Vanderbilt University
A highly selective Nashville research university where every first-year lives on one residential Commons and aid comes without loans.
- Acceptance rate
- 5.4%
- Fall 2025 entering class (Common Data Set 2025-26); applying now for fall 2027
- Students
- 13,586
- 7,366 undergraduates
- International
- 11%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 8:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $69,822
- 2026-27
About Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt University was founded in 1873 with a $1 million gift from shipping and railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who backed a university in the South that would "contribute to strengthening the ties which should exist between all sections of our common country." It began with a single Main Building, now Kirkland Hall, and today has about 7,366 undergraduates and 6,220 graduate and professional students in 12 schools and colleges on a 340-acre campus, an accredited arboretum 1.5 miles from downtown Nashville.
Undergraduates enter one of five schools: the College of Arts and Science, the School of Engineering, Peabody College of Education and Human Development, the Blair School of Music, and the new College of Connected Computing, which admits its first students for fall 2027. With more than 65 majors and 70 minors, 44% of students double major, 62% do research and 47% study abroad. All first-years live together in ten houses on The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons, each led by a faculty head of house.
Admission is extremely competitive: Vanderbilt admitted 5.4% of 48,196 first-year applicants for fall 2025. It is test-optional for fall 2027 and 2028 entry but will require the SAT or ACT from fall 2029. For US citizens and eligible noncitizens it is need-blind and meets 100% of demonstrated need without loans. It suits academically driven students who want a residential campus, SEC athletics and a real city on the doorstep.
Crescere aude
“Dare to grow” — university motto
Why students choose Vanderbilt
Opportunity Vanderbilt meets 100% of demonstrated need without loans, gives at least a full-tuition scholarship to households with income of $200,000 or less (typical assets), and those under $200,000 typically receive awards larger than full tuition.
Every first-year lives on The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons, one of ten houses each led by a faculty member who lives alongside students.
Vanderbilt awards over 225 full-tuition merit scholarships a year, including the Ingram, Cornelius Vanderbilt and Chancellor's scholarships, open to international applicants too.
Immersion Vanderbilt has every student design an immersive project with a faculty mentor, and 62% of undergraduates take part in research.
Admissions
Fall 2025 entering class (Common Data Set 2025-26); applying now for fall 2027
About 1 in 19 applicants is admitted
2,593 admitted from 48,196 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
For fall 2025, 2,593 of 48,196 first-year applicants were admitted and 1,635 enrolled. Early Decision admitted 874 of 6,202 applicants (about 14%). Vanderbilt does not offer Early Action and does not consider demonstrated interest.
Deadlines
- Early Decision I Binding Next deadline · In 26 daysNovember 1, 2026
Decisions mid-December; CSS Profile and FAFSA priority deadline November 1; deposit due December 31, 2026.
- Merit scholarship application Non-binding In 56 daysDecember 1, 2026
Deadline for Ingram, Cornelius Vanderbilt and Chancellor's scholarship applications for all decision plans, submitted in MyAppVU; the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship application is required to be considered.
- Early Decision II Binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 1, 2027
Decisions mid-February 2027; deposit due March 1, 2027.
- Regular Decision Non-binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 1, 2027
Decisions late March 2027; CSS Profile and FAFSA priority deadline February 1, 2027; reply by May 1, 2027.
Dates from Vanderbilt's first-year dates and deadlines for fall 2027 entry. Blair School of Music applications are due November 1 for ED I and by December 1 (priority) for ED II and RD. Decision plans can be changed in MyAppVU up to two weeks after a deadline.
How to apply
Common App, Coalition (powered by Scoir) or QuestBridge: personal essay and Vanderbilt short answer, $50 fee or waiver, official transcript, counselor letter and two academic teacher letters; SAT/ACT optional. Blair applicants add the Blair School of Music Application with a prescreening video. Optional Glimpse video (US high school students) or InitialView interview (international); Vanderbilt does not interview.
What admissions looks for
- A very rigorous course load: most successful applicants have taken the most challenging curriculum available, typically five academic subjects each year.
- Academic record, class rank, GPA, essay, extracurricular activities and character are all rated very important in Vanderbilt's Common Data Set.
- Leadership and engagement outside the classroom: Vanderbilt looks for activities that have nurtured your growth as a leader.
- Intellectual curiosity; readers are trained to look for reasons to admit each candidate rather than reasons to deny.
Tips for applying to Vanderbilt
- 1 Submit the merit scholarship application by December 1 even if you apply Early Decision; merit awards are decided in February and March for everyone.
- 2 Decide on testing carefully: you cannot switch between test-optional and test-submitted review after you apply.
- 3 International students seeking need-based aid are reviewed need-aware and must file the CSS Profile or ISFAA by the deadline for their plan (November 1, January 1 or February 1).
- 4 Use the optional Glimpse video or InitialView interview to add a personal voice, since Vanderbilt does not offer admissions interviews.
- 5 Aim music applications at Blair early: the Blair application unlocks only after your main application creates your MyAppVU portal.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for Vanderbilt University
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
Opportunity Vanderbilt is need-blind for US citizens and eligible noncitizens, meets 100% of demonstrated need, and includes no loans; households with income of $200,000 or less (typical assets) get at least full tuition, and those under $200,000 typically receive awards above full tuition. International students can receive need-based aid (need-aware admission, limited number) and are eligible for all merit scholarships; over 225 full-tuition merit awards are made each year.
