In 1873, on the heels of the Civil War, "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt gave $1 million to the university that now bears his name, with the hope that it would "contribute to strengthening the ties which should exist between all sections of our common country." Since then, Vanderbilt has consistently enrolled highly talented students and challenged them daily to expand their intellectual horizons in an inclusive environment based on open inquiry and respect. Vanderbilt's comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to education allows students to pursue a wide array of academic and curricular interests outside of their main focus of study, and the university's Opportunity Vanderbilt financial aid program ensures that it is often cited among the country's best values. Consistently ranked among the top 20 universities in the country by U.S. News & World Report, Vanderbilt is a private research university that features ten schools, four of which have undergraduate programs. Each year, 1,600 first-year students join the university, bringing the total undergraduate population to approximately 6,900 students, more than half of whom collaborate with professors on research across disciplines. The university's 7:1 student-faculty ratio gives students access to faculty members of prominence in every area of academic study. Faculty members provide a challenging, comprehensive education that encourages broad perspectives and critical thinking.
About
From the School
Contact & Visit
Campus Visits Contact
2305 West End Av
Nashville, TN 37203
Experience College Life
The Wond'ry
Student Recreation Center
Student Life Center
Sarratt Student Center
Grand Ole Opry; The Ryman; Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Titans Football; Predators Ice Hockey
Percy Priest Lake; Cheekwood Botanical Garden
The Parthenon; Frist Center for Visual Arts
Campus Tours
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
6153222561
Dates: Year-round
Times: 10:00 a.m.; 1:00 p.m.; 2:30 p.m.
Average Length: 2 hours
On Campus Interview
Faculty and Coach Visits
Class Visits
Overnight Dorm Stays
Transportation
Admissions
Admissions
Overall
From The School
Vanderbilt seeks students with high standards of scholarship and character who are significantly engaged in their community. Admission is based on a holistic review of academic and personal credentials. The typical applicant will have completed 20 or more units in a challenging high school curriculum, including at least two years of a foreign language. School of Engineering applicants should complete at least four units of mathematics including calculus and physics.
Generally, applicants who are admitted to Vanderbilt have exceptional academic credentials and are highly engaged in their communities, often serving in leadership roles. Admissions decisions are based on strength of high school transcript, standardized test results (either the SAT or ACT), personal essays, official recommendations, and extracurricular activities. SAT Subject Tests are not required.
Students may apply to Vanderbilt through Early Decision I or II, or Regular Decision. Early Decision I and II are binding decision plans, and may be appropriate for students who are committed to attending Vanderbilt if they are admitted. The application deadline is November 1 for Early Decision I and January 1 for Early Decision II; admissions decisions are available by mid-December for Early Decision I and by mid-February for Early Decision II. Regular Decision applications are due January 1 and admissions decisions are available by late March.
To apply, applicants must submit official standardized test scores and all required parts of the Common Application, Coalition Application, or QuestBridge Application, including two academic teacher letters of recommendation, a counselor letter of recommendation, an official high school transcript, and a $50 application fee, or fee waiver for qualified students. In addition to completing standard application materials, applicants to the Blair School of Music must submit a Blair Acceptd Application, which includes a prescreening video. Selected applicants will be invited to audition in person.
Campus visits are encouraged, although a student's demonstrated interest in Vanderbilt is not considered in admissions decisions. Students should visit vu.edu/visit to learn about group information sessions, campus tours, and half-and full-day visit programs. To visit Vanderbilt without traveling, take the virtual tour at vu.edu/virtualtour. Vanderbilt does not conduct on-campus interviews, but optional alumni interviews are available to first-year applicants in many locations.
Overview
SAT & ACT Test Scores
Testing Policies
Deadlines
Early Decision — November 1
Early Decision II — January 1
Regular — January 1
Other Admission Factors
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Class Rank
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Selectivity Rating
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Learn MoreAcademics
Academics
Overall
From The School
Academic Programs
Students apply directly to one of Vanderbilt's four undergraduate schools: the College of Arts and Science, School of Engineering, Peabody College of Education and Human Development, or Blair School of Music. In all four schools, honors programs and opportunities for research, independent study, and internships are available. About 30 percent of undergraduate students pursue double majors within or across the four undergraduate schools, and about half add an optional minor. The College of Arts and Science (A&S) offers a wide spectrum of courses in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences along with majors in 50 departments and interdisciplinary areas. The core curriculum, AXLE (Achieving eXcellence in Liberal Education), fosters critical thinking, analytical expertise from diverse perspectives, and effective written and oral communication skills. The Blair School of Music offers the Bachelor of Music degree in composition, integrated studies, integrated studies/teacher education, and performance. Instruction is available in every instrument of the orchestra as well as piano, euphonium, saxophone, and voice. Unlike many schools of music, Blair has no graduate students. The curriculum combines intensive musical training with liberal arts studies. The Blair School also offers music minors and a wide variety of courses, private instruction, and performing organizations for non-majors.
