Vanderbilt University

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2017 Undergraduate Tuition

$46,500

4.5% growth from 2016

2017 Average Net Price

$23,295

After Financial Aid

2016 Student Loan

1.53%

Default Rate

2017 Acceptance Rate

10.9%

31,462 Applicants

2017 Enrolled Students

12,592

93.6% Full-Time

2017 Graduation Rate

91.7%

1,462 Graduates

About

Vanderbilt University is a higher education institution located in Davidson County, TN. In 2016, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Vanderbilt University were General Economics (288 degrees awarded), General Social Sciences (228 degrees), and Other Multidisciplinary Studies (201 degrees).

In 2017, 4,518 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Vanderbilt University. 55.6% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 44.4% awarded men. The majority of degree recipients were white (2,756 degrees), 8.38 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (329 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Vanderbilt University is $46,500, which is $20,000 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($26,500).

Photo by Erik Przekop

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Vanderbilt University is $46,500, which is $20,000 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($26,500).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $23,295.

In 2017, 65% of undergraduate students received federal grants, while 14% of undergraduate students received federal loans.

Student Expenses

Tuition Costs

$46,500

2017 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2017, the cost of tuition at Vanderbilt University was $46,500. The cost of tuition at Vanderbilt University is $20,000 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($26,500).

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

Average Net Price

$23,295

2017 Value

0.626%

1 Year Growth

In 2017 Vanderbilt University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $23,295. Between 2016 and 2017, the average net price of Vanderbilt University grew by 0.626%.

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

$14,962

Room and Board

$1,294

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Vanderbilt University was of $14,962 in 2017. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,294. The cost of room and board increased by 1.99% between 2016 and 2017. The cost of books and supplies decreased by 5.55% during the same period.

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

Financial Aid

Financial Aid by Income Level

65%

Of Undergraduates Receive Grants

14%

Of Undergraduates Receive Federal Loans

65% of undergraduate students at Vanderbilt University received grants or loans in 2017. This represents a growth of 1.56% with respect to 2016, when 64% 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.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

1.53%

2016 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2016 the default rate for borrower's at Vanderbilt University was 1.53%, which represents 22 out of the 1440 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Vanderbilt University received 31,462 undergraduate applications in 2017, which represents a 3.02% annual decline. Out of those 31,462 applicants, 3,415 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 10.9% acceptance rate.

There were 12,592 students enrolled at Vanderbilt University in 2017, and 34% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Vanderbilt University has an overall enrollment yield of 47.1%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

10.9%

Acceptance Rate in 2017

3,415

Accepted Out of 31,462

In 2017, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Vanderbilt University was 10.9% (3,415 admissions from 31,462 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2016, which was 10.7%. Between 2016 and 2017, the number of applicants declined by -3.02%, while admissions declined by -2.06%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Vanderbilt University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

SAT Scores

34%

Submission Percentage

540

Scores Submitted

34% of enrolled first-time students at Vanderbilt University in 2017 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Vanderbilt University has a total enrollment of 12,592 students. The full-time enrollment at Vanderbilt University is 11,782 students and the part-time enrollment is 810. This means that 93.6% of students enrolled at Vanderbilt University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Vanderbilt University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 54.9% White, 9.65% Asian, 8.7% Black or African American, 7.66% Hispanic or Latino, 4.19% Two or More Races, 0.373% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.222% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Vanderbilt University in full-time Undergraduate programs are majority White Female (25.1%), followed by White Male (23.4%) and Asian Male (7.67%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are majority White Female (35.8%), followed by White Male (25.4%) and Black or African American Female (3.96%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

93.6%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Vanderbilt University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 12,592 students. The full-time enrollment at Vanderbilt University is 11,782 and the part-time enrollment is 810. This means that 93.6% of students enrolled at Vanderbilt University are enrolled full-time compared with 78% 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

97%

2017 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 97%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (83%), 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

White
6,918
Asian
1,215
Black or African American
1,095

The enrolled student population at Vanderbilt University is 54.9% White, 9.65% Asian, 8.7% Black or African American, 7.66% Hispanic or Latino, 4.19% Two or More Races, 0.373% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.222% 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 51.5% White, 13.4% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.57% 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, 443 students (3.52%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2017, 510 more women than men received degrees from Vanderbilt University. The majority of degree recipients at Vanderbilt University are white (2,756 degrees awarded). There were 8.38 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (329 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Vanderbilt University is General Economics (288 degrees awarded), followed by General Social Sciences (228 degrees) and Other Multidisciplinary Studies (201 degrees).

