Vanderbilt University: Financial Aid For International Students?

Vanderbilt University is committed to making its education accessible and affordable to all admitted students. The university offers need-based financial aid to a limited number of international freshman undergraduate applicants. International students can apply for need-based scholarships by submitting the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile or the ISFAA (International Student Financial Aid Application). Vanderbilt is need-aware for international citizens, meaning that if an international student requires financial aid, their application needs to be strong in order to get in, as the admissions committee knows how much the student will cost the school. Vanderbilt does not offer financial aid to international transfer students.

Vanderbilt University's need-based financial aid for international students

Vanderbilt University offers need-based financial aid to a limited number of international undergraduate applicants. The university is need-aware for international students, meaning that the financial aid application and the amount of financial aid required may be a factor in the final admissions decision.

International students who apply for need-based assistance will be chosen based on an evaluation of their academic qualities, leadership and community engagement, financial need, and availability of resources. Vanderbilt will meet 100% of a family's demonstrated financial need, but does not offer financial aid to international transfer students.

To apply for need-based scholarships, international students must submit the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile or the ISFAA (International Student Financial Aid Application). The application may also require official copies of the student's or their parents' tax returns, with all attachments and W-2 forms.

For the 2024 intake, Vanderbilt offered need-based aid and/or merit scholarships to 75 international students from 48 countries. The range of awards offered was $20,674–$102,313 per year for four years.

Vanderbilt's merit-based scholarships for international students

Vanderbilt University offers a range of merit-based scholarships for international students. These scholarships recognise and reward students' exceptional academic achievement, leadership skills, and contributions outside the classroom.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Vanderbilt University awards merit-based scholarships to international students who demonstrate exceptional accomplishment and intellectual promise. These scholarships are highly competitive and only awarded to a select few of the most exceptional applicants each year.

Signature Scholarships

There are three signature scholarships that comprise the majority of Vanderbilt's merit-based awards:

• The Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship: This scholarship is for students with outstanding academic achievement and strong leadership skills, who have also made significant contributions outside the classroom.
• The Ingram Scholars Program: This scholarship recognises students who plan to combine a professional or business career with an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to civic-minded service, innovation, and leadership.
• The Chancellor's Scholarship: This scholarship is for students with outstanding academic records who have worked to build strong high school communities by bridging gaps among diverse groups, whether economically, socially, or racially.

Other Merit-Based Scholarships

In addition to the signature scholarships, Vanderbilt offers a limited number of additional merit-based scholarships starting from $8,000 per year. Candidates for these scholarships are identified by the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.

National Merit Scholarships

Vanderbilt also provides scholarship assistance for students named National Merit Finalists. To be considered, students must designate Vanderbilt as their first-choice school with the National Merit Corporation by the final deadline.

Application Process

International first-year applicants interested in merit-based scholarships must complete the appropriate applications online. Within two business days of submitting an application, students should receive an email explaining how to create their online MyAppVU account. Under the Scholarship Application tab, students can select the signature program(s) to which they wish to apply.

It is important to note that merit-based scholarships are highly competitive, and only a select few applicants receive them each year. Vanderbilt University encourages international students to explore external assistance and scholarship opportunities through corporations, foundations, service organisations, religious groups, and more.

Vanderbilt's need-blind admissions for US citizens and eligible non-citizens

Vanderbilt University is committed to ensuring that a student's financial situation is not a barrier to accessing a world-class education. The university's Opportunity Vanderbilt programme reflects its belief that a world-renowned education should be accessible to all qualified students, regardless of their economic circumstances.

Vanderbilt is need-blind when reviewing applications for all US citizens and eligible non-citizens. The university meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for US citizens and eligible non-citizens with generous aid packages that do not include loans. This means that the university does not consider an applicant's ability to pay when making an admissions decision.

Vanderbilt makes three important commitments to US citizens and eligible non-citizens to ensure that students from a wide range of economic backgrounds can enrol:

• Vanderbilt's admissions process is need-blind for US citizens and eligible non-citizens.
• Vanderbilt will meet 100% of a family's demonstrated financial need.
• Financial aid awards do not include loans. Instead, Vanderbilt offers additional grant assistance.

These commitments place Vanderbilt among a small number of US universities that have adopted these philosophies and allocated the necessary resources to make a premier college education accessible to students from diverse economic backgrounds.

Vanderbilt's financial aid application process for international students

Vanderbilt University offers need-based financial aid to a limited number of international undergraduate applicants. The university is need-aware for international students, meaning that the financial aid application and the amount of financial aid required may be a factor in the final admissions decision.

Application Process

The application process for need-based financial aid for international students at Vanderbilt University is as follows:

• Submit the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile or the ISFAA (International Student Financial Aid Application).
• The priority dates to submit the application for international citizens are:

• Early Decision I Applicants - November 5
• Early Decision II Applicants - January 2
• Regular Decision Applicants - February 3

If applying for need-based scholarships, the CSS Profile or ISFAA must be submitted by the following deadlines:

• November 1, 2024, for Early Decision I
• January 2, 2025, for Early Decision II
• February 1, 2025, for Regular Decision

• For merit-based scholarships, the application for the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship is required.
• For the Ingram Scholarship Program and the Chancellor's Scholarship, the application is strongly encouraged, with preference given to those who apply.
• Students who wish to be considered for additional merit scholarships should complete the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship application.

Additional Information

• International students are encouraged to explore external assistance options such as corporations, foundations, service organizations, and religious groups that sponsor educational assistance programs.
• Vanderbilt does not offer financial aid to international transfer students.
• International students from countries sanctioned by the US government or where the College Board has declined to accept credit cards (Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo) should contact the admissions counselor for their region.

Vanderbilt's commitment to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need

Vanderbilt University is committed to making its education accessible and affordable to all admitted students. The university believes that cost should never be a barrier to a world-class education. Vanderbilt's admissions process is need-blind for US citizens and eligible non-citizens, meaning that a student's ability to pay is not part of the admissions decision. The university will meet 100% of a family's demonstrated financial need.

Vanderbilt's need-based financial aid program is designed to encourage all qualified US citizens and eligible non-citizens to apply for admission, regardless of their financial circumstances. The university's no-loan financial aid program has no income cutoff, and families who need help paying for a Vanderbilt education should apply for financial assistance. Vanderbilt offers additional grant assistance to undergraduate students instead of need-based loans. This grant assistance does not involve income bands or "cut-offs" that impact or limit eligibility.

For international students, Vanderbilt University offers need-based scholarships to a limited number of undergraduate applicants. The university will offer renewable need-based financial aid to a small number of international freshman undergraduate applicants. International students who do not seek need-based financial aid should be prepared to finance their Vanderbilt education privately or through a sponsor. International students are also encouraged to explore external assistance from corporations, foundations, service organizations, religious groups, and other similar entities.

Frequently asked questions