Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN 37240
Vanderbilt University is a private university in TN, founded in 1873, and offers Bachelor’s degrees for undergraduates and Master’s and Doctoral degrees for graduate students. The undergraduate enrollment is 7,057, and the graduate enrollment is 6,480. Vanderbilt University is a hyper-selective school, only accepting 11.6% of applicants. Vanderbilt University’s athletics teams compete at the club, intramural, and varsity levels. Additionally, Vanderbilt University employs 945 full-time instructional staff with a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Empowerly Score®
93
University Score
- School Performance
- Extracurriculars
- Standardized Tests
- Essays
Empowerly Score®
At Empowerly, we prioritize data to customize our approach to student counseling. College admissions is becoming more selective by the year, so it’s never been more important than now to prepare in advance and give yourself the best chance for success.
Take the Empowerly QuizESSAYS
Applicants applying to Vanderbilt University will apply through the Common Application, Coalition Application, and QuestBridge (if applicable). Applicants will be required to write one personal statement based on a set of prompts within the application and will also be required to answer specific questions pertaining to the university.
Deadlines For Submitting Applications
Early Decision I Application Deadline
November 1st
Early Decision II Application Deadline
January 1st
Regular Application Deadline
January 1st
ATTENDANCE FACTORS
- Extracurricular Activities - Very Important
- Character/Personal Qualities - Very Important
- Application Essay - Very Important
- Academic GPA - Very Important
- Rigor of Secondary School Record - Very Important
Average Acceptance Rate
11.60%
Empowerly Acceptance Rate
50.00%
STUDENT LIFE
Nashville, Tennessee, is ranked #5 in Best Cities to Live by Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards and is famous worldwide as “Music City” due to its importance in country music. Vanderbilt University’s 330-acre campus sits just southwest of downtown Nashville, providing students with access to the life of the urban city. The semester-based academic calendar offers many educational options, athletics, and social activities. The university consists of 10 schools and colleges, ranging from engineering to music—including its world-renowned Blair School of Music. In athletics, Vanderbilt is a founding member of the Southeastern Conference (and, for a half-century, was its only private school). The Commodores, named in honor of Cornelius Vanderbilt, shine especially in baseball and tennis. Vanderbilt University also hosts over 550 student organizations, covering nearly every interest.
Housing
- 85% of students live on campus
- Guaranteed housing for freshmen
- Freshmen required to live on campus
Vanderbilt University decided in the early 2000s to transform its residence halls into an academic, residential college system that bonded as a campus community outside the classroom. All Vanderbilt undergraduate students must live on campus, with first-year students living together in The Commons. First-year students are randomly assigned to one of ten adjacent houses under the guidance of a live-in faculty head of the house. To foster a home with a distinct identity, each house has a vision established by the director, who works jointly with the students and staff to carry it out, especially in the first year of living and learning in the house. Housing at Vanderbilt enrichens the campus community by promoting class identity and unity.
Life as a Student
As a Vanderbilt University student, life will be busy and engaging in a fast-paced campus and city that still manages the perfect balance of academics and vibrant student life. It’s little wonder that the university has built a living and learning environment in every part of the campus, a place where scholarship and friendship can grow side-by-side. The 7:1 student to faculty ratio means students and professors can always comfortably communicate. The school encourages students to connect with the campus community by making it easy to engage in endless extracurricular activities. Students can join The Vanderbilt Hustler, the school’s newspaper established in 1888; WRVU, its on-campus radio station; or Vanderbilt’s sizable performing arts community that spans every genre. Whatever their background, Vanderbilt advocates that balance is essential to all Vanderbilt students’ success.
TOP MAJORS
Economics
Social Science Research Methods
Liberal Arts and Humanities
Mathematics
Computer Science
Neuroscience and Neurobiology
SERVICES
Health and Safety
- 24-hour trained security on campus
- Student security patrol
- Late night ride/safe escort service available
Student Services
- Health Center
- Psychological Center
- Women's Center
Athletics
Varsity
Varsity
Baseball
Basketball
Football
Golf
Tennis
Cross-Country Running
Bowling
Basketball
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Cross-Country Running
Club
Club
Triathlon
Badminton
Baseball
Bowling
Basketball
Crew
Equestrian Sports
Fencing
Field Hockey
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Racquetball
Rowing
Rugby
Sailing
Soccer
Squash
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Table Tennis
Volleyball
Water Polo
Cross-Country Running
Triathlon
Badminton
Bowling
Basketball
Crew
Equestrian Sports
Fencing
Field Hockey
Golf
Lacrosse
Racquetball
Rowing
Sailing
Soccer
Squash
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Table Tennis
Volleyball
Water Polo
Cross-Country Running
Intramural
Intramural
Sand Volleyball
Softball
Ultimate Frisbee
Sand Volleyball
Softball
Ultimate Frisbee
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
Vanderbilt University‘s admissions are need-blind for U.S. Citizens and eligible non-citizens and Vanderbilt will meet 100% of a family’s demonstrated financial need.
*All costs below are estimates and may differ depending on your circumstances.
- Tuition - $54,840
- Housing - $12,000
- Meals - $6,376
- Books and Supplies - $1,194
- Student Service Fee - $1,430
- Student Health Fee - $696
- Personal Expenses - $3,002
- Transportation - Varies
- Total Estimated Cost of Attendance - $79,538
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP / AFFILIATES
HISTORY
Vanderbilt University was founded in 1873 by Methodist Bishop Holland N. McTyeire in Nashville, Tennessee. The university was named after his cousin-in-law’s husband, shipping and rail magnate Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided the school’s initial $1 million endowments. Founder McTyeire had been recovering after medical treatment at the Vanderbilt mansion in New York City, where he impressed and gained support for establishing a university in the South that would “contribute to strengthening the ties between all sections of our common country.” Meanwhile, Vanderbilt hoped his donation would help the university’s more significant work to “heal the sectional wounds inflicted by the Civil War.”
McTyeire was heavily involved in building the university, including determining the location of the campus and overseeing the construction of the buildings, some of which, like present-day Kirkland Hall, are iconic symbols of Vanderbilt University. For the first 40 years, Vanderbilt continued to be associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church until the school separated from it in 1914. Since its founding, the university has remained constant in its two goals: first, to work in the liberal arts and sciences beyond the baccalaureate degree; and second, to embrace several professional schools in addition to its college. For example, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, today ranked one of the best in the United States, was opened in 1874 and promptly awarded its first medical degree in 1875.
Today, the school is ranked #14 in National Universities by U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,057 and a graduate enrollment of 6,480. With its 9.1% admission rate, Vanderbilt is a highly competitive school. However, students accepted into the university will study, live, and play on one of the most beautiful campuses in the U.S. While often intimidating for such an intensive academic program, the school is likewise highly regarded as one of the country’s most innovative colleges. Vanderbilt students aren’t always stuck in the classroom, though. The Vanderbilt Commodores compete in 16 varsity teams at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a Southeastern Conference (SEC) member. Vanderbilt has claimed seven Nobel Prize laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners, and five Olympic medallists as affiliates throughout its history. Its notable alumni include former Time Inc. CEO Ann S. Moore, 45th U.S. vice president Al Gore, and American author James Patterson.