When Do Vanderbilt Decisions Come Out?

Nashville, TN
Updated:
August 28, 2023
Contents

”Rohan

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 5/2/23

Follow along to learn when you can expect your Vanderbilt decision.

Vanderbilt University is one of the most prolific schools in the Southeast and is ranked No. 14 in Best National Universities. If you’ve applied or are considering applying, you’re probably wondering when Vanderbilt decisions come out. 

If you’re ready to explore Vanderbilt’s gorgeous campus, this guide will cover when Vanderbilt decisions come out, what you need to know about each application timeline, and more.

About Vanderbilt

Founded in 1873, Vanderbilt University is a prestigious private research school dedicated to academic excellence and collaboration. This is Vanderbilt’s mission statement

“Our mission lies in the quest to bring out the best in humanity—pushing new ideas into the frontiers of discovery, challenging the limits of what’s possible and working diligently in the service of others.” 

Vanderbilt’s mission shows it’s committed to nurturing each student’s curiosities, critical thinking skills, compassion, and community spirit. 

Three main pillars summarize Vanderbilt's unique culture: 

  1. Collectively striving to succeed: Immersive learning, integrated research, and collaborative discovery blend together to provide students the opportunity to work as a team to push limits across disciplines. 
  2. Multi-perspective learning: A diverse campus with different perspectives helps cultivate future leaders. The school also emphasizes student involvement with more than 475 student organizations to join and participate. 
  3. A balance between a bustling city and an intimate campus: Nashville's liveliness mixed with its small-town vibe and Vanderbilt's cozy campus offers a unique experience for undergraduate students. 

Vanderbilt has four undergraduate schools, although many students study across disciplines to “feed their passions and inspire new ways to address issues and impact the world.” The schools are: 

Undergraduate research is another hallmark of the Vanderbilt experience. For example, these are some recent student research projects from the School of Engineering: 

Source: Vanderbilt

If you have an inquisitive mind and long to be a part of a tight-knit college culture, Vanderbilt may be an excellent addition to your school list. If you're interested in Vanderbilt but you haven't applied yet, take a look at our complete guide on how to improve your application.

When Do Vanderbilt Decisions Come Out? 

So, when do Vanderbilt decisions come out? The answer depends on when you apply. There are three decision plans for first-year applicants: Decision I, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision. While Vanderbilt hasn't supplied concrete dates for the 2022/2023 cycle, this is what we know so far. 

Early Decision I

This is the first round of Early Decision. Dates to be aware of include: 

  • Early November: Completed application deadline and priority filing deadline for financial aid.
  • Early December: Deadline for merit scholarship applications.
  • Mid-December: You will receive your admissions decision.

Early Decision II 

The second round of Early Decision gives applicants more time to submit their applications: 

  • Early December: Deadline for merit scholarship applications.
  • Early January: Completed application deadline and priority filing deadline for financial aid. 
  • Mid-February: Admissions decisions available. 

Regular Decision

Regular Decision follows the same timeline as Early Decision II, except you will receive your admissions decision later: 

  • Early December: Deadline for merit scholarship applications.
  • Early January: Deadline to submit applications and priority filing deadline for financial aid. 
  • Late March: You’ll receive your admissions decision. 

Transfers

Transfer applicants must all follow the same application timeline: 

  • Early February: Priority filing deadline for financial aid. 
  • Mid-March: Deadline to submit transfer applications. 
  • Late April: Decisions are available on a rolling basis starting in late April.

Pros and Cons of Each Program

These programs come with pros and cons: the best program for you depends on your wants and needs. 

Early Decision I 

Although many Vanderbilt applicants will choose to apply through RD, ED I has its benefits and cons.

ED I Pros ED I Cons
Generally higher acceptance rates
(15.7% acceptance rate in a recent cycle)
You’re up against fierce competition and generally impressive applications
You’ll receive your admissions decision sooner You have less time to work on your application materials
No need to worry about school selection if you’re accepted You can’t back out if you change your mind
Receiving your admissions decision sooner means less stress and more time enjoying your senior year You won’t be able to compare financial aid packages from other schools
Multimedia Designer $57,645
Advertising Designer $62,930

Source: Vanderbilt

ED I is best for students who know that Vanderbilt is their first-choice college, can start their application early and submit it on time, and who are comfortable with Vanderbilt's financial aid package. 

Early Decision II

ED II is similar to ED I but is pretty unique as far as Early Decision programs go.

