Vanderbilt Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics

Vanderbilt University reported an overall acceptance rate of 4.08% for the Class of 2030, the lowest in its history. 56,447 students applied, and 2,302 were admitted across both admission rounds. 

Early Decision results were released in two waves: ED I decisions came out in December 2025, followed by ED II decisions in February 2026, with a combined 920 students admitted across both rounds. Regular Decision results were then released in late March 2026, when 1,382 students received offers of admission.

In this blog, we’ll break down Vanderbilt’s overall, early, regular, waitlist, and transfer acceptance rates and how they’ve evolved.

• Vanderbilt Acceptance Rates
• Vanderbilt Early Decision Acceptance Rate
• Vanderbilt Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
• Vanderbilt Transfer Acceptance Rate
• Vanderbilt Waitlist Acceptance Rate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Vanderbilt Acceptance Rates

Vanderbilt’s overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2030 fell to 4.08%, down from 5.38% for the Class of 2029. This decline signals a sharp increase in selectivity, reflecting rising application volume and sustained enrollment targets. Here’s the complete picture:

Note: All data has been compiled from Vanderbilt’s Common Data Set.

The Class of 2030 marks the most selective admissions cycle in Vanderbilt’s history, with an acceptance rate of 4.08%, less than half the 10.85% recorded for the Class of 2021 and a full percentage point below the previous record low. In raw terms, roughly 1 in 9 applicants received an offer nine years ago, today it is closer to 1 in 25.

Over that same period, the applicant pool grew by nearly 80%, from 31,462 to 56,447, while the number of admitted students declined from 3,415 to 2,302. The result is a university that has grown dramatically more selective as a surging number of applicants compete for fewer seats.

Vanderbilt Early Decision Acceptance Rate

The most recent ED figures come from the Class of 2030, when a record 7,727 students applied across ED I and ED II. The combined early acceptance rate was 11.91%, a 1.29% decrease from the previous year. This cycle marked both a surge in early applications, up 14.3% year over year, and increased selectivity.

Vanderbilt Early Decision acceptance rate trends

Vanderbilt’s ED acceptance rates have declined sharply over the past decade, dropping from roughly 24% to about 12%. Here’s a breakdown:

Note: All data has been sourced from Vanderbilt’s official ED admissions announcements and Common Data Set.

Vanderbilt’s ED acceptance rates have become markedly more selective over time. The highest recent rate occurred with the Class of 2021 at 24.03%, while the Class of 2030 recorded the lowest at 11.91%. Over the same period, the number of ED applicants rose significantly, culminating in a record 7,727 applicants for the Class of 2030.

During the middle years, ED acceptance rates hovered around 18–20% for the Classes of 2024 and 2025, but competition intensified in the most recent cycles. By the Class of 2029, the ED acceptance rate had already dropped to 13.20%, and this continued downward into the Class of 2030.

Although applying ED still provides better odds than RD, Vanderbilt’s early round has grown increasingly competitive as demand rises while enrollment capacity remains limited.

Vanderbilt Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

The Class of 2030 provides the most recent RD data: 1,382 admissions out of 48,720 applications, yielding a 2.84% acceptance rate. That marks a significant drop from 3.26% for the Class of 2029, further proof of Vanderbilt’s growing selectivity in the RD round.

Vanderbilt Regular Decision acceptance rate trends

Vanderbilt’s RD acceptance rates have significantly decreased over the years. Here’s a clearer picture:

Note: RD figures are estimates derived by subtracting ED data from overall totals in Vanderbilt’s official admissions announcements and Common Data Set.

Vanderbilt’s RD admissions have become significantly more competitive over the past decade. The Class of 2030 marks the most selective cycle on record, with only 2.84% of 48,720 applicants admitted.

Earlier in the decade, the RD acceptance rate was considerably higher. For the Class of 2021, Vanderbilt admitted 9.16% of RD applicants. As the applicant pool expanded beyond 40,000 in the mid-2020s, the rate steadily tightened, dropping to 5.86% for the Class of 2025, 5.33% for the Class of 2026, 4.91% for the Class of 2027, 4.59% for the Class of 2028, and 3.26% for the Class of 2029.

Overall, Vanderbilt’s RD admissions have shifted from admitting roughly 1 in 11 applicants to about 1 in 35.

Vanderbilt Transfer Acceptance Rate

The most recent Vanderbilt transfer data comes from Fall 2025, when the acceptance rate was 26.16%. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Fall 2025 transfer data is from Vanderbilt’s Common Data Set for 2025–2026, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2030 first-year admissions data.

Vanderbilt’s transfer admission rate is notably higher than its first-year acceptance rate of 4.08% for the Class of 2030. While still competitive, transfer admission offers significantly better odds of being accepted.

Vanderbilt Waitlist Acceptance Rate

For the Class of 2029, Vanderbilt University admitted 207 students from its waitlist. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Waitlist data is from Vanderbilt’s Common Data Set for 2025–2026.

Vanderbilt does not publish a precise acceptance rate for its waitlist. However, the admissions office states that it has admitted students from the waitlist every year for over 30 years, but the number of offers depends on how many admitted students decide to enroll.

Over the last five admission cycles, roughly 10% of Vanderbilt’s incoming class has come from the waitlist. Because yield rates vary annually, the number of waitlisted students who receive offers can fluctuate widely. To learn more about Vanderbilt’s waitlist trends over the years, check out our Vanderbilt waitlist guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Vanderbilt’s current acceptance rate?

The most recent confirmed acceptance rate for Vanderbilt University is 4.08% for the Class of 2030. Vanderbilt received 56,447 applications and admitted 2,302 students.

2. Is it easier to get into Vanderbilt through Early Decision or Regular Decision?

Historically, ED applicants have had significantly higher admit rates than RD applicants at Vanderbilt. For the Class of 2030, the combined ED I and II acceptance rate was 11.91%, compared to 2.84% for the RD cycle, more than four times higher. That said, ED is binding, and the pool is typically highly competitive and committed.

3. How hard is it to transfer to Vanderbilt?

For Fall 2025, Vanderbilt admitted 831 out of 3,177 transfer applicants, resulting in a 26.16% transfer acceptance rate. This is far higher than the 4.08% first-year rate for the Class of 2030. Still, successful transfers need strong academics and a clear fit.

4. What are my chances of getting off Vanderbilt’s waitlist?

It depends heavily on the year and the university’s enrollment needs. For the Class of 2029, Vanderbilt admitted 207 students from the waitlist. Because available spots depend on yield, waitlist outcomes remain unpredictable each year.

5. Why is Vanderbilt’s acceptance rate so low?

Vanderbilt’s acceptance rate is low because applications far exceed available seats. The university received over 56,000 applications for the Class of 2030 but enrolls about 1,700 students per class. With a fixed class size and a significant portion of spots filled through ED, competition remains intense, keeping the overall acceptance rate at a record-low 4.08%.

Takeaways

• Vanderbilt University’s acceptance rate has declined sharply over the past decade, dropping from 10.85% for the Class of 2021 to a record-low 4.08% for the Class of 2030.
• ED offers a clear statistical advantage. For the Class of 2030, the combined ED I and ED II acceptance rate was 11.91%, compared to just 2.84% for RD, more than four times higher. However, ED is binding, and the applicant pool is typically very strong.
• Transfer and waitlist outcomes are also unpredictable. In Fall 2025, Vanderbilt admitted 831 transfer students (26.16%), and 207 waitlisted students, though movement varies significantly by year.
• With selectivity at record lows, presenting a focused, compelling application is essential. Thoughtful preparation with the help of a college admissions expert can help you stand out in the admissions process.