Vanderbilt's Acceptance Rate Falls to 5%

Vanderbilt University's acceptance rate is even more competitive this year, with an acceptance rate of only 5.6% for the incoming class of 2028.

The university received a total of 47,171 applications, and only 2,401 students were admitted.

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Vanderbilt University Acceptance Rate (Class of 2028)

Vanderbilt University announced both their regular decision and early decision statistics.

The unviersity's overall acceptance rate dipped slightly from 5.6% last year to 5.08% this year. This in line with a consistent trend in Vanderbilt's acceptance rates - it's been declining over the past few years now, from 7.8% for class of 2025 to 5.08% for class of 2028.

This year, Vanderbilt received 47,171 applicants in total, almost the same number as last year's 47,120. Despite the applicant number remaining the same, the number of admitted students decreased from 2,645 last year to 2,401 students this year.

This decrease in acceptance shows Vanderbilt's increasing selectiveness - the university is well regarded and sought after by many prospective students, even being considered among the New Ivies.

Vanderbilt's Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

Vanderbilt's regular decision acceptance rate decreased noticeably compared to its early decision acceptance rate, from 4.2% last year to 2.7% this year.

This year, Vanderbilt received slightly less applicants to its regular decision cycle, 41,336 compared to last year's 41,501. Despite this, Vanderbilt's regular decision cycle has been getting noticeably more competitive over the years, declining from 6.7% for class of 2025.

Based on these acceptance numbers, our admission experts recommend you apply early to increase your chances of getting into Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt Early Decision Acceptance Rate

Vanderbilt's early decision acceptance rate is significantly higher than its regular decision acceptance rate. The university's early acceptance rate is 15.2%, compared to the regular decision acceptance rate of only 3.7%.

With that said, even the early decision cycle has been getting more competitive. This year, 216 more students applied, about a 3.8% increase in early applicants. However, the number of admitted students barely increased, going from around 882 last year to 889 this year.

This aligns with Vanderbilt University's trend of of having a relatively higher acceptance rate for early decision applicants compared to regular decision applicants. This trend has been consistent over at least the past years, and is expected to continue.

A Look at Vanderbilt's Recent Admission History

In the past four years, Vanderbilt's acceptance rate has gradually declined from 7.8% to 5.08%, making it one of the most selective universities in the United States.

Our experts at Crimson suggest that this trend in declining acceptance rates at Vanderbilt might be related to the COVID-19; Vanderbilt adopted test-optional policies during the pandemic, allowing students to apply without submitting standardized test scores.

This could have led to a larger and potentially more diverse applicant pool, as students who might have been deterred by test requirements applied.

How Crimson Can Help You Stand Out

Vanderbilt's low acceptance rates and the broader trends in elite admissions highlight how challenging it has become to gain entry into top universities. In this highly competitive landscape, seeking guidance from experienced college admissions advisors can be a significant advantage.

Advisors offer personalized support throughout the complex application process, helping you:

• Craft a Compelling Narrative: They work with you to identify your unique strengths, passions, and experiences. This helps shape a cohesive application that showcases your potential to contribute to the Vanderbilt community.
• Navigate Strategic Choices: Advisors can provide insights on application timing (early vs. regular), test score submission, and highlight areas where you can further boost your profile.
• Excel in Every Aspect: From essay coaching to interview preparation, advisors ensure each application component is polished and demonstrates your preparedness for Vanderbilt's rigorous academic environment.

Proven Success in a Competitive Landscape

Crimson Education has a track record of helping students achieve their admissions goals. Our personalized approach and expertise in selective admissions have led to impressive results. This year alone, over 200 Crimson students were accepted to top US universities in the early round. Here's a breakdown of our early-round numbers:

• 126 offers to the Ivy League.
• 280+ offers to the US Top 20, including offers to Stanford, MIT, Caltech, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, University of Chicago, Rice, Vanderbilt, and University of Notre Dame.
• 15% of Ivy League and 27% of top 20 early round applicants received offers to their dream schools.
• 1280+ offers to the US Top 50, including offers to NYU, University of Michigan, Georgetown, Carnegie Mellon, Emory, University of Virginia, and Washington University in St. Louis.
• 1000+ offers to each student’s first choice school.