Admissions data checked October 9, 2026 by Florida Test Prep.
Vanderbilt University reports a middle 50% SAT of 1510 to 1560 (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 median 1530; 24% submitted SAT). We use 1540 as a first planning target, then adjust it to the student's diagnostic and timeline. It is not an admission requirement or a guarantee.
| Middle 50% SAT | 1510 to 1560 (enrolled, CDS 2025-26, fall 2025 median 1530; 24% submitted SAT) |
| Middle 50% ACT | 34 to 35 |
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% (fall 2025, 48,196 applicants) |
| Testing for 2026-27 | Test-optional for Fall 2027 and 2028; required again for Fall 2029 |
| Type | Private university |
Source: Vanderbilt official admissions data. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not a cutoff.
Only 24% of Vanderbilt's enrolled first-years submitted an SAT score, versus 28% for the ACT.
| School | Middle 50% SAT | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University | 1510 to 1560 | 5.4% |
| University of Tennessee, Knoxville | 1280 to 1380 | 43.6% |
| Belmont University | 1160 to 1360 | 93.7% |
| University of the South (Sewanee) | 1230 to 1358 | 50.9% |
| Tennessee Technological University | 1040 to 1270 | 78.7% |
| Middle Tennessee State University | 1020 to 1220 | 63.6% |
Cohorts differ by school (admitted vs enrolled, and year). See every school with its cohort and source on SAT Scores for Tennessee Colleges.
Tennessee's lottery-funded HOPE and GAMS scholarships pay real money tied to a single-sitting ACT or SAT score.
HOPE Scholarship: SAT 1060. Up to $4,500/year (freshman/sophomore) and $5,700/year (junior/senior), qualifying on either a 1060 SAT / 21 ACT or a 3.0 weighted GPA.
General Assembly Merit Scholarship (on top of HOPE): SAT 1330. An extra $1,000/year on top of HOPE, requiring both a 1330 SAT / 29 ACT AND a 3.75 weighted GPA.
The full rules, deadlines and class years are on our Tennessee SAT prep page.
| College | State | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pennsylvania | 1510 to 1560 |
| Columbia College and Columbia Engineering | New York | 1510 to 1560 |
| Rice University | Texas | 1510 to 1560 |
| Duke University | North Carolina | 1510 to 1570 |
A score that is competitive at Vanderbilt lands in the same part of the range at these schools. Cohorts differ by school, so read each page's notes before comparing.
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Find my teen's target scoreThere is no published minimum; the middle half of the reported group scored 1510 to 1560. A score at or above 1560 puts a student in the top quarter of that group. A score near 1510 is within the range, and grades, coursework and the rest of the application still decide the outcome.
Vanderbilt lists its policy as: Test-optional for Fall 2027 and 2028; required again for Fall 2029. Check the official admissions page for your entry term before choosing test dates.
5.4% (fall 2025, 48,196 applicants). Rates vary by program and residency, so read the overall figure as context, not a personal prediction.
No. A middle 50% is a description of last year's group, not a cutoff in either direction. It tells you where a score is competitive, which is the useful part for planning test dates.
Want to know what your teen needs for Vanderbilt? Their target, their gap and the weeks to close it are what we map in the free Strategy Session.
Book the free Strategy Session. You leave with your teen's target score, their gap, and a 6 to 12 week plan. Yours to keep either way.
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