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Colleges / Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate7%
Acceptance Rate7%

Vanderbilt Tuition Information

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Vanderbilt University was $58,130 a year.

In 2022, tuition increased 6%–from $54,840 the previous year. Usually, college tuition rises about 3% year.

Remember, the total cost of tuition isn't necessarily what you will have to pay to attend a school. Many students pay way less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts kick in. Plus, student loans can make theprice of collegemore manageable until you've finishing school and found a job.

Vanderbilt University: In-state vs. Out-of-State Tuition

Vanderbilt University is a private, nonprofit institution, so it has the same tuition for residents of Tennessee as it does for students who live in other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Attending a school where you qualify for the reduced tuition offered to state residentscan drastically reduce the total cost of attending college. Don't forget to check your state's guidelines for how to qualify for in-state residency. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be additional requirements too, depending on where you live.

Explore other Tennessee colleges

Do International Students Pay More to Go to Vanderbilt University?

Tuition at Vanderbilt is the same for all students.

International students are not eligible for federal financial aid, but may be eligible for private or school-specific aid and scholarships. International students with need may be eligible for the following types of financial support at Vanderbilt:

•Athletic Awards •Vanderbilt-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships and athletic awards.


Vanderbilt University Housing Expenses, Fees, and More


Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when planning for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Vanderbilt.

House and Food Costs at Vanderbilt

Room and board at Vanderbilt costs $19,862 a year. This number covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a meal plan that enables you to eat in the school dining facilities. Students who live off campus but would like to be able to eat in the campus dining can opt-in for a meal plan. The cost of board-only is $12,720.

Board costs may vary depending on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

How Much Do Books Cost at Vanderbilt?

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The actual cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and what kinds of books and materials they require. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Yearly Fees

The majority of colleges charge some yearly fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

There may be other costs associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools offer ways so that those with demonstrated need to find ways to lower or eliminate these fees.

Transportation costs

The cost of transportation in college depends on a few key factors. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus small enough that you can easily walk from class-to-class?? Do you own a car, or will you need to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these questions can make a big difference in your transportation budget. At Vanderbilt, freshman are not allowed to park on campus.

Where are a college is located can also have a big effect on the amount you'll have to spend just to get around. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand transportation in a city may be pricey, but cities may offer more trains, busses or affordable flights to actually get to school. The Vanderbilt University campus is located in a urban setting in Tennessee, not far from Nashville.

Other Costs

When estimating your budget for college, be sure to take into account the cost of things like entertainment, clothes, furnishings and toiletries.


The Full Cost of Attending Vanderbilt University


Now, let’s look at the breakdown of all expenses, to get a better idea of what is really costs to go to Vanderbilt.

Total Cost of Vanderbilt

What will the cost of attending Vanderbilt be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition $58,130
Room and Board $19,862
Board Only $7,142
Other expenses $3,008

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus $84,412
Off-Campus $71,692

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.


Financial Aid at Vanderbilt University


In 2022, 3,420 of the 7,111 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Vanderbilt meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $63,133 a year. Around 20% of Vanderbilt undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Vanderbilt graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $25,183 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans $15,839
Private Loans $42,856
Most Common Loans for Vanderbilt Students
Federal Loans 19%
Private loans 5%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Vanderbilt financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Vanderbilt University

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2022, Vanderbilt awarded 3,368 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $192.8 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $27.98 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Vanderbilt University Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Vanderbilt students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Vanderbilt was $63,133 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Vanderbilt seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus $21,279
Off-Campus $8,559

What will attending Vanderbilt really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Vanderbilt's net cost calculator on their website.

Vanderbilt University Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Students cannot pay tuition in installments. Contact the financial aid office to verify this and discuss options.

Does Vanderbilt Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes waiver tuition for certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.


Learn More About Vanderbilt University


Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$76,536

In State

$76,536

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$54,840
$54,840
Fees
$2,126
$2,126
Housing
$18,376
$18,376
Books
$1,194
$1,194

Vanderbilt Financial Aid

Students Who Receive Need-Based Aid

48%

Average Financial Aid Package

$60,903

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

13,796

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

7%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$56,966

Out-of-State

$56,966

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 1
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