Nashville, TN · Private · 7,208 undergraduates · urban
Vanderbilt University
Extremely selective
Vanderbilt is known for pairing selective academics with a highly social residential campus in Nashville. First-years live together on The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons, then move into a university where residential colleges, Greek life, SEC sports, music, medicine, and city internships all compete for attention. The attraction is not quiet specialization; it is a busy campus that still feels contained.
Institutional profile
Top tier Exceptional in career outcomes, and exceptional in affordability.- Admission
- 6.3% admitted
- Price by income
- Varies across five income ranges
- Completion
- 93.4%
45,313 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$91,565 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets Vanderbilt apart
All first-years live on the Commons
A dedicated residential campus gives the entering class shared Houses, events, and faculty contact.
Nashville expands several fields
Music, health care, education, government, and business make the city useful well beyond entertainment.
Merit aid exists but remains highly competitive
Named scholarship programs can alter the price, but admission should not be treated as evidence of an award.
The Vanderbilt opening
A whole class begins on the Commons
Vanderbilt uses the first year to establish community before the university’s options widen.
Live on the Commons
Residential Houses create shared routines and an initial network.
Choose the communities that follow
Majors, clubs, Greek life, research, and athletics pull students into different circles.
Extend the work into the city
Internships, service, performance, and health care make the location practical.
Can I get in?
6.3% admitted
Vanderbilt expects high achievement in a demanding program and looks for students who will take part in campus life. The application should connect academic direction with a record of sustained contribution.
Recent applicant pool
45,313About 6 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Academic range
Of admitted students, 25% submitted an SAT, and 26% submitted an ACT. Decide by comparing your score with the published range and the rest of your academic record.
In the season card
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for Vanderbilt, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landIn the season card
What Vanderbilt weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Academic strength across the schedule
Rigor and grades should remain convincing through the senior program.
Sustained contribution
Show where the student improved a group or community rather than only joining it.
A balanced reason for Vanderbilt
Connect academic resources and campus culture instead of selling only Nashville or school spirit.
Energy with judgment
Examples should show the student can manage a busy social and academic environment.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Vanderbilt offers Early Decision rounds and Regular Decision. Strong applications show both classroom readiness and what the student would contribute to a participatory campus.
Fee waiver: accepted
Major and program admission
Some fields have their own entry path.
The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.
Computer scienceAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Teacher preparationAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
EngineeringAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Need-based aid and competitive merit scholarships can both change the final price. Merit awards are scarce enough that families should not build a plan around receiving one.
College funding
Scholarships and financial aid
Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.
Vanderbilt University publishes two merit awards. Each one requires a separate scholarship application. All of them renew past the first year.
Open across the university · Merit · Competitive · Renews · Has a dated deadline
Open across the university · Merit · Competitive · Renews · Has a dated deadline
In the season card
These two awards, by name
What each one is called, what it pays, what it asks of you, and the dates two of them close - which is usually earlier than the application for admission.
- The name of each award
- What it pays
- The grades and scores it asks for
- The deadline
- What to send, and where
In the season card
Average annual cost by household income at Vanderbilt
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Health care, consulting, finance, technology, education, music, public service, and graduate study benefit from Vanderbilt’s professional schools and Nashville location.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Social Sciences, General
Economics
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Computer Science
Admits separately
Mathematics
What is campus life like?
Vanderbilt beyond the classroom
The Commons gives first-years a shared opening year. Upper-level housing, Greek organizations, athletics, performance, and Nashville create an active social map with more visible school spirit than most private peers.
The Commons gives first-years a common start
Ten residential Houses place the entering class together with faculty leadership and shared programming.
Campus dining meets Nashville quickly
Dining centers support residence life, while nearby neighborhoods add restaurants and music venues.
Music, service, research, and school spirit mix
Performance, publications, health, entrepreneurship, cultural groups, service, athletics, and student government recruit widely.
Greek life is prominent
Fraternities and sororities have a visible role alongside residential colleges, teams, clubs, and Nashville nightlife.
Nashville is a working city, not only a music brand
Health care, government, education, companies, nonprofits, and entertainment support internships throughout the year.