Vanderbilt University

www.vanderbilt.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$65,008

5.5% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$25,186

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

5.86%

45,409 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

13,575

94.9% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

93.5%

1,491 Graduates

About

Vanderbilt University is a higher education institution located in Davidson County, TN. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Vanderbilt University were General Social Sciences (314 degrees awarded), Econometrics & Quantitative Economics (285 degrees), and Other Multidisciplinary Studies (274 degrees).

In 2024, 5,295 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Vanderbilt University. 57.1% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 42.9% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,662 degrees), 3.67 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (726 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Vanderbilt University is $65,008, which is $33,088 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

Photo by Erik Przekop

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Vanderbilt University is $65,008, which is $33,088 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $25,186.

In 2024, 68% of undergraduate students attending Vanderbilt University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 10% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$65,008

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Vanderbilt University was $65,008. The cost of tuition at Vanderbilt University is $33,088 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Vanderbilt University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$25,186

2024 Value

5.63%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Vanderbilt University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $25,186. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Vanderbilt University grew by 5.63%.

This chart compares the average net price of Vanderbilt University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$21,054

Room and Board

$1,194

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Vanderbilt University was of $21,054 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 6% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,194. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Vanderbilt University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

68%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

10%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

68% of undergraduate students at Vanderbilt University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 3.03% with respect to 2023, when 66% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Vanderbilt University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Admissions

Vanderbilt University received 45,409 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 0.212% annual growth. Out of those 45,409 applicants, 2,662 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 5.86% acceptance rate.

There were 13,575 students enrolled at Vanderbilt University in 2024. 27% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Vanderbilt University has an overall enrollment yield of 61.2%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

5.86%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

2,662

Accepted Out of 45,409

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Vanderbilt University was 5.86% (2,662 admissions from 45,409 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 6.28%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants grew by 0.212%, while admissions declined by 6.4%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Vanderbilt University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

27%

Submission Percentage (2024)

447

Scores Submitted (2024)

27% of enrolled first-time students at Vanderbilt University in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Vanderbilt University had a total enrollment of 13,575 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Vanderbilt University is 12,876 students and the part-time enrollment is 699. This means that 94.9% of students enrolled at Vanderbilt University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Vanderbilt University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 46.1% White, 13.7% Asian, 9.83% Hispanic or Latino, 8.51% Black or African American, 4.71% Two or More Races, 0.309% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.162% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Vanderbilt University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (20.6%), followed by White Male (18.3%) and Asian Female (9.34%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (32.8%), followed by White Male (20.6%) and Black or African American Female (5.41%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

94.9%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Vanderbilt University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 13,575 students. The full-time enrollment at Vanderbilt University is 12,876 and the part-time enrollment is 699. This means that 94.9% of students enrolled at Vanderbilt University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Vanderbilt University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

96%

2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Vanderbilt University was 96%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (82%), Vanderbilt University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Vanderbilt University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
6,260 enrolled students
Asian
1,864 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
1,334 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Vanderbilt University is 46.1% White, 13.7% Asian, 9.83% Hispanic or Latino, 8.51% Black or African American, 4.71% Two or More Races, 0.309% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.162% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 421 students (3.1%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 753 more women than men received degrees from Vanderbilt University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Vanderbilt University is white (2,662 degrees awarded). There were 3.67 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (726 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Vanderbilt University is General Social Sciences (314 degrees awarded), followed by Econometrics & Quantitative Economics (285 degrees) and Other Multidisciplinary Studies (274 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Vanderbilt University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Math & Statistics (302 degrees awarded), Social Sciences (827 degrees), and Interdisciplinary Studies (461 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Vanderbilt University are Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (360,268 people), Other managers (304,479 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (179,270 people), Postsecondary teachers (154,065 people), and Chief executives & legislators (136,939 people).

The most specialized majors at Vanderbilt University in 2024 are Math & Statistics (302 degrees awarded), Social Sciences (827 degrees), Interdisciplinary Studies (461 degrees), Legal (233 degrees), and Cultural & Gender Studies (42 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Vanderbilt University are Surgeons, Logisticians, Economists, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

The most specialized majors at Vanderbilt University are Math & Statistics (302 degrees awarded), Social Sciences (827 degrees), Interdisciplinary Studies (461 degrees), Legal (233 degrees), and Cultural & Gender Studies (42 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Vanderbilt University are Elementary & secondary schools (471,377 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (341,600 people), Legal services (300,440 people), Computer Systems Design (285,564 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (223,141 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Vanderbilt University.

Most Common (2024)

General Social Sciences
314 degrees awarded
Econometrics & Quantitative Economics
285 degrees awarded
Other Multidisciplinary Studies
274 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Vanderbilt University was General Social Sciences with 314 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Vanderbilt University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

2,271

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

3,024

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 2,271 degrees were awarded to men at Vanderbilt University, which is 0.751 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (3,024).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Vanderbilt University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 248 degrees were awarded to men at Vanderbilt University in Computer Science, which is 2.41 times more than the 103 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 207 degrees were awarded to men at Vanderbilt University in Other Multidisciplinary Studies, which is 2.69 times more than the 77 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

89%

100% Completion Time

93%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 89% of students graduating from Vanderbilt University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 93% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 93% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Female

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at Vanderbilt University is Female and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 4.57% of graduates (68 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
2,662 degrees awarded
Asian
726 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
455 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Vanderbilt University is white (2,662 degrees awarded). There were 3.67 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (726 degrees).

2.21% of degree recipients (117 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Female
1,684 degrees awarded
White Female
1,649 degrees awarded
White Female
1,643 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Vanderbilt University is white female (1,684 degrees awarded). There were 1.02 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (1,649 degrees).

Operations

Vanderbilt University has an endowment valued at nearly $10.2B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 914M (8.92%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2024, Vanderbilt University had a total salary expenditure of 1.69B. Vanderbilt University employs 451 Professors, 315 Assistant professors and 240 Associate professors. Most academics at Vanderbilt University are Male Professor (292), Female Assistant professor (191), and Female Professor (159).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Vanderbilt University are: Management, with 847 employees, Service, with 815 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 729 employees.

Endowment

$10.2B

2024 Endowment

5.82%

growth from 2023

Vanderbilt University has an endowment valued at about $10.2B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Vanderbilt University grew 5.82% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $10B higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Vanderbilt University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$272M - Federal
$6.05M - State
$7.99M - Local

As of 2024, Vanderbilt University received $272M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $6.05M from state grants and contracts, and $7.99M from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$783M

2024 Salaries

12%

growth from 2023

In 2024, Vanderbilt University paid a median of $783M in salaries, which represents 46.5% of their overall expenditure ($1.69B) and a 12% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 8.63% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 5.94% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$194M

Instructional Salaries

1,249

Number of Employees

In 2024, Vanderbilt University paid a total of $194M to 1,249 employees working as instructors, which represents 24.8% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Vanderbilt University were Management with 847 employees, Service with 815 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 729 employees.

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