01. What the School is Known For
From the School
Situated on a beautiful 340-acre campus in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University consists of 10 schools, four of which offer undergraduate programs. The combination of excellent academic rigor, a vibrant campus life, and an urban location attracts exceptionally talented students from around the world and consistently earns the university a top 20 ranking among the "Best National Universities" from U.S. News & World Report. Vanderbilt's 7,000 undergraduate and 6,600 graduate students, coming from more than 95 countries, are continuously immersed in the multidisciplinary research and teaching that are at the heart of the campus community.
At Vanderbilt, 61% of undergraduates participate in academic research, and with an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, students have easy access to faculty. Vanderbilt students take full advantage of student life by engaging in more than 475 student organizations, a full range of study abroad programs, Division I athletics, and a variety of exciting internship opportunities. The university meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students and financial aid awards do not include loans.
Prominent Alumni
Muhammad Yunus
2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner
Lamar Alexander
Tenn. Governor, U.S. Senator, U.S. Sec. of Educati
Roy Blount
Author and humorist
Ann S. Moore
Former President of Time, Inc., People Magazine
Fred Thompson
Former U.S. Senator and actor
Albert Gore
Former Vice President
Dr. Norman Shumway
Heart transplant pioneer
Most Popular Places On Campus
Student Recreation Center
Most Popular Places Off Campus
2nd Avenue/Lower Broadway - Historic/Entertainment District
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
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. In addition to finding community among the university's many identity centers, students can participate in 475+ 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.
What students say:
The most important takeaway for those at Vanderbilt University is that "the students here are going to support you." Overwhelmingly, students agree that their school offers a "collaborative environment of people from different backgrounds who are happy to engage with each other." Moreover, "students at Vanderbilt are very driven, but in a ... noncompetitive manner that cultivates a challenging but enjoyable learning experience." One student playfully describes the student body as "sociable nerds-academics are important to us but we also love to party and have fun." Others attest that students are "very intelligent" with a "work-hard-play-hard kind of attitude. The same kid you see out on Broadway at 3:00 a.m. is the same one who will wreck the curve on your final exam." One student affirms that "everyone has their niche, and because of the school's breadth of programs, often those niches are unique. Artists, scientists, musicians, engineers, and teachers all can come together to hang out and enjoy college life together."
Gender
52% female48% male
Out of State
89% are out
of state11% are
in-state
Students
99% are
full time1% are
part time
Student Body Profile
Total Undergraduate Enrollment
7,152
Foreign Countries Represented
51
Student Body Demographics
American Indian or Alaskan Native
0.45%
03. Admissions & Acceptance RateScroll to Top ![Scroll To Top Arrow](https://princetonreview.com/cms-content/theme-scroll-to-top-black-arrow.png)
Admissions
From the School:
Vanderbilt seeks students with high standards of scholarship and character who are significantly engaged in their communities, often serving in leadership roles. Admission is based on a holistic review of academic and personal credentials. The application review includes strength of high school transcript, standardized test results, if submitted (either the ACT or SAT), personal essays, official recommendations, and extracurricular engagement. ACT or SAT exams are not required for students applying to enter the university for fall 2023 or 2024. 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.
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 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 School of Music 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 information sessions, campus tours, and other visit opportunities and a variety of virtual sessions. Take a virtual tour at vu.edu/virtualtour. Vanderbilt does not conduct on-campus interviews, but first-year applicants may participate in the optional alumni interviewing program.
Applicants
45,313
Acceptance Rate
6%
Average HS GPA
3.90
Deadlines
Early Decision
November 1
Early Decision II
January 1
GPA Breakdown
Need to boost your grades? We can help.
Learn More
SAT & ACT Test Scores
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
740 - 770
SAT Math
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
770 - 790
SAT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
1500 - 1540
ACT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
34 - 35
Testing Policies
Standardized testing policy for
use in admission:
Test Optional
Other Admission Factors Academic
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Class Rank
Academic GPA
Application Essay
Non-Academic
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
From the School
College of Arts and Science
The College of Arts and Science is a small liberal arts college at the heart of a large, cutting-edge research university. The Arts and Science curriculum emphasizes both breadth and depth, and provides students with the flexibility to explore and find their passion. The college offers more than 60 unique majors and minors across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, and in a number of interdisciplinary areas.
