Overview
Enrollment
| Location | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Online | vanderbilt.edu |
| School Type | Private 4 Year |
| Setting | Large City |
| Size | Mid-size |
| Status | Non-profit |
| On Campus Housing | Yes |
| Level of Study | Undergrad/Graduate |
Vanderbilt University occupies a 330-acre campus in the West End neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee, approximately two miles from downtown. The campus, designated as a national arboretum, features a mix of Collegiate Gothic and Greek Revival architecture anchored by the iconic Kirkland Hall bell tower. Founded in 1873 through a gift from railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, the university maintains selective undergraduate admission standards and is recognized for its strong programs in medicine, education, engineering, and business. The Blair School of Music, Peabody College of Education, and the School of Engineering serve as distinctive academic pillars, while the university's medical center functions as a leading research and treatment facility in the Southeast. Most undergraduate students reside on campus within the college house system, and the university competes in NCAA Division I athletics as a member of the Southeastern Conference.
Ratings
Overall
Academics
Resources
Outcomes
Value
Vanderbilt is rated within the top 4% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 10 out of 10. Learn how ratings are calculated
Rankings
Rankings for Vanderbilt University within the 2024 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
#14 in Best Colleges in the U.S.
#14 in Best Private Colleges in the U.S.
#1 in Best Colleges in Tennessee
#1 in Best Private Colleges in Tennessee
#22 in Best Value Colleges in the U.S.
#1 in Best Value Colleges in Tennessee
View the CollegeSimply ranking methodology.
Getting In
Admission Standards
| SAT | 1490/1570 |
| ACT | 34/35 |
| GPA | 3.89 |
Applications Accepted
| Applications Due | Jan 1, 2025 |
| Applicant Competition | Extreme |
| Application Fee | $50 |
Annual Cost to Attend
Tuition
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $1,194 |
| Other Fees | $2,218 |
| Room and Board | $19,862 |
| Budget for Other Expenses | $3,008 |
| Total One Year Cost | $84,412 |
Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
| Subject | Percent of Class |
|---|---|
| Social Sciences | 27% |
| Engineering | 13% |
| General Studies | 9% |
| Foreign Languages | 6% |
| Psychology | 6% |
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Questions and Answers
CollegeSimply Advisor posts about Vanderbilt University.
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=221999 IPEDS survey data for Vanderbilt University.
Current students may use the Vanderbilt University GPA calculator to determine their current college GPA.
Last updated February 24, 2024