Vanderbilt University - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges

Vanderbilt University

#18 in National Universities (tie)

4 year • Nashville, TN

4 year • Nashville, TN
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Overview

Vanderbilt University is a private institution that was founded in 1873. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,151 (fall 2022), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 333 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Vanderbilt University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #18. Its tuition and fees are $63,946.


Vanderbilt University offers a wide range of student activities. Located in Nashville, or Music City, there are plenty of off-campus options for dining, shopping, music and entertainment. On campus, Greek organizations play a big role in social life, with more than 20% of students affiliated with Greek life. All undergraduate students at Vanderbilt are required to live on campus, and freshmen live together in The Commons, which has many LEED Gold and Silver certified buildings. The Commodores, named for Vanderbilt founder "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, have teams in the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference. More than 40 percent of students take advantage of Vanderbilt’s study abroad programs, which are offered in more than 35 countries.


Vanderbilt is comprised of 10 schools and colleges covering disciplines from the humanities to music to engineering. Among its graduate programs are the top-ranked Peabody College of Education and Human Development, which also offers undergraduate programs, and the highly ranked Owen Graduate School of Management, School of Engineering, Law School, School of Medicine and School of Nursing. Vanderbilt is also well known for its undergraduate Blair School of Music, and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center is ranked one of the best in the nation. Former chairman and CEO of Time Inc. Ann Moore, former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler and novelist James Patterson all received degrees from Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt University is a private institution that was founded in 1873. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,151 (fall 2022), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 333 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Vanderbilt University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #18. Its tuition and fees are $63,946.


Vanderbilt University offers a wide range of student activities. Located in Nashville, or Music City, there are plenty of off-campus options for dining, shopping, music and entertainment. On campus, Greek organizations play a big role in social life, with more than 20% of students affiliated with Greek life. All undergraduate students at Vanderbilt are required to live on campus, and freshmen live together in The Commons, which has many LEED Gold and Silver certified buildings. The Commodores, named for Vanderbilt founder "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, have teams in the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference. More than 40 percent of students take advantage of Vanderbilt’s study abroad programs, which are offered in more than 35 countries.


Vanderbilt is comprised of 10 schools and colleges covering disciplines from the humanities to music to engineering. Among its graduate programs are the top-ranked Peabody College of Education and Human Development, which also offers undergraduate programs, and the highly ranked Owen Graduate School of Management, School of Engineering, Law School, School of Medicine and School of Nursing. Vanderbilt is also well known for its undergraduate Blair School of Music, and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center is ranked one of the best in the nation. Former chairman and CEO of Time Inc. Ann Moore, former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler and novelist James Patterson all received degrees from Vanderbilt.

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At-a-Glance

Setting

Urban

Tuition & Fees

$63,946

Undergraduate Enrollment

7,151

Acceptance Rate

7%

2024 Rankings

Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.

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Admissions

Jan. 1

Application Deadline

7%

Acceptance Rate

SAT Range*

1490-1570

ACT Range*

34-35

High School GPA*

3.9

* These are the average scores of applications admitted to this school. Ranges represent admitted applicants who fell within the 25th and 75th percentile.

Will You Get Into Vanderbilt University?

College Admissions Calculator

Data provided by U.S. News College Compass Users.

Cost

Tuition & Fees

$63,946

Room & Board

$20,978(2023-24)

Average Need-Based Aid Package

$69,254

$22,204

Annual Cost*

$22,204

Annual Cost*

Tuition & Fees

$63,946

Room & Board

$20,978(2023-24)

Average Need-Based Aid Package

$69,254

*Average cost after aid

Academics

89%

4-Year Graduation Rate

7:1

Student/Faculty Ratio

61%

Classes With Fewer Than 20 Students

Popular Majors

MAJOR

% OF GRADUATES

ALUMNI STARTING SALARY

Social Sciences, General

11%

N/A

Economics, General

11%

N/A

Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

10%

N/A

Computer Science

8%

N/A

Mathematics, General

6%

N/A

Social Sciences, General
11% Percent of Graduates
N/A Alumni Starting Salary
Economics, General
11% Percent of Graduates
N/A Alumni Starting Salary
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
10% Percent of Graduates
N/A Alumni Starting Salary
Computer Science
8% Percent of Graduates
N/A Alumni Starting Salary
Mathematics, General
6% Percent of Graduates
N/A Alumni Starting Salary

* In cases where salary data at the specific major level is unavailable, a general salary for the major category is displayed.

Faculty Research Impact

Bibliometric Rank

19

Bibliometrics is the statistical analyses of publications and citations for the purpose of measuring faculty research impact.

Publications Cited in Top 25% of Journals

69%

Publications Cited in Top 5% of Journals

25%

Total Papers published between 2018-2022

33,389

Citations Per Publication

18:1

Data provided byLast updated 2023.

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Students

7,151

Undergraduate Enrollment

Graduate Enrollment

6,559

Total Enrollment

13,710

Full-Time Degree-Seeking Students

7,078

Student Diversity

Gender Distribution

Male48%
Female52%

Ethnic Diversity

44%

Minority Enrollment

44%

Minority Enrollment

41%

White

17%

Asian

11%

Hispanic

10%

Black

10%

International

6%

Two or more races

4%

Unknown

Not Specified is not included in this breakdown due to an enrollment of 0%.

Campus Life

Housing and Dorms

Types of campus housing available:

  • coed dorms
  • women's dorms
  • men's dorms
  • special housing for disabled students
  • theme housing
  • Student Activities

    90+

    Sports Teams

    14

    Fraternities

    15

    Sororities

    After College

    Graduation Rate

    89%

    Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)

    18%

    Average Debt at Graduation

    $30,364

    $59,743

    Median Starting Salary of Alumni

    $59,743

    Median Starting Salary of Alumni

    Graduation Rate

    89%

    Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)

    18%

    Average Debt at Graduation

    $30,364

    Reviews & Ratings

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    Undergraduate data are based on the 2022 school year.

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    My Fit Custom College Ranking

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