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Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University is a private campus in Nashville proper — federal locale codes class it as urban. International students are a visible presence at Vanderbilt University — 11.2% of its 7,208 undergraduates come from outside the U.S.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$5,797

family income
under $30k

$4,729

$30–48k

$6,211

$48–75k

$14,780

$75–110k

$42,754

over $110k

These figures don't always rise with income — aid formulas can make a higher bracket cheaper.

Average net price

$15,8462023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Vanderbilt University has wandered from 2008 to 2023 — up to $22,204 at the peak — but ends near where it began, at $15,846.

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$17,294
2009	$14,219
2010	$16,727
2011	$17,205
2012	$17,340
2013	$17,135
2014	$18,144
2015	$17,929
2016	$19,959
2017	$20,253
2018	$19,432
2019	$19,970
2020	$22,204
2021	$20,917
2022	$19,040
2023	$15,846

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$89,5902024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Vanderbilt University rose from $52,303 (2009) to $89,590 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$52,303
2010	$54,718
2011	$56,634
2012	$58,554
2013	$59,890
2014	$61,112
2015	$62,320
2016	$63,532
2017	$64,654
2018	$67,392
2019	$70,146
2020	$73,148
2021	$76,044
2022	$79,538
2023	$84,412
2024	$89,590

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2000	$24,080
2001	$25,190
2002	$26,400
2003	$27,720
2004	$29,240
2005	$31,700
2006	$33,440
2007	$35,278
2008	$37,005
2013	$42,978
2014	$43,838
2015	$44,712
2016	$45,610
2017	$47,664
2018	$49,816
2019	$52,070
2020	$54,158
2021	$56,966
2022	$60,348
2023	$63,946

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Reported tuition is $67,498 before grants and other attendance costs. At Vanderbilt University, aid and other costs change the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 7,208 undergrads, Vanderbilt University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

93.5% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Vanderbilt University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

93.5%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Vanderbilt University rose from 81.1% (entered 1991) to 93.5% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	81.1%
1992 cohort	81.7%
1993 cohort	81.1%
1994 cohort	84.1%
1995 cohort	84.3%
1996 cohort	84.3%
1997 cohort	83.3%
1998 cohort	86.2%
1999 cohort	88%
2000 cohort	89.2%
2001 cohort	90.9%
2002 cohort	89.5%
2003 cohort	90.7%
2004 cohort	90.6%
2005 cohort	91.8%
2006 cohort	92.2%
2007 cohort	92.5%
2008 cohort	92.9%
2009 cohort	92%
2010 cohort	92.4%
2011 cohort	91.7%
2012 cohort	93.6%
2013 cohort	93%
2014 cohort	92.8%
2015 cohort	93.4%
2016 cohort	92.8%
2017 cohort	92.7%
2018 cohort	93.5%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$17,125	$11,625
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$14,375	$14,375
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$16,060	$13,625
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$14,622	$7,562
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$14,500	$6,625
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$15,125	$6,127
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$15,125	$6,549
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$14,314	$6,125
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$12,887	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$12,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$10,900	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$11,596	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$12,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$12,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$13,948	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$14,500	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$15,000	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$14,962	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$14,509	$7,078
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$14,000	$7,811

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$73,909

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$84,542

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$91,565

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Vanderbilt University admitted 2,662 of 45,409 applicants in Fall 2024. The 5.9% rate describes that application pool.

5.9%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $63,946 tuition · 2023–24 7,208 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1500–15701600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Vanderbilt University received 45,409 applications and admitted 2,662 (5.9%), with 1,630 enrolling.

Vanderbilt University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Vanderbilt University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 730–770 and Math was 770–800 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1500–1570 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	730	750	770
SAT Math	770	790	800
ACT Composite	34	35	35

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

5.9%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Read Vanderbilt University's change from 46.4% to 5.9% as a share of applications, not an explanation of admissions decisions. This describes Fall 2001 to Fall 2024.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	46.4%
Fall 2002	46.3%
Fall 2003	46.3%
Fall 2004	38.3%
Fall 2005	35.3%
Fall 2006	35.3%
Fall 2007	32.8%
Fall 2008	25.3%
Fall 2009	20.2%
Fall 2010	17.9%
Fall 2011	16.4%
Fall 2012	14.2%
Fall 2013	12.7%
Fall 2014	13.1%
Fall 2015	11.7%
Fall 2016	10.8%
Fall 2017	10.8%
Fall 2018	9.6%
Fall 2019	9.1%
Fall 2020	11.6%
Fall 2021	7.1%
Fall 2022	6.7%
Fall 2023	6.3%
Fall 2024	5.9%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1500–1570Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	1230	1400
Fall 2002	1250	1420
Fall 2003	1250	1420
Fall 2004	1270	1440
Fall 2005	1280	1460
Fall 2006	1280	1460
Fall 2007	1300	1480
Fall 2008	1330	1500
Fall 2009	1350	1520
Fall 2010	1360	1530
Fall 2011	1380	1550
Fall 2012	1400	1560
Fall 2013	1410	1570
Fall 2014	1430	1580
Fall 2015	1430	1590
Fall 2016	1420	1590
Fall 2017	1440	1570
Fall 2018	1450	1560
Fall 2019	1460	1560
Fall 2020	1470	1570
Fall 2021	1480	1570
Fall 2022	1490	1570
Fall 2023	1510	1560
Fall 2024	1500	1570

