

Vanderbilt University Admissions 2025: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs
- Private University
333 acre campus
- Estd. 1873
- Vanderbilt University Admissions 2025
- Vanderbilt University Eligibility and Fees 2026
- Vanderbilt University Application Process 2025
- Vanderbilt University Enrollment Statistics 2025
- Vanderbilt University FAQs
Vanderbilt University Admission Process 2026
International students are welcome to apply to Vanderbilt University, but by following the step-by-step Vanderbilt admission process. From choosing the right program based on the profile to landing in the USA and starting classes, every step is a milestone.
Mentioned below is the admission process for international students:
- Research and Preparation: At this stage of the admission process, the applicant should do a detailed analysis of their profile, gather information about Vanderbilt courses, campus, and admission requirements. Additionally, prepare for any test they are required to take.
- International students are required to create an Account via the Common Application, and international applicants can apply via commonapp.org. These students will be asked to put in biographical, academic, and extracurricular information.
- Submit Required Application Materials: Students are then required to submit the required application materials, such as the Vanderbilt application fee of USD 90 (INR 7.8K) for UG courses, along with scanned copies of standardized tests, school reports & transcripts, teacher evaluations, etc.
- Write Personal Essays: As an important part of the Vanderbilt University application, applicants are required to write a personal essay that showcases their personality, values, and fit for Stanford.
- Application Review: The Vanderbilt admissions team conducts a holistic review (considering academic achievements, test scores, essays, recommendations, extracurriculars, and other criteria). Preference is given to the students who are top-performing with outstanding achievement beyond academics.
- Acceptance: Once the Vanderbilt application is successfully submitted, the admission decisions are released in mid-December (Early Action). These students are required to confirm their enrolment by paying a deposit.
- Post Admission Process: At this stage, the applicants are required to obtain Form I-20 from the university to apply for an F-1 student visa to the USA.
Vanderbilt University Application Deadlines 2025
The application deadline for the Fall admissions 2025 has passed for Vanderbilt University for most of its programs. For MBA round 5, the students can still apply by May 15, 2025, submitting all the required documents via the official portal.
Below are the tentative dates for the year 2026 UG admissions:
|
Deadline Type |
Date |
|---|---|
|
Early Decision I |
Nov 1, 2025 |
|
Early Decision II |
Jan 1, 2026 |
|
Regular Decision |
Jan 1, 2026 |
|
Blair School of Music Application |
Dec 1, 2025 |
|
Merit Scholarship Applications |
Dec 1, 2025 |
Below are the Vanderbilt PG application deadlines:
|
Program/Department |
Application Deadline |
|---|---|
|
Most Graduate Programs |
Varies (Dec 1, 2025 – Jan 15, 2026) |
|
Chemical Engineering Ph.D. |
Dec 15, 2025 |
|
Computer Science M.S./Ph.D. |
Dec 15, 2025 |
|
Economics Ph.D. |
Dec 1, 2025 |
|
Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. |
Jan 1, 2026 |
|
Interdisciplinary Materials Science Ph.D. |
Jan 15, 2026 |
Vanderbilt University Visa Requirements for International Students
Students are expected to gather the required documents before the visa interview appointment, as these documents may be scrutinized by Visa officers. Please note that students are required to pay a non-refundable Visa application fee of USD 185 (INR 16.09 K).
The students are required to get an F-1 visa to study at Vanderbilt University, as it is situated in the USA. Getting an F-1 visa requires making an application online, filling out a DS-160 form, and booking a visa appointment.
Below are the Visa application documents required to study at Vanderbilt University:
- SEVIS (I-901) fee of USD 350 (INR 30.4 K)
- Passport/visa
- I-20 form with a travel signature
- Proof of ties to the Home country
- Passport-sized photos
- DS-160 Visa Application
- Official Transcripts
- Acceptance letter from the university
- Health insurance
- Tuition fee payment proof
Must Check: USA study visa requirements for Indian students
(USD 1 = INR 88.06)
Commonly asked questions On Admissions
To secure an admission in Vanderbilt University, all international students are required to fulfill certain admission requirements. These entry requirements comprise of the following:
The minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL iBT (internet-based test) is 88. Some departments list minimum recommendations or requirements on their departmental websites and may require a higher level of proficiency. The minimum acceptable score will vary by programme for IELTS. In mostly cases, a score of at least 7.0 is desirable. Vanderbilt University recommends a minimum score of 100 on the TOEFL iBT, a 230 on the computer-based TOEFL, and a 70 on the PTE Academic.
Prospective international undergraduate students of Vanderbilt University can apply either through Common Application or Coalition Application and graduate students can apply through the Graduate Applications. VU lets its applicants choose from various intake opportunities as it admits students through Early Decision I, Early Decision II and Regular Decision. While applying to VU, candidates are required to submit the following documents:
Vanderbilt University MBA Admissions 2025
MBA programs are offered at Vanderbilt University under its business school, named as Owen Graduate School of Management. The students are required to choose at least one concentration out of the 9 MBA concentrations available, which are Accounting, Finance, General Management, Healthcare, Human and Organizational Performance (HOP), Marketing, Operations & Analytics, and Strategy. A concentration requires a minimum of 12 credit hours. These concentrations are STEM-designated, which allows international students to extend their training in the US by 24 months (OPT). This B-school is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Below are the Vanderbilt University MBA admission requirements:
- A submitted online application
- Academic transcripts
- Evaluative interview
- Letter of recommendation
- Official English Language Exam or approved waiver (for International Candidates)
- Official standardized test score or approved test waiver
- Resume
- Video response
- Written statements
Eligibility Criteria
- Accepting Exams: TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, GMAT, GRE, IELTS
Commonly asked questions On MBA/PGDM Admissions
Yes, international students are required to sit in an interview for the MBA at Vanderbilt. These Business programs are offered under the Owen Graduate School of Management. An interview is conducted via invitation for the candidates who have submitted a complete application.
This is an important part of the Vanderbilt University MBA admission process to assess candidates' motivation, fit to the university, and communication skills. Standard questions at this university are based on leadership experiences, teamwork, and career development goals of the applicant.
The Vanderbilt MBA programme is considered very prestigious as it is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Additionally, this university is also known as the 'Southern Ivy'. The admissions are highly selective, and international students are required to put their best foot forward to get into this university.
Below are the Vanderbilt University MBA admission requirements:
- A submitted online application
- Academic transcripts
- Evaluative interview
- Letter of recommendation
- Official English Language Exam or approved waiver (for International Candidates)
- Official standardized test score or approved test waiver
- Resume
- Video response
- Written statements
Vanderbilt University FAQs
Yes, Vanderbilt University offers generous scholarships for international students. However, only undergraduates get to avail these scholarship benefits, since the University of Vanderbilt does not offer any scholarships for graduate overseas applicants. At Vanderbilt, undergraduates get to choose from need-based as well as merit-based scholarships. Also, candidates must submit the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile or the ISFAA (International Student Financial Aid Application) in order to apply for need-based scholarships and Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship for merit-based scholarships. Some of the most popular Vanderbilt University scholarships for international students are:
- Irene and Thomas Harrington International Scholarship (Need-based): It provides financial assistance to international students enrolled full time in any of the Vanderbilt's four undergraduate schools. Preference is given to students from France, with second preference to students from the European Union.
- Ingram Scholarship Program (Merit-based)
- Chancellor's Scholarship (Merit-based)
Vanderbilt University's 334 acre campus provides on-campus housing facilities to all their students through their 29 residence halls and apartments. Listed below is the breakdown of Vanderbilt University's cost of attendance for undergraduates:
| Particulars | Full Year | Per Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | $12,720.00 | $6,360.00 |
| On-Campus Meal Plans | ||
| First Year Student (21 meals/week) | $7,142.00 | $3,571.00 |
| Second and Third Year Student (19 meals/week) | $7,070.00 | $3,535.00 |
| Fourth Year Student (14 meals/week) | $6,294.00 | $3,147.00 |
| All-Access Plan (Unlimited meals/week) | $7,462.00 | $3,731.00 |
| Student Health Insurance | ||
| Domestic | $2,245.00 | |
| International | $3,491.00 |
Vanderbilt University's courses comprise of 70 undergraduate majors and a vast range of graduate as well as professional degree programs, through its 10 academic schools and colleges, namely: College of Arts and Science, Blair School of Music, Divinity School, School of Engineering, Graduate School, Law School, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, Owen Graduate School of Management and Peabody College. According to the data collected from US News & World Report, Vanderbilt University is known for the following courses:
- Social Sciences;
- Economics;
- Multi Interdisciplinary Studies;
- Computer Science; and
- Mathematics.
Annual tuition fees required to pursue a degree course at Vanderbilt University is above 30L on an average, which can be considered expensive as a study abroad option. Students can refer to the table listed below for course specific fees requirements:
| Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
MS (18 courses) | INR 18 L - 59 L |
M.A. (20 courses) | INR 13 L - 54 L |
B.A. (41 courses) | INR 45 L - 51 L |
PG Certificate (22 courses) | INR 11 L - 57 L |
B.E. / B.Tech (11 courses) | INR 42 L - 51 L |
MBA/PGDM (11 courses) | INR 30 L - 62 L |
MIM (10 courses) | INR 30 L - 62 L |
B.Sc. (11 courses) | INR 45 L |
BBA (4 courses) | INR 45 L |
MSN (1 course) | INR 39 L |
The estimated total cost for an international student to study at Vanderbilt University for the 2023-2024 academic year is approximately $89,590, which includes tuition ($61,618), housing ($13,484), food ( $7,570), books, course materials, supplies, equipment ($1,194), student services fee ($1,554), student health fee ($774), personal expenses ($3,396), and other fees. So, the estimated total cost for an international student from India to study at Vanderbilt University for the 2023-2024 academic year is approximately 6,69,67,500 Indian rupees.
Vanderbilt University is one of the best universities in USA and is globally renowned for its School of Medicine as well as School of Nursing. When it comes to rankings, Vanderbilt University has been ranked #5 in Best Medical Schools: Research and #82 in Best Medical Schools: Primary Care by the prestigious ranking body US News & World Report. Listed below is the breakdown of Vanderbilt University's School of Medicine's cost of attendance:
| Particulars | 1st Year Students (12 months) | 2nd Year Students (11 months) | 3rd Year Students (12 months) | 4th Year Students (10 months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Costs Paid to Vanderbilt | ||||
| Tuition | $66,828 | $66,828 | $66,828 | $66,828 |
| Student Services Fee | $714 | $714 | $714 | $714 |
| Student Health Fee | $888 | $888 | $888 | $888 |
| Indirect Costs | ||||
| Books / Supplies | $500 | $500 | $500 | $500 |
| Housing | $20,749 | $19,019 | $20,749 | $17,290 |
| Food | $9,492 | $8,701 | $9,492 | $7,910 |
| Personal Total | $7,615 | $6,976 | $7,615 | $6,342 |
| Transportation | $2,040 | $1,870 | $2,040 | $1,700 |
| Laptop Allowance | $1,000 | |||
| Loan Fees | $912 | $912 | $912 | $912 |
| STEP Fees | $660 | $660 | ||
| Total Cost of Attendance | $110,838 | $107,068 | $110,398 | $109,142 |
Vanderbilt University's scholarships for international students includes generous need-based as well as merit-based scholarships for undergraduate students. At VU, candidates must submit the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile or the ISFAA (International Student Financial Aid Application) in order to apply for need-based scholarships. In order to apply for merit-based scholarships, Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship application is required.
Students are advised to refer to the tables below for Vanderbilt University's scholarship deadlines, according to the type of scholarship:
1) Need-based Scholarships:
| Intake Type | Scholarship Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| Early Decision I | Early-November, 2023 |
| Early Decision II | Early-January, 2024 |
| Regular Decision | Early-February, 2024 |
2) Merit-based Scholarships:
| Intake Type | Scholarship Application Deadline | CCS Profile Submission | FAFSA Submission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | December 1, 2023 | November 2, 2024 | February 1, 2024 |
| Early Decision II | December 1, 2023 | January 4, 2024 | February 1, 2024 |
| Regular Decision | December 1, 2023 | February 1, 2024 | February 1, 2024 |
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