- $96,896 (plus about $3,098 books and personal allowance; travel varies)
- Direct cost of attendance 2026-27
- $97,667
- Median award, families earning $50,000-$74,999 (fall 2025 first-years)
- $79,177, with 100% of need met
- Average need-based aid package (2025-26)
- 64%
- Undergraduates receiving some form of financial assistance
- 89 students from 54 countries, $16,815-$99,998 per year
- International students offered aid (fall 2026 admits)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
College of Connected Computing
Vanderbilt's newest undergraduate school, admitting its first students for fall 2027.
Peabody College of Education and Human Development
Teacher-education students spend as much time in Nashville's public schools as in campus seminars, with licensure pathways in elementary, secondary and special education.
Blair School of Music
A conservatory-style school inside a research university; the Blair Ovation Award covers required direct costs for eligible admitted students.
School of Engineering
Research spans robotics, tissue engineering and biomedical optics, with the Wond'ry innovation center on campus.
Immersion Vanderbilt
Every undergraduate designs an immersive project in and beyond the classroom under a faculty mentor.
Research
- Vanderbilt reports more than $1 billion in annual research and development expenditures and 1,192 awards totaling $354 million in FY25.
- The National Science Foundation places Vanderbilt in the top 10 private universities for research and innovation, according to the university.
- Vanderbilt and the separate Vanderbilt University Medical Center collaborate closely on education and research.
- Affiliated centers include the Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities and the Dyer Observatory.
Schools & faculties
- College of Arts and Science
- School of Engineering
- Peabody College of Education and Human Development
- Blair School of Music
- College of Connected Computing
- Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang College of Art, Architecture and Design
- Owen Graduate School of Management
- Law School
- School of Medicine
- School of Nursing
- Divinity School
- Graduate School
93% of 2024 graduates were employed or in graduate school within six months; mean starting salary for the Class of 2024 was $85,000. In 2024, 69.3% of first-time applicants were accepted to medical school versus 46% nationally. College Scorecard reports median earnings of $91,565 ten years after entry for students who received federal aid.
Student life
All first-years live on The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons in one of ten houses, assigned randomly and each led by a faculty head of house, with programs such as iSeminars and the Commons Cup. After the first year students continue in residential colleges, living-learning communities or traditional halls; about 80% live on campus all four years. There are 450+ student organizations, including 140+ cultural groups, 34 club sports and Greek life, and the Commodores compete in the Southeastern Conference.
- The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons houses the entire first-year class in ten faculty-led houses.
- 450+ student organizations, including more than 140 cultural organizations, and 34 club sports.
- 17 NCAA Division I varsity teams in the Southeastern Conference, of which Vanderbilt is a founding member.
- The 340-acre campus is an accredited arboretum just 1.5 miles from downtown Nashville.
Housing. All first-years live on The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons, and about 80% of students live on campus all four years.
Location
Vanderbilt sits in Nashville, Tennessee, a metro area of over 2 million people known as Music City, with about 180 live music venues. Campus is roughly 1.5 miles from downtown, so internships, concerts and restaurants are close, while the leafy arboretum campus feels self-contained. Summers are hot and humid and winters mild.
Nearest airport: Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Notable alumni
- AG Al Gore45th vice president of the United States and Nobel Peace Prize laureate; attended Vanderbilt's Divinity School and Law School
- MY Muhammad YunusNobel Peace Prize-winning pioneer of microcredit; PhD in economics, 1969
- SM Stanford MooreBiochemist who shared the 1972 Nobel Prize in Chemistry; graduated summa cum laude in 1935
- JP James PattersonBest-selling novelist (Alex Cross series); MA in English
- AG Amy GrantSinger-songwriter who crossed over from Christian music to pop
- DS Dinah ShoreSinger, actress and television host
- RC Rosanne CashSinger-songwriter and author; studied English and drama at Vanderbilt
Frequently asked questions
What is Vanderbilt's acceptance rate?
For fall 2025, Vanderbilt admitted 2,593 of 48,196 first-year applicants, about 5.4%. Early Decision admitted 874 of 6,202 applicants.
Is Vanderbilt test-optional for fall 2027?
Yes, for fall 2027 and 2028 entry; scores will be required from fall 2029. Enrolled students who submitted scores in fall 2025 had a middle 50% SAT of 1510-1560 and ACT of 34-35.
Does Vanderbilt have Early Action?
No. Vanderbilt offers binding Early Decision I (November 1, 2026) and Early Decision II (January 1, 2027), plus non-binding Regular Decision (January 1, 2027).
Is Vanderbilt need-blind for international students?
No. It is need-blind for US citizens and eligible noncitizens, but need-aware for international applicants who request need-based aid. For fall 2026, 89 international admits from 54 countries were offered aid ranging from $16,815 to $99,998 a year.
How much does Vanderbilt cost per year?
For 2026-27, tuition is $69,822 and direct costs including fees, housing and food total $96,896, or about $100,000 with books and personal expenses. Vanderbilt meets 100% of demonstrated need without loans.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to Vanderbilt in the QS World University Rankings 2027.