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 Legal (247 degrees awarded), Social Sciences (736 degrees), and Philosophy and Religious Studies (59 degrees).

Workforce

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 (338,493 people), Other managers (236,380 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (215,735 people), Postsecondary teachers (167,199 people), and Chief executives & legislators (107,574 people).

The most specialized majors at Vanderbilt University are Legal (247 degrees awarded), Social Sciences (736 degrees), Philosophy and Religious Studies (59 degrees), Math & Statistics (148 degrees), and Language & Linguistics (95 degrees).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists

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 Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, Chemists & materials scientists, Dentists, Surgeons, and Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

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 (412,617 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (332,217 people), Legal services (282,741 people), Computer Systems Design (199,003 people), and Justice, public order, & safety activities (172,846 people).

Degrees

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

General Economics
288 degree-majorss awarded
General Social Sciences
228 degree-majorss awarded
Other Multidisciplinary Studies
201 degree-majorss awarded

In 2017, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Vanderbilt University was General Economics with 288 degree-majorss awarded.

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

Gender Breakdown for Common Majors

Degrees Awarded to Men

2,004
2,514

In 2017, 2,004 degrees were awarded to men at Vanderbilt University, which is 0.797 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,514).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2017, 217 degrees were awarded to men at Vanderbilt University in General Economics, which is 2.44 times more than the 89 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2017, 159 degrees were awarded to women at Vanderbilt University in Other Multidisciplinary Studies, which is 2.74 times more than the 58 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

87%

100% Completion Time

92%

150% Completion Time

In 2017, 87% of students graduating from Vanderbilt University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 92% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 92% 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.

Diversity

Graduation Rate by Race and Gender

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 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 (68.1%).

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, 1.92% of graduates (28 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
2,756 degrees awarded
Asian
329 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
281 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Vanderbilt University is white (2,756 degrees awarded). There were 8.38 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (329 degrees).

4.74% of degree recipients (214 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Gender

Most Common Gender Demographic

White Female
1,525 degrees awarded
White Male
1,231 degrees awarded
Asian Male
170 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and gender grouping at Vanderbilt University is white female (1,525 degrees awarded). There were 1.24 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1,231 degrees).

Operations

Vanderbilt University has an endowment valued at nearly $4.14B, as of the end of the 2017 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $468M (11.3%), compared to the 5.91% average return ($16.9M on $287M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2017, Vanderbilt University had a total salary expenditure of $1.2B. Vanderbilt University employs 394 Professors, 242 Assistant professors, and 240 Associate professors. Most academics at Vanderbilt University are Male Professors (288), Male Associate professors(143), and Female Assistant professors (134).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Vanderbilt University are: Management, with 798 employees, Service, with 787 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 710 employees.

Finances

Endowment

$4.14B

2017 Endowment

8.98%

growth from 2016

Vanderbilt University has an endowment valued at about $4.14B, as of the end of the 2017 fiscal year. The endowment of Vanderbilt University grew 8.98% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $3.85B 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

$203M - Federal
$3.13M - State
$2.07M - Local

As of 2017, Vanderbilt University received $203M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $3.13M from state grants and contracts, and $2.07M from local grants and contracts.

Expenses

Salary Expenditure

$533M

2017 Salaries

0.361%

growth from 2016

In 2017, Vanderbilt University paid a median of $533M in salaries, which represents 44.3% of their overall expenditure ($1.2B) and a 0.361% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 72.5% decline from 2015 and a 3.85% growth from 2014.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 215M (42.7% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$142M

Instructional Salaries

1,121

Number of Employees

In 2017, Vanderbilt University paid a total of $142M to 1,121 employees working as instructors, which represents 26.7% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $64.9M (30.2%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Faculty and Staff

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

394 Employees

Management

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

798 Employees

In 2017, the most common positions for instructional staff at Vanderbilt University were Professor with 394 employees; Assistant professor with 242 employees; and Assistant professor with 240 employees.

In 2017, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Vanderbilt University were Management with 798 employees; Service with 787 employees; and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 710 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Gender

Most Common Demographic

Male Professor
Male Associate professor
Female Assistant professor

In 2017, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Vanderbilt University was Male Professor with 288 employees, Male Associate professor with 143 employees, and Female Assistant professor with 134 employees.

This chart shows the gender split between each academic rank present at Vanderbilt University.

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