IU vs. Vanderbilt

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington and Vanderbilt University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Indiana University Bloomington
Vanderbilt University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • Vanderbilt Nashville, TN
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • Vanderbilt Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • Vanderbilt 13,575
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • Vanderbilt Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • Vanderbilt #16
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • Vanderbilt -
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • Vanderbilt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • Vanderbilt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • Vanderbilt $22,054
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • Vanderbilt $25,186
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • Vanderbilt $64,404
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • Vanderbilt 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • Vanderbilt 45,409
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • Vanderbilt 2,662
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • Vanderbilt 5.9%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • Vanderbilt 61.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • Vanderbilt 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • Vanderbilt 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • Vanderbilt 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • Vanderbilt A
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • Vanderbilt Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • Vanderbilt Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • Vanderbilt 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • Vanderbilt 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Test optional
  • Vanderbilt Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • Vanderbilt 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Vanderbilt
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • General Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • Vanderbilt 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • Vanderbilt $83,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • Vanderbilt 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • Vanderbilt $14,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • Vanderbilt $144

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • Vanderbilt 44%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • Vanderbilt 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • Vanderbilt High
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • Vanderbilt No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • Vanderbilt 55%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • Vanderbilt 12%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • Vanderbilt 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • Vanderbilt 8%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • Vanderbilt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • Vanderbilt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • Vanderbilt 5%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • Vanderbilt 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • Vanderbilt 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • Vanderbilt 13%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • Vanderbilt 73%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • IU Yes
  • Vanderbilt Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • IU No
  • Vanderbilt No
  • Meal Plan
  • IU Yes
  • Vanderbilt Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • IU No
  • Vanderbilt Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • IU Yes
  • Vanderbilt Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, IN with Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than Vanderbilt based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 13,575 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); Vanderbilt University is in Nashville, TN (Large City setting).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Vanderbilt University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; Vanderbilt University 8:1.

IU vs. Vanderbilt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU or Vanderbilt? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Bloomington than Vanderbilt ($17,270 vs. $25,186).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 36.6% lower than at Vanderbilt University ($13,984 vs. $22,054).
  • Vanderbilt University is 455.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $55,354 more per year; $67,498.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 61.1% higher at Vanderbilt than at Indiana University Bloomington (about $25,607 more per year; $67,498.00 vs. $41,891.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indiana University Bloomington than at Vanderbilt University (73% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vanderbilt University students is 514.1% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($64,404 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. Vanderbilt Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU or Vanderbilt? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Vanderbilt and IU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vanderbilt University (1540) is 250 points higher than at IU (1290).
  • Incoming Vanderbilt students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at IU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; Vanderbilt University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; Vanderbilt University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; Vanderbilt - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Vanderbilt students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at IU (3.74).
  • IU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than Vanderbilt (5.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 61.2% at Vanderbilt.

IU vs. Vanderbilt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU and Vanderbilt? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Vanderbilt University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Indiana University Bloomington's (72%).
  • Graduates from Vanderbilt University earn a median of about $26,900 more per year than IU graduates about ten years after starting college ($83,100 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vanderbilt University graduates have a $8,500 lower median loan debt than IU graduates ($14,000 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Vanderbilt graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IU graduates ($144 vs. $232).
  • More Vanderbilt graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.