need to know about.
When Do Vanderbilt Waitlist Decisions Come Out?
Vanderbilt waitlist decisions come out on a rolling basis from early May through June. It usually ends by mid-summer.
If you’re placed on the waitlist, accept the offer on your MyAppVU portal by May 1.
When Do Vanderbilt Transfer Decisions Come Out?
Vanderbilt transfer decisions come out on a rolling basis starting late April. Vanderbilt also has a waitlist for transfer students, and offers of admissions for them will happen throughout the spring and summer as the school receives responses from admitted transfer students.
Vanderbilt only admits transfer students for the fall semester.
What to Do After Receiving Your Vanderbilt Decision
Your next steps depends on which outcome you receive:
|
Vanderbilt Decision |
What to Do Next |
| Accepted | If accepted through ED, withdraw all other applications and confirm your enrollment by the reply deadline. Review both the preliminary and updated financial offers. If accepted through RD, compare offers from other schools, then reply by May 1. |
| Deferred | Send a letter of continued interest containing meaningful updates (like a new major award or published research), maintain strong senior-year grades, and keep finalizing applications to other schools. |
| Waitlisted | Accept the waitlist offer on the MyAppVU portal by May 1 if you’re still interested, but also commit to another school by May 1. Send a letter of continued interest to the Vanderbilt admissions office. |
| Denied | Take a look at your other offers and compare them, then commit to the strongest fit by May 1. |
If you were waitlisted and eventually receive an offer from Vanderbilt, you can still accept it. You’ll need to withdraw from the school where you already sent the non-refundable deposit. But because of how unpredictable waitlist movement is, it’s best to commit to a backup school.
If you received a deny but still want Vanderbilt to be part of your undergraduate journey, you can reapply as a transfer student in the next application cycle.
Waiting on Vanderbilt’s Decision? Get Expert Guidance
If you’ve already submitted your application and are now waiting for Vanderbilt’s notification dates, you might feel like there’s nothing else to do. But you can always strengthen your profile regardless of what part of the application process you’re in.
AdmissionSight’s Standard College Counseling pairs you with a dedicated advisor who can guide you through the whole full application cycle, from building your school list and giving advice on how to get strong recommendation letters to brainstorming your essays and deciding whether you should apply through ED I, ED II, or RD.
But if you only need help with one part of your application, such as writing a letter of continued interest after being deferred or waitlisted, the Ad Hoc Consulting option offers targeted short-term support.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What time of day do Vanderbilt decisions come out?
Vanderbilt typically posts decisions to the MyAppVU portal at 5pm CST.
2. When does Vanderbilt release Early Decision results?
Vanderbilt’s ED I decisions are released in mid-December, and ED II decisions are released in mid-February.
3. When does Vanderbilt release Regular Decision results?
Vanderbilt releases RD results in late March.
4. Can I appeal if Vanderbilt rejects my application?
No, you can’t appeal an undergraduate admissions decision from Vanderbilt since all admissions decisions are final.
5. How does Vanderbilt notify applicants of their decision?
Vanderbilt sends an email on the release date letting you know your decision is available, then you’ll have to log in to your MyAppVU portal to view the actual decision letter.
Takeaways
- Vanderbilt releases ED I results in mid-December 2026, ED II results in mid-February, and RD results in late March 2027.
- Waitlist decisions roll out from early May through June
- Transfer decisions roll out starting late April.
- Need help strengthening your application or writing a letter after being deferred or waitlisted? Working with a college admissions consultant can help improve your chances of being accepted.
Eric Eng
About the author
Eric Eng, the Founder and CEO of AdmissionSight, graduated with a BA from Princeton University and has one of the highest track records in the industry of placing students into Ivy League schools and top 10 universities. He has been featured on the US News & World Report for his insights on college admissions.







