Vanderbilt ACT: Average Scores, Ranges, and What You Need to Know

With an average composite score of 35 and a range spanning from 34 to 35, Vanderbilt University is one of the most highly selective schools in the country, attracting some of the strongest test takers in the nation. The fact that the middle 50% of admitted students achieved scores of just 34 and 35 demonstrates how narrow the competitive band is at Vanderbilt. This school receives nearly 45,000 applications annually but accepts fewer than 2,700 students, which means test scores at the top of the scale are the norm rather than the exception. Achieving a score at or above this range puts you in the ballpark academically, but it absolutely does not guarantee admission to this exceptionally selective institution.

A good ACT score for Vanderbilt typically means scoring at least a 34, which represents the lower end of the middle 50% range for admitted students. However, it is critical to understand that an ACT score of 34 or even 35 does not get you admitted to Vanderbilt. Many applicants with these scores, and even some with perfect scores, are rejected each year because Vanderbilt evaluates your entire application as a whole. Your essays, recommendations, grades, the rigor of your coursework, extracurricular activities, and what you will contribute to the Vanderbilt community all play significant roles in the decision.

While Vanderbilt does not publish an official minimum ACT score requirement, you should realistically aim for at least a 34 to have a competitive application. Scoring below 33 would place you below the 25th percentile and would make admission extremely unlikely unless you have truly exceptional strengths elsewhere in your application that stand out. That said, Vanderbilt states clearly that they conduct a holistic review, so if your ACT score falls short but you have other remarkable achievements, talents, or experiences, you should not rule out applying. Just be realistic about your odds if your score is notably outside their typical range.

Vanderbilt University maintains a test-optional policy through fall 2027, meaning you are not required to submit ACT or SAT scores when applying. However, Vanderbilt encourages you to submit test scores if you feel they strengthen your application and demonstrate your academic capabilities. If you choose not to submit test scores, your application will not be disadvantaged in the review process. That said, the reality is that most students with strong scores choose to submit them, so keep in mind that forgoing test scores when you have a competitive result may put you at a slight disadvantage in a highly selective applicant pool.

Vanderbilt employs a superscoring method for the ACT, which is beneficial if you take the exam multiple times. The school will combine your highest individual section scores from all your test dates to calculate your best possible composite score. This means you can take the ACT several times, improve specific sections on different attempts, and Vanderbilt will piece together your strongest result. The Writing and Science sections of the ACT are not required when you submit your scores, giving you additional flexibility in how you present your testing profile to the admissions team.

Understanding how Vanderbilt uses your ACT score requires recognizing that it is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. The admissions committee examines your course rigor, grades, personal essays, teacher recommendations, leadership experiences, and demonstrated interests alongside your test score. Even applicants with a 35 or 36 ACT can be rejected because Vanderbilt is searching for students who will thrive intellectually and make meaningful contributions to campus life. Your test score helps confirm that you have the intellectual capability to handle Vanderbilt's rigorous academics, but it does not make the case for your admission on its own.

At a school as selective as Vanderbilt, having strong test scores actually narrows the applicant pool but does not differentiate you from the thousands of other high-scoring students competing for roughly 2,700 spots. Instead, admissions officers focus intensely on what makes you unique as a person and student. They want to understand your passions, what drives your curiosity, what challenges you have overcome, how you think about the world, and specifically how you will enrich the Vanderbilt community. Your ACT score signals that you possess the intellectual foundation to succeed at Vanderbilt, but the rest of your application must demonstrate why you deserve one of the precious few spots they have available. This is why two students with identical ACT scores can have vastly different admission outcomes at Vanderbilt.

AdmitStudio users who have found success at top colleges often approach their applications as a single, cohesive story, not a checklist of impressive achievements. Rather than treating essays, activities, and recommendations as separate pieces, they focus on presenting themselves as a clear, memorable individual with defined values, motivations, and strengths. Their essays help admissions officers understand why they pursued certain activities, how their experiences shaped them, and what kind of person they would be on campus. This clarity makes it easier for readers to grasp who the applicant is within just a few minutes of review.

AdmitStudio users who are successful also tend to use their essays to connect and reinforce the rest of their application, not repeat it. The essay highlights a few core traits, such as curiosity, leadership, resilience, or initiative, while the activities list and recommendations quietly support those same traits with evidence. By aligning every part of the application around a consistent narrative, these students stand out not because they try to be extraordinary, but because they are specific, authentic, and intentional. Admissions officers come away with a strong sense of the applicant's identity and how they would uniquely contribute to the university community.