For more than 125 years, the School of Engineering has educated engineers for careers in industry, government, consulting, teaching, and research. In addition to technical courses, each student's program includes a complement of course work in the humanities and social sciences, resulting in a balanced foundation for future achievement. All programs leading to a Bachelor of Engineering degree are ABET-accredited, and students can earn the Bachelor of Science degree while majoring in Computer Science or Engineering Science.
Ranked one of the top eight graduate school of education (according to U.S. News & World Report) for more than twenty consecutive years, Peabody College offers degree programs leading to teacher certification and to careers in other areas of education and human development, including child development, child studies, cognitive studies, and human and organizational development. The degree reflects a strong liberal arts foundation combined with a solid program of pre-professional courses and a multitude of internship and practicum opportunities. All undergraduates must complete requirements in communications, the humanities, mathematics, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. Students gain an abundance of field experiences throughout their four years.
All first-year students entering Vanderbilt in summer or fall 2018 and beyond (and all transfer students entering summer or fall 2019 and beyond) will complete an immersion experience as part of their graduation requirements. Immersion Vanderbilt provides students with the opportunity to pursue their passions and cultivate intellectual interests by calling for each undergraduate to undertake an intensive learning experience in and beyond the classroom, culminating in the creation of a final project. Students will engage in a civic and professional, creative expression, international, or research immersion experience.
Majors and Degrees Offered
Degrees are offered in African American and Diaspora studies; American studies; anthropology; art; Asian studies; biochemistry and chemical biology; biological sciences; biomedical engineering; chemical engineering; chemistry; child development; child studies; cinema and media arts; civil engineering; classical and Mediterranean studies; cognitive studies; communication of science and technology; communication studies; computer engineering; computer science; earth and environmental sciences; ecology, evolution, and organismal biology; economics; economics and history; education (early childhood and elementary, secondary, and special education); electrical engineering; engineering science; English; environmental sociology; European studies; French; French and European studies; German studies; German and European studies; history; history of art; human and organizational development; integrated studies; integrated studies/teacher education; Italian and European studies; Jewish studies; Latin American studies; Latino and Latina Studies; law, history, and society; mathematics; mechanical engineering; medicine, health, and society; molecular and cellular biology; music composition; music performance; neuroscience; philosophy; physics; political science; psychology; public policy studies; religious studies; Russian; Russian, East European, and European studies, sociology; Spanish, Spanish and European studies; Spanish and Portuguese; Spanish, Portuguese, and European studies; theatre; women's and gender studies.
Faculty and Class Information
Graduation Rates
Majors
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AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
African-American/Black Studies.
American/United States Studies/Civilization.
Asian Studies/Civilization.
European Studies/Civilization.
German Studies.
Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies.
Latin American Studies.
Women's Studies.
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BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
Biochemistry.
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Molecular Biology.
Neuroscience.
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COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND RELATED PROGRAMS.
Speech Communication and Rhetoric.
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COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
Computer Science.
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EDUCATION.
Early Childhood Education and Teaching.
Education, General.
Education, Other.
Elementary Education and Teaching.
Foreign Language Teacher Education.
Music Teacher Education.
Secondary Education and Teaching.
Special Education and Teaching, General.
Teacher Education, Multiple Levels.
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ENGINEERING.
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering.
Chemical Engineering.
Civil Engineering, General.
Computer Engineering, General.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Engineering Science.
Mechanical Engineering.
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
English Language and Literature, General.
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FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES/HUMAN SCIENCES.
Child Development.
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FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General.
German Language and Literature.
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General.
Russian Language and Literature.
Spanish Language and Literature.
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HISTORY.
History, General.
History, Other.
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LEGAL PROFESSIONS AND STUDIES.
Legal Studies, General.
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LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES.
General Studies.
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MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
Mathematics, General.
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MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.
Ancient Studies/Civilization.
Cognitive Science.
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
Science, Technology and Society.
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PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
Jewish/Judaic Studies.
Philosophy.
Religion/Religious Studies.
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PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
Chemistry, General.
Geology/Earth Science, General.
Physics, General.
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PSYCHOLOGY.
Developmental and Child Psychology.
Psychology, General.
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PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS.
Public Policy Analysis, General.
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SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Anthropology.
Economics, General.
Political Science and Government, General.
Social Sciences, General.
Sociology.
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VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
Art History, Criticism and Conservation.
Brass Instruments.
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
Film/Cinema/Video Studies.
Fine/Studio Arts, General.
Keyboard Instruments.
Music Theory and Composition.
Music, General.
Music, Other.
Percussion Instruments.
Stringed Instruments.
Voice and Opera.
Woodwind Instruments.