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

34–35Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	27	31
Fall 2002	27	31
Fall 2003	27	31
Fall 2004	28	32
Fall 2005	28	33
Fall 2006	28	33
Fall 2007	29	33
Fall 2008	30	33
Fall 2009	30	34
Fall 2010	30	34
Fall 2011	31	34
Fall 2012	32	34
Fall 2013	32	34
Fall 2014	32	34
Fall 2015	32	35
Fall 2016	32	35
Fall 2017	32	35
Fall 2018	33	35
Fall 2019	33	35
Fall 2020	33	35
Fall 2021	34	35
Fall 2022	34	35
Fall 2023	34	35
Fall 2024	34	35

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

7,208Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Vanderbilt University rose from 6,097 (Fall 2002) to 7,208 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	6,097
Fall 2003	6,243
Fall 2004	6,231
Fall 2005	6,284
Fall 2006	6,330
Fall 2007	6,496
Fall 2008	6,598
Fall 2009	6,764
Fall 2010	6,836
Fall 2011	6,754
Fall 2012	6,753
Fall 2013	6,794
Fall 2014	6,818
Fall 2015	6,857
Fall 2016	6,844
Fall 2017	6,856
Fall 2018	6,840
Fall 2019	6,871
Fall 2020	7,052
Fall 2021	7,104
Fall 2022	7,144
Fall 2023	7,143
Fall 2024	7,208

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

96%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Vanderbilt University has held near 96% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	94%
Fall 2003 cohort	95%
Fall 2004 cohort	95%
Fall 2005 cohort	96%
Fall 2006 cohort	96%
Fall 2007 cohort	97%
Fall 2008 cohort	96%
Fall 2009 cohort	97%
Fall 2010 cohort	96%
Fall 2011 cohort	96%
Fall 2012 cohort	97%
Fall 2013 cohort	97%
Fall 2014 cohort	97%
Fall 2015 cohort	97%
Fall 2016 cohort	97%
Fall 2017 cohort	97%
Fall 2018 cohort	97%
Fall 2019 cohort	96%
Fall 2020 cohort	97%
Fall 2021 cohort	96%
Fall 2022 cohort	96%
Fall 2023 cohort	96%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Vanderbilt University

20.2% of Vanderbilt University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes Vanderbilt University as a primarily residential campus of 7,208 undergraduates — and 96.3% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Vanderbilt University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1500–1570 — their midpoint is above the TN four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Vanderbilt University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Vanderbilt University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Vanderbilt University5.9%

Tennessee median69.3%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Vanderbilt University$67,498

Tennessee median$21,400

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Vanderbilt University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Vanderbilt University$91,565

Tennessee median$48,382

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Vanderbilt University, Tennessee and national reference values
Metric & basis	Vanderbilt University	Tennessee median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	5.9%	69.3%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$67,498	$21,400	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$91,565	$48,382	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Vanderbilt University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Vanderbilt University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 19 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Computer Science	$160,021
Mathematics	$141,171
Economics	$140,337
Chemical Engineering	$121,641
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	$116,662
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	$114,368
Social Sciences, General	$103,229
Political Science and Government	$102,789
Mechanical Engineering	$101,345
Public Policy Analysis	$91,265
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other	$86,559
Sociology	$83,649
Civil Engineering	$82,744
Psychology, General	$71,584
History	$69,820
English Language and Literature, General	$60,439
Neurobiology and Neurosciences	$59,575
Music	$59,217
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$55,188

These 19 fields listed for Vanderbilt University measure earnings after completion. The $91,565 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 34 additional Vanderbilt University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Vanderbilt University report?

Vanderbilt University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1500–1570 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Vanderbilt University's acceptance rate?

5.9% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 2,662 admitted from 45,409 applicants.

How much does Vanderbilt University cost?

At Vanderbilt University, tuition is $67,498. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does Vanderbilt University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $91,565. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Tennessee

Union University — 60.4% admitted
Tusculum University — 72.2% admitted
Trevecca Nazarene University — 69.4% admitted
Tennessee Technological University — 76.1% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.