Colleges by Location
Colleges by Fields of Study
Colleges by Tuition Range
Colleges by GPA Range
College by SAT Range
Colleges by ACT Score
Graduate Schools by Location
Graduate Schools by Fields of Study
Graduate School by Degree Type
Paying for Graduate School
Online Graduate Programs
Test Preparation
Career Planning
College Planning
Graduate School Planning
Applying to Graduate School
Engineering Careers
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tennessee, is a prestigious private research institution known for its strong academics, vibrant campus life, and rich cultural opportunities. Established in 1873 by Cornelius Vanderbilt, the university is named after its founder who donated $1 million to establish the institution. Today, Vanderbilt is recognized as one of the leading universities in the United States, consistently ranking highly in national and global university rankings.
Academically, Vanderbilt offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across multiple disciplines. The university is known for its rigorous academics and commitment to research, fostering an environment where students are encouraged to explore their intellectual curiosity. Students have access to world-class faculty members who are leading experts in their fields, providing ample opportunities for mentorship and academic growth.
Beyond academics, Vanderbilt offers a vibrant and inclusive campus life. With over 500 student organizations, there are numerous extracurricular activities and clubs for students to get involved in, ranging from sports and cultural organizations to community service and leadership development. The university's Division I athletics program, known as the Commodores, competes in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and provides an exciting collegiate sports experience for students and fans alike. Additionally, Nashville's thriving music scene and diverse cultural events make the city an excellent backdrop for students to explore their passions beyond the campus.
Overall, Vanderbilt University offers a dynamic and enriching experience for students, combining strong academics, research opportunities, and a vibrant campus culture. Whether pursuing a degree in sciences, humanities, business, or engineering, students can expect to receive a high-quality education that prepares them for success in their chosen fields. With a supportive community, engaging campus life, and access to a thriving city, Vanderbilt provides an environment where students can thrive academically and personally.
Located in Nashville, TN and set in an urban environment, Vanderbilt University is a private university. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. Given an acceptance rate of only 6%, admissions is consider very competative. The freshman retention rate at Vanderbilt University is 96.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 93%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 1. To find out more about what Vanderbilt University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
7,152
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
6%
Acceptance Rate
$65,008
Tuition
7:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
93%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you learn as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly increase. What are the admission requirements for Vanderbilt University?
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,844 in 2024. Vanderbilt University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the candidate. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is one of the most difficult schools to get into. With a rich history of academic excellence, it offers an unparalleled educational experience.
Test Scores
25% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 26% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 97.3% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 2.7% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 0.2% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 99.8, 0.2 between 24-29, 0.4 in the range between 18-23, and 0.2 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.9. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Vanderbilt University.
Deadlines
The application deadline for this school is January 1.
6%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2024, the freshman retention rate for Vanderbilt University was 96.4%, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 93%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the best match for you. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2024, the institution enrolled 13,456 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 89% for that year. There was a total of 7,152 undergraduate students, including 716 international students. 280 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 5,710 male and 7,001 female full-time students in 2024. This school had 2,287 full-time graduate male and 3,271 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 1,326 Asian students and 745 Afro-American students in 2024. 854 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 420 as multirace. The school also had 22 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 32 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 251 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Vanderbilt University estimated tuition fees.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $65,008 in 2024. As Vanderbilt University is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students totaled $2,490 in 2024.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to take into consideration is the approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,194.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
At Vanderbilt University, the 2024 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $22,054. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2024 was $14,124 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $14,124.
| Tuition | $ 65,008 |
| Room and Board | $ 22,054 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,194 |
| Total Expense | $ 88,256 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Vanderbilt University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent records show that 889 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students equaled $71,283.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet some eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
3,467 students gained some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Vanderbilt University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 3,508. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $10,814,563, and state $3,226,493. The students of Vanderbilt University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $221,171,846, and external in the amount of $2,426,476.
$30,039
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
227 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2024. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 99 full-time freshmen. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $10,814,563 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $7,071,073. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $24,516,810. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,913,301 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
Majors
Faculty
7:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2024, this ratio at Vanderbilt University was 7:1. That means that there were 7 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 1,316 faculty members. This number included 716 male and 600 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Vanderbilt University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about social life at Vanderbilt University.
It has a campus size of 330 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
There are 500 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. This number includes sororities and fraternities. 27 percent of male and 43 of female students participate actively in different organizations at Vanderbilt University. If you are interested in music, you can join the Vanderbilt University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For individuals with an interest in media and communication, Vanderbilt University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Vanderbilt University, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of Vanderbilt University.
All in all, campus life at Vanderbilt University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Vanderbilt University.
Career Counselling
At Vanderbilt University, there is both group career counseling for full-time students and individual career counseling for full-time students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for full-time students only. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to full-time undergraduates only at this school.
FAQ
-
Vanderbilt University is located in Nashville, TN.
-
Vanderbilt University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
-
The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Vanderbilt University is 65,008 USD, based on the most recent data.
-
This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
-
The most recent reported acceptance rate for Vanderbilt University is 6%.
-
According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Vanderbilt University is 96.4%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
Find the best schools for you.
Need help with choosing grad school? We got you.
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.