Blair School of Music
The beauty of the Blair School of Music is the unparalleled opportunity to pursue conservatoryquality music training within a full liberal arts curriculum. This unique combination prepares students for the ever-changing demands of the music world. Internationally renowned musicians and scholars teach courses on topics ranging from Music and the Environment and Exploring the Film Soundtrack, to Music, Identity, and Diversity.
Peabody College
Peabody students study people—how they develop, how they learn, how they think, and how they lead. Regardless of what path a student takes, hands-on, real-world learning experiences are an essential part of the Peabody curriculum. Peabody graduates succeed in a variety of careers—teaching, education administration, public policy, health care, business, law, research, and government. Peabody College is a respected voice in education, and faculty offer expertise that is highly sought by teachers and administrators from around the world.
School of Engineering
The School of Engineering fosters a dynamic, close-knit learning and research environment. Students work alongside faculty in engineering research centers and laboratories on projects ranging from robotics and nanoscale materials to technology-guided surgery and environmental management. Hands-on introduction to engineering courses, undergraduate research, study abroad, internships, and a senior design experience in which interdisciplinary teams work on industry-sponsored projects throughout the year help set Vanderbilt engineering students apart.
What students say
Vanderbilt University's courses "are rigorous and meant to challenge you"-and also one of the school's "greatest strengths." That's because students have all "the resources and support they need to succeed, including access to world-class libraries, technology, and career services." Those high standards reflect well upon career-oriented students, especially those seeking "numerous opportunities to engage in research projects and pursue their academic interests." Speaking on "behalf of pre-meds," one student relates that "it feels like a majority of us are in research labs and shadow doctors at the Vanderbilt hospital." Another student reports: "My electronics lab actually helped me get a summer internship offer from an electronics company!"
Professors value "honest discourse" with students "because they want you to succeed." (For that same reason, the administration is "very responsive to students who reach out to them.") Additionally, the faculty seem to "really strive to make personal connections with their students and get to know them as people outside of their classes." One student particularly appreciates that "the small class sizes help students build a stronger connection," especially valuable when it comes to, say, "a professional pianist who personally knows many artists, like Sheryl Crow and members of the Rolling Stones," or business professors with loads of experience. "The thing that I think I have enjoyed most about my professors at Vandy," concludes one student, "is that I feel like they are real people. They talk with my classes about our subject matter in a real way, relating it back to real human experience."
Student/Faculty
7 : 1
Total Faculty
1,298
Terminal Degree
1,216
Gender to Class Inforamtion
Class/Lab sizes
Most frequent class size
10-19
Most frequent lab/sub section size
10-19
Rating
Graduation Rates
University Degrees
Bachelor's
Doctoral
Doctoral/Professional
Doctoral/Research
Master's
Post-Master's certificate
Majors and Degrees Offered
African American and Diaspora Studies
Architecture and the Built Environment
Biochemistry and Chemical Biology
Classical and Mediterranean Studies
Communication of Science and Technology
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
European Studies: Russia and Eastern Europe
French and European Studies
Gender and Sexuality Studies
German and European Studies
Human and Organizational Development
Italian and European Studies
Latino and Latina Studies
Law, History, and Society
Medicine, Health, and Society
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Spanish and European Studies
Location
Vanderbilt offers a park-like campus located in the heart of Nashville, giving students 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 340-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. After spending the first year on The Ingram Commons, students can apply to live in one of our distinctive residential colleges. With a faculty head of college as its intellectual leader, each college offers a robust array of programs, spaces, and relationships. Vanderbilt continues to add to its growing residential college system and plans to open two additional residential colleges by 2023.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Nashville boasts two nicknames: Music City, for its historic ties to the music industry and the current plethora of recording studios and music venues; and Athens of the South, because the city is home to more than 15 colleges and universities. Tennessee's capital is one of America's most dynamic cities, with attractions that include symphony, opera, ballet and theater performance groups; professional American football, hockey, soccer and baseball teams; and a wide assortment of restaurants, shopping, art galleries and museums. Considered one of America's best big cities for jobs, Nashville offers an array of employment in the tech, health care, finance, publishing and entertainment industries. Urban parks and greenway systems, as well as nearby lakes and rivers, provide ample opportunity for outdoor recreation.