ED II Pros ED II Cons
Generally higher acceptance rates than RD, but lower than
ED I
You’re up against fierce competition and generally impressive applications
You’ll still receive your admissions decision sooner than RD You have more time to work on your application
No need to worry about school selection if you’re accepted You can’t back out if you change your mind (ED II is also binding)
Receiving your admissions decision sooner means less stress and more time enjoying your senior year You won’t be able to compare financial aid packages from other schools
Multimedia Designer $57,645
Advertising Designer $62,930

ED II is unique because you’ll submit your applications in the same timeframe as RD applicants, but you’ll receive your admissions decision sooner. This program is also binding, meaning you must accept your offer if you’re accepted: you can’t choose another school. 

Regular Decision

Most applicants choose the Regular Decision pathway. Regular Decision pros and cons include:

RD Pros RD Cons
You have more time to craft a stellar application and decide which school you want to attend Generally lower acceptance rates, but you’re up against more applicants
You’re not bound to attend if you’re accepted and can keep your options open Choosing which school to attend can be challenging
You can compare financial aid packages from other schools You’ll need to wait longer to receive an admissions decision
Receiving your admissions decision sooner means less stress and more time enjoying your senior year You won’t be able to compare financial aid packages from other schools
Multimedia Designer $57,645
Advertising Designer $62,930

If you’re not confident that Vanderbilt is your first choice, Regular Decision is a better option for you. This pathway is best for students who want to keep their options open. 

Transfer Applicants 

Transfer applicants don’t have much choice: there’s only one application timeline. As such, the same pros and cons won’t apply. Transferring to Vanderbilt University is right for you’re currently enrolled in a college and know that Vanderbilt is your dream school. 

Given Vanderbilt’s relatively small undergraduate population, the school is transfer-friendly, accepting approximately 220 to 240 transfer students each fall.

Vanderbilt Decisions FAQs 

If you have more questions about when Vanderbilt decisions come out and more, check out these FAQs. 

1. What Time Do Vanderbilt Decisions Come Out? 

While we don’t have an exact time yet for the 2022/2023 cycle, decisions for Regular Decision applicants were available at 5 p.m. CT. 

2. Does Vanderbilt Submit Likely Letters? 

Vanderbilt has sent likely letters in the past. Likely letters indicate that a student is likely to be accepted at the school they applied to. However, receiving a likely letter does not mean your acceptance is guaranteed; not receiving a letter also doesn't mean you won't be accepted. 

3. What Is Vanderbilt’s Regular Decision Acceptance Rate?

Recent class profile data shows that Vanderbilt’s Regular Decision acceptance rate is 4.2%.

4. What Is Vanderbilt’s Early Decision Acceptance Rate? 

The Early Decision acceptance rate is 15.7%.

5. Is Vanderbilt Transfer Friendly? 

Since approximately 220 to 240 transfer students enroll at Vanderbilt each fall, we consider the school transfer-friendly. Vanderbilt states the school is "always looking to add dynamic, academically motivated students to our residential community – and transfer students are no different.”

6. How Likely Is It to Get Off the Vanderbilt Waitlist? 

Over the last five years, an average of 12% of each incoming class was admitted off the waitlist. If you get waitlisted after applying through Regular Decision, there’s still a chance you’ll get accepted. 

7. What’s the Difference Between Vanderbilt Early Decision I and II? 

The only difference between these ED plans is that you can submit your application later (and learn your admissions decision later) than you would through ED I. 

8. What Happens If My Vanderbilt Application Is Deferred? 

Don’t panic if your application is deferred: this means your application is still impressive, but the admissions committee wants to review it alongside RD applicants. Vanderbilt only started deferring applicants starting in 2021.

Final Thoughts 

While it may feel like forever until you receive your admissions decision, try to keep yourself busy as you wait. Now that you know when Vanderbilt decisions come out, you can evaluate your plans for the future. 

If Vanderbilt is on your college list, we wish you the best of luck with your application!

Quad Education's Editorial Policies and Standards
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Thanks ! You're now subscribed!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Get A Free Consultation

Speak to a college admissions expert about how we can help you get into your dream school
Schedule a Call

You May Also Like

Before you go, here are a few facts about us!
The Quad Factor: Working with us can increase your chances of admission by 7x!

The Best of the Best: Our team comprises of only 99th percentile tutors and admissions counselors from top-ranking universities, meaning you work with only the most experienced, talented experts.

The Free Consultation: Our experts would love to get to know you, your background, goals, and needs. From there, they match you with a best-fit consultant who will create a detailed project plan and application strategy focused on your success.