Nashville, Tennessee, US
Vanderbilt University: English test requirements
Vanderbilt gives undergraduates a recommended-minimum chart and graduate students a Graduate School minimum that varies by programme. SAT and ACT are optional for entry in 2027 and 2028 and will be required for fall 2029 entry.
Checked on 31 Oct 2026 against the university's own pages. Universities change their requirements, and some courses ask for more. Always confirm on the university's page before you book a test or apply.
IELTS
UG 7.0
PG 7
TOEFL iBT
UG 5
PG 89
PTE Academic
UG Not on the list
PG Not on the list
Duolingo English Test
UG 130
PG 130
Undergraduate
The chart is headed 'Recommended minimum score'. Scores are not required from applicants whose first language or language of instruction is English, or who score above 26 on the ACT English section or above 630 on the SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing section. Tests are not superscored. TOEFL is printed as 5 with no scale name.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 7.0recommended | Accepted | |
| TOEFL iBT (including Home and Paper Editions) | 5recommended | Accepted | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the list | |
| Duolingo English Test | 130recommended | Accepted | |
| Cambridge English C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | 185recommended | Accepted | |
| LanguageCert | 75recommended | Accepted | |
| TOEFL Essentials | 10.5recommended | Accepted |
“Applicants whose first language or language of instruction is English are not required to submit English proficiency exam scores.”
Undergraduate: first-year application process (international applicants)
Graduate
Central Graduate School rule. The page says the score level required for admission varies by programme, so departments may ask for more. Applicants with an equivalent degree from an English-language university in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Nigeria, Ghana, India, New Zealand or Canada (except Quebec) are exempt. The TOEFL figure is printed as 89 with no scale name.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | varies by programme; a score of at least 7.0 is described as desirable in many casesrecommended | Accepted | |
| TOEFL iBT | 89 | Accepted | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the list | |
| Duolingo English Test | 130 | Accepted |
“For the Duolingo English Test, the minimum accepted score is 130.”
Graduate School: application requirements
Admissions tests
SAT / ACT · First-year applicants
Required from September 2029
Optional for fall 2027 and fall 2028 entry (applicants choose whether scores are considered); required for students applying for fall 2029 entry. The date shown marks the 2029 entry term, not an application date. The policy covers international and homeschool students and transfers.
“Vanderbilt will require standardized testing scores.”
GMAT / GRE · Owen full-time MBA
Required
An official GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment score or an approved test waiver is a required component. No minimum is stated on the page.
“Vanderbilt accepts the GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment.”
Other tests the university lists
- TOEFL Essentials (undergraduate and Owen MBA)
- LanguageCert (undergraduate)
“Not on the list” means the test does not appear on the university page we checked. It does not mean the test is refused: the course page or the admissions office may still accept it, so ask them.
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