What students say:
There is a huge emphasis on building community here at Vanderbilt, explains one student, "Students are greatly encouraged to join many clubs and organizations. The university doesn't expect students to spend all of their time studying." Many tout the music clubs on campus, like the Spirit of Gold Marching Band and the Vanderbilt Commodore Orchestra, a "great community" for "non-music majors." One member describes the South Asian Cultural Exchange as "the largest and most impactful student organization on campus." Others enjoy service-oriented and athletic groups on campus: "My favorite extracurricular activities at Vanderbilt University include working with Vanderbilt's Habitat for Humanity organization and running with Vanderbilt's Run Club. Habitat for Humanity in Vanderbilt allows great volunteer service to be done easily." Students note that "a surprisingly large proportion of the student body takes part in Greek Life events to some extent." They also take pride in their football being part of the "best sports conferences, the SEC!" Students also brag that Vanderbilt's "location is ideal," loving that "Nashville has an amazing food scene as well as lots of live music."
Campus Environment
Large Urban
Help finding off-campus housing
Yes
Hosting Features
Apartment Single
Disabled Student
Dorms Coed
Dorms Female
Dorms Male
Frat Sorority
Theme Housing
Special Needs Admissions
College Entrance Tests Required
No
Student Activities
Registered Student Organizations
467
Number of Honor Societies
16
Number of Social Sororities
15
Number of Religious Organizations
14
Athletic Division I
Men's Sports (Commodores)
Basketball
Cross Country
Football
Golf
Tennis
Women's Sports (Commodores)
Basketball
Bowling
Cross Country
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track Field Outdoor
Military
Army ROTC Offered on-campus
Navy ROTC Offered on-campus
Air Force ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: Tennessee State University
Sustainability
School Has Formal Sustainability Committee
Yes
Sustainability-focused degree available
Yes
School employs a sustainability officer
Yes
Public GHG inventory plan
Yes
% food budget spent on local/organic food
37%
Available Transportation Alternatives
Bike Share
Car Sharing Program
Carpool/Vanpool Matching Program
Condensed Work Week Option For Employees
Free Or Reduced Price Transit Passes And/Or Free Campus Shuttle
Incentives Or Programs To Encourage Employees To Live Close To Campus
Indoor And Secure Bike Storage, Shower Facilities, And Lockers For Bicycle Commuters
Reduced Parking Fees For Car And Van Poolers
School Adopted A Policy Prohibiting Idling
School Developed Bicycle Plan
School Offers A Telecommute Program For Employees
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:
Visit Page
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/#/
Other Information
Campus-wide Internet Network
Fee for Network Use
Partnerships with Technology Companies
Personal computer included in tuition for each student
Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors
Campus Visits Contact
Office of Undergraduate Admissions 2305 West End Av Nashville, TN 37203
admissions@vanderbilt.edu
615-322-2561
Campus Tours
Campus Visiting Center
Monday-Friday; Saturday (Sept.-April)
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
6153222561
Campus Tours
Appointment Required:
Yes
Times:
10:00 a.m.; 1:00 p.m.; 2:30 p.m.
Visits
CLASS VISITS
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
FACULTY AND COACH VISITS
Dates/Times Available
Year-round
Arrangements
Contact Athletic Department
On Campus Interview
Information Sessions:
Not Available
Overnight Dorm Stays
Overnight Dorm Stays
Available
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Limitations
1-night stay only for seniors
Campus Tours
TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE TO CAMPUS
Nashville International Airport is approximately 10 miles from campus and taxis and rental cars are available. Capitol Limousines also provides service to Vanderbilt and area hotels with a call prior to your arrival (615-883-6777). Greyhound buses serve Nashville, and taxis to campus are available at the bus station.
LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS
Several choices are within walking distance of the university. The most expensive (the special rate for university visitors is at the high end of the moderate range) is Loews Vanderbilt Hotel (2100 West End Ave.; 615-320-1700, or 800-336-3335) which is across the street from campus. At the Hampton Inn (1919 West End Ave.; 615-329-1144 or 800-426-7866), you can get a cheap double room. Rates are a bit higher at the Holiday Inn Vanderbilt (2613 West End Ave.; 615-327-4707 or 800-663-4427), which has a pool and fitness room. We like the all-suite Hermitage Hotel (231 6th Ave. North; 615-244-3121 or 800-251-1908), about a 5-minute drive from the university. Built in 1910, the hotel has been beautifully restored, but rates are expensive. The new Homewood Suites (2400 West End; 615-340-8000) has an indoor pool and fitness center.
