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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. The selection process is very rigorous, with an acceptance rate of merely 5%. The freshman retention rate at Vanderbilt University is 96% and the six-year graduation rate is 94%.
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
7,221
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$61,618
Tuition
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
94%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you discover as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will significantly increase. Here are the most vital information you should know about admission at Vanderbilt University.
According to the newest information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,662 in 2025.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 27.4% and ACT scores 24.6%. 98.4% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600 and 1.6% between 1,200 and 1,399. The percent of freshmen 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. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Vanderbilt University.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university first-year students who return for their sophomore year. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Vanderbilt University was 96%, which is an amazing retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 94%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Making the decision of which school is the best match for you is not easy. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 13,575 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 88. There was a total of 7,221 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 806 international students. The school reported to have a total of 359 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 5,714 male and 7,162 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution. This school had 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. 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.
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 Afro-American students was 665. 819 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 410 as multirace. The school also had 19 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 28 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 307 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. 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 cost for this university.
Tuition in 2025 was $61,618 for full-time domestic students. As Vanderbilt University is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $2,328 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about 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
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Vanderbilt University was $20,978 per academic year. If you only needed a room on the campus, it cost $13,484 for the 2025 academic year. 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
Getting some financial support in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be crucial for completing your studies. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid at Vanderbilt University.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 842 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $76,750.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
3,550 students were awarded some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Vanderbilt University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 3,553. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $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
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 231 students overall (including freshmen) at Vanderbilt University in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 94 full-time freshman. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $13,863,799 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $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. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,717,351 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
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
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 faculty members at this school. Out of that number, there were 691 male and 575 female faculty members.
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 info about social life at Vanderbilt University.
Its campus spans 330 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Vanderbilt University band or chorus. For individuals with a penchant for acting, there is a drama club offering an opportunity to get involved. Interested in 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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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Vanderbilt University is 61,618 USD, based on the most recent data.
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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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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Vanderbilt University is 96%.
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.
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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.