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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.
Vanderbilt University is a private university located in Nashville, TN. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. Admissions is extremely competitive, with an acceptance rate of merely 5%. The freshman retention rate at Vanderbilt University is 96% and the six-year graduation rate is 94%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 1. Here are some recent data on important things to consider about Vanderbilt University.
Quick Facts
7,221
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$61,618
Tuition
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
94%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to discover as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the school in order to improve your chances of being accepted. How difficult is it to get admitted to Vanderbilt University and what are the admission requirements?
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,662 in 2025.
Test Scores
27.4% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 24.6% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 98.4% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600 and 1.6% between 1,200 and 1,399. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 98.5, 1.5 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 3.89. This implies that you'll probably need a GPA above the average to secure admission.
Deadlines
The application deadline for Vanderbilt University is January 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university first-year students who return for their sophomore year. 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 2025, the freshman retention rate for Vanderbilt University was 96%, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 94%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. Gaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 13,575 students.
That year, the institution had 88% of students coming from another state. There was a total of 7,221 those pursuing undergraduate studies, including 806 international students. The school admitted a total of 359 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 5,714 male and 7,162 female full-time students in 2025. There were 2,287 full-time graduate male and 3,271 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 1,339, and the number of Black American students was 665. 819 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 410 identified with more than one race. The school also had 19 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 28 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 307 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this institution have.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $61,618 in 2025. Since Vanderbilt University is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $2,328.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,194.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2025, room and board cost at Vanderbilt University amounted to $20,978 a year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school added up to $13,484, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $13,484.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 61,618 |
| Room and Board | $ 20,978 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,194 |
| Total Expense | $ 83,790 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for a number of students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid you might get at Vanderbilt University.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 842 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students came to $76,750.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 3,550 students who received need-based financial aid of any kind. 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 ended up being 3,553. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $13,863,799, and state $3,322,668. The students of Vanderbilt University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $238,911,470, and external in the amount of $2,498,883.
$32,009
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-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.
231 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. 94 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $13,863,799 while the state aid is $7,997,117. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $26,945,985. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $1,717,351 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
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
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at Vanderbilt University was 8:1. That means that there were 8 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 1,266 teachers at this school. This number included 691 men and 575 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Vanderbilt University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about social life at Vanderbilt University.
Its campus is 330 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Participating in multiple student organizations can add depth and fulfillment to your educational journey.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Vanderbilt University band or chorus. For individuals with a passion for acting, there is a drama club available. You have a talent for media and communication? Vanderbilt University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
FAQ
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Vanderbilt University is located in Nashville, TN.
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Vanderbilt University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 61,618 USD per academic year for Vanderbilt University.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Vanderbilt University is 5%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Vanderbilt University is 96%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2025 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
