Frequently Asked Questions

No, Vanderbilt‘s merit-based scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen only. However, transfer applicants are eligible for any and all need-based financial aid programs.

All Early Decision and Regular Decision candidates who submit completed applications by the appropriate deadline will be considered for merit-based scholarships at Vanderbilt. There is no advantage or disadvantage to applying Early Decision in regards to scholarship awarding. However, all merit-based scholarship consideration occurs in February and March, so students admitted to Vanderbilt Early Decision will not be notified of any merit-based scholarship offers until late March (when Regular Decision candidates are notified as well).

No, Vanderbilt does not offer any merit-based scholarships to incoming freshmen based on a specific intended major.

No separate application is necessary for most merit-based scholarships. The completed application for freshman admission serves as the merit scholarship application. All applicants for freshman admission who submit completed applications by the appropriate deadline will be considered for a range of merit-based scholarships.

The four merit-based scholarships that do require a separate application are: the Chancellor‘s Scholarship, the Ingram Scholarship, the Lanier Scholarship, and the Fred Russell-Grantland Rice Scholarship. Applications for the Ingram Scholarship must be postmarked by December 1; all other scholarship applications must be postmarked by January 3.

Yes, Vanderbilt offers a Division I athletic program and competes in nine women‘s and six men‘s sports. For more information, please visit our official athletic site.

Yes, students named as National Merit and Achievement Finalists by the National Merit Corporation who designate Vanderbilt as their first choice school by the deadlines set by the National Merit Corporation will receive scholarship assistance up to $5,000 per year from Vanderbilt.

Scholarship monies received from organizations outside of Vanderbilt will be added on top of any merit-based scholarship award from Vanderbilt up to the cost of attendance (COA). For specific questions about outside scholarship awards, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Undergraduate Scholarships at 800-288-0204.

Recipients of these awards for the fall of 2006 were usually in the top 1% of their high school class while enrolled in rigorous academic programs. They typically scored in the mid-1500‘s on the SAT reasoning test and/or above 34 on the ACT, though only half the applicants with test scores in those ranges received a merit-based scholarship offer. Additionally, merit scholarship recipients exhibited strong leadership or exceptional talent outside the classroom. Merit scholarship recipients in the Blair School of Music earned outstanding audition scores as well.

Each year, Vanderbilt awards about 200 merit-based scholarships to incoming freshmen who demonstrate exceptional accomplishment and high promise in intellectual endeavors. These awards range from partial to full tuition and are renewable through four years of undergraduate study as long as the student maintains satisfactory academic performance. Financial need is not a factor.

All four undergraduate schools at Vanderbilt award a number of scholarships proportionate to their enrollment. In addition, Vanderbilt awards a number of scholarships to students choosing to enroll in any of the four undergraduate schools, such as the Carell Scholarship, the Chancellor‘s Scholarship, the Ingram Scholarship, the Lanier Scholarship, and the Top Tenn Scholarship. Vanderbilt also awards specific scholarships to qualified students residing in Houston, Texas, and selected counties in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee.