What TOEFL score do you need for Vanderbilt University?

Undergraduate English scores must be sent directly by the testing agency or a high school official, and Vanderbilt does not superscore them. First-year applicants whose first language or language of instruction is English do not need a score, nor do those scoring above 26 on ACT English or above 630 on SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing.

The Graduate School receives TOEFL and IELTS scores under institution code 1871 and says some departments list higher minimums on their own websites. TOEFL iBT score reports issued since January 2026 also carry a 1 to 6 band score; see how the new TOEFL score scale works.

For comparison, the undergraduate page recommends IELTS 7.0, while the graduate page says the IELTS minimum varies by programme, with 7.0 often desirable.

Neither page offers conditional admission. Graduate applicants who meet the waiver criteria, such as a degree from an English-language university in a listed country, are not asked for a score. Vanderbilt's English Language Center runs academic English courses, and the Graduate School notes some students may be required to take them alongside their first year.

Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your Vanderbilt programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.