Princeton Review Advice & Resources
11 Surprising Facts About College Admission | The Princeton Review
Read More >
How To Compare Colleges and Find Your Target Schools | The Princeton Review
Read More >
How to Find Your Best Fit College | The Princeton Review
Read More >
How to Choose Dream, Target, and Safety Schools | The Princeton Review
Read More >
College Admissions Guide: Process and Prep | The Princeton Review
Read More >
Should You Apply Early Action vs Early Decision? | The Princeton Review
Read More >
What is Rolling Admission? | The Princeton Review
Read More >
What Looks Good on College Applications? | The Princeton Review
Read More >
Popular Application Essay Topics | Apply | The Princeton Review
Read More >
Crafting an Unforgettable College Essay | The Princeton Review
Read More >
Calculate Your GPA With Our GPA Scale | The Princeton Review
Read More >
How to Calculate Your SAT or ACT Superscore | The Princeton Review
Read More >
ACT vs SAT Score Conversion Chart | The Princeton Review
Read More >
Find Colleges Looking for Students Like You
Read More >
What students say
Vanderbilt’s stellar Career Center does its utmost to help students meet their professional goals and dreams. Right from the beginning, undergrads can meet with a Career Coach assigned to work with their specific major. What’s more, the Center makes meeting with said coach incredibly easy; you can get together in person, via Skype, or speak over the phone. Students can also tap into numerous online resources, taking career assessments, searching for internship listings, etc. Additionally, the Career Center sponsors a myriad of events throughout the academic year. For example, the office hosts industry specific “slams.” These operate as fun, casual networking events wherein companies pitch themselves to students in rapid-fire rounds and then set up tables so interested individuals can further the conversation. Of course, students can rest assured that there are more traditional career fairs as well.
Graduation Rates
ROI & Outcomes Information from PayScale
Starting Median Salary (Up to Bachelor's degree completed, only)
$81,700
Mid-Career Median Salary (Up to Bachelor's degree completed, only)
$148,000
Starting Median Salary (At least Bachelor's degree)
$84,100
Mid-Career Median Salary (At least Bachelor's degree)
$153,500
Percent High Job Meaning
48%
01 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.
05 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.
06 ENGINEERING.
- Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering.
- Chemical Engineering.
- Civil Engineering, General.
- Computer Engineering, General.
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering
- Engineering Science.
- Mechanical Engineering.
09 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.
17 PSYCHOLOGY.
- Developmental and Child Psychology.
- Psychology, General.
19 SOCIAL SCIENCES.
- Anthropology.
- Economics, General.
- Political Science and Government, General.
- Social Sciences, General.
- Sociology.
20 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.
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
Cost of Attendance
Academic year 2021-2022
Tuition |
$54,840 |
Housing |
$12,000 |
Meals |
$6,376 |
Books and supplies |
$1,194 |
Student services fee |
$1,430 |
Student health fee |
$696 |
Personal expenses |
$3,002 |
Travel Allowance |
Varies |
Estimated Total |
$79,538 |
Dates
Notification DateApr 1
Vanderbilt makes three commitments to cultivate a community of talented intellectuals from all social, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
— 1 For U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens, your ability to pay is not part of the admission decision.
— 2 We meet 100% of your family's demonstrated financial need.
— 3 Your financial aid will not include loans.
Our financial aid program does not involve income bands or cutoffs that limit eligibility.
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$71,291
Average Undergraduate Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$68,916
Average Need-Based Loan
$3,818
Undergraduates who have borrowed through any loan program
18%
Average amount of loan debt per graduate
$23,887
Average amount of each freshman scholarship/grant package
$50,356
Financial aid provided to international students
Yes
Available Aid
Financial Aid Methodology
Need-Based Aid
01 - Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
02 - Need-Based Federal Pell
03 - Need-Based Private Scholarships
05 - Need-Based State Scholarships
06 - Need-Based United Negro College Fund
No-Need-Based
01 - Institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid is available
Federal Direct Student Loan Programs
02 - Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
03 - Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFEL):
01 - Federal Nursing Loans
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
Yes
Students Also View These Schools
Princeton Review Advice & Resources
60 Questions To Ask on Your College Tour | The Princeton Review
Read More >
College Campus Safety | The Princeton Review | The Princeton Review
Read More >
Top 10 College Majors | The Princeton Review
Read More >
Top 12 Questions to Ask Your College Counselor | The Princeton Review
Read More >
14 Summer Activities to Boost Your College Application | The Princeton Review
Read More >
National Merit Scholarships and the PSAT | The Princeton Review
Read More >
Scholarships for SAT and ACT Scores | Prep | The Princeton Review
Read More >
4 Reasons to Take BOTH the SAT and ACT | The Princeton Review
Read More >