Students Say
Degrees
Doctoral
Doctoral/Professional
Doctoral/Research
Master's
Post-Master's certificate
Career Services
Alumni Network
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Internship
Notable Faculty
Prominent Alumni
Academic Rating
Careers
Graduation Rates
Career Services
Alumni Network
Classes
Interest Inventory
Internships
Internship
ROI & Outcomes
Students Say
Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Overview
From The School
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
The estimated costs for 2019-2020 include: tuition, $50,788; housing, $11,044; meals, $5,866; books and supplies, $1,294; student activities and recreation fee, $1,272; personal expenses allowance, $2,874; travel allowance varies; first-year experience fee, $836; new student transcript fee, $100; engineering lab fee*, $800; and engineering laptop allowance*, $1,600 *The engineering laptop allowance and laboratory fee are for engineering students only. First-year engineering students are required to provide their own computer that meets published requirements.
Financial Aid
Through Opportunity Vanderbilt, the university makes three important commitments to ensure that students from many different economic circumstances can enroll as undergraduates at Vanderbilt: the admissions process is need-blind for all U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens; Vanderbilt meets 100 percent of demonstrated need for all admitted students; and Vanderbilt's financial aid packages do not include loans. This initiative does not involve income bands or income cutoffs that limit eligibility. Need-based aid is awarded according to the evaluation of the FAFSA and the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE.
Vanderbilt also awards approximately 250 merit-based scholarships to select first-year applicants who demonstrate exceptional accomplishment and intellectual promise. Three signature scholarships comprise the majority of these merit scholarships: the Ingram Scholarship Program, the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship, and the Chancellor's Scholarship.
In the 2018/2019 school year, 65 percent of the University's undergraduate students received some type of financial assistance.
Dates
Required Forms
Forms CSSProfile
Financial Aid Statistics
Expenses per Academic Year
Available Aid
Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
Need-Based Federal Pell
Need-Based Private Scholarships
Need-Based SEOG
Need-Based State Scholarships
Need-Based United Negro College Fund
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Financial Aid Rating
Student Body
Student Body
Overall
From The School
Vanderbilt undergraduates come from all 50 states and 52 countries, 51% are female, 49% are male, 41.0% are minority students and 8.8% are international students. Vanderbilt is recognized for an active campus life, where students balance their academic lives with enriching experiences outside the classroom. Students can select from among 430+ student-run organizations, including pre-professional, cultural, religious, political, recreational, and social clubs. Elected representatives of Vanderbilt Student Government work in conjunction with other student leaders and faculty to bring noted speakers, events, and musicians to campus. Vanderbilt also has a thriving college athletics program. A founding member of the SEC, Vanderbilt has 16 Division I teams that have won four national championships and 30 individual and team league championships since 2000.
Student Body Profile
Demographics
Students Say
Campus Life
Campus Life
Overview
From The School
Location
Vanderbilt offers a park-like campus located in the heart of downtown Nashville giving you access to the best of both worlds – an arboretum-like campus to call home surrounded by a vibrant city filled with live music, food, and exciting events.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
Vanderbilt University is located 1.5 miles southwest of downtown Nashville on a 330-acre, park-like campus that was designated an official arboretum in 1988. The university shares a name with and enjoys close collaboration with the separate, nonprofit Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The university comprises 178 buildings, including the Jean and Alexander Heard Library, home to over 8 million items. All first-year students live on The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons, a living-learning community for first-year students. Recent additions include Warren and Moore residential colleges, living-learning communities for upperclass students; a 230,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Engineering and Science Building; and a cross-disciplinary creative and makerspace called the Wond'ry, the new campus epicenter for innovation and entrepreneurship. The E. Bronson Ingram College, the newest residential college for upperclass students, opened August 2018. The university's planned expansion will bring about the addition of three more residential colleges by 2023.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Study abroad programs allow students to immerse themselves in languages and cultures around the world. More than 120 programs are offered in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, China, Cuba, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, England, France, Israel, India, Italy, Japan, Nepal, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, and Spain, among others. Students receive direct credit for courses, and the cost of tuition is usually the same as for study on campus in Nashville. In addition, any scholarships, grants, or loans a student has been awarded apply to Vanderbilt study abroad programs. Students may also work with an adviser to participate in programs sponsored by other universities.
Students also take advantage of internships in many industries located in Nashville, including entertainment, business, health care, government, publishing, and education.
Campus Life
Housing Options
Disabled Student
Dorms Coed
Dorms Female
Frat Sorority
Other
Theme Housing
Students Say
Special Needs Admissions
Special Need Services Offered
Student Activities
Sports
Basketball
Cross Country
Football
Golf
Tennis
Bowling
Cross Country
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Outdoor
Student Services
Health
Womens Center
LGBT Support Groups
Minority Support Groups
Army ROTC Offered on-campus
Navy ROTC Offered on-campus
Air Force ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: Tennessee State University
Sustainability
Data provided by Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), STARS®, as of March, 2022.
Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/