Financial Aid Facts

Because talent and promise recognize no social, cultural, economic or geographical boundaries, we are committed to making a Vanderbilt education accessible and affordable to all admitted U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens. We understand that providing for a college experience is one of the largest single investments a family will make, and we believe strongly that a Vanderbilt education is well worth the investment. Our financial aid policies and our Expanded Aid Program reflect our belief that a Vanderbilt education should be accessible to all qualified students regardless of their economic circumstances. The Office of Student Financial Aid and Undergraduate Scholarships individually reviews every application for financial aid and works closely with each family to help make a Vanderbilt education affordable.

We make three important commitments to U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens which reflect our continuing dedication to making a Vanderbilt education possible:

1. First: Our admissions process is entirely need-blind - your family's ability to pay is not a factor in our admissions process.
2. Second: Vanderbilt will meet 100% of demonstrated financial need. With the additional investment that we make, many students often pay no more to attend Vanderbilt than they would pay to attend a college with a lower total cost.
3. Third: Financial aid awards do not include loans. With our Expanded Aid Program, Vanderbilt's financial aid packages for undergraduate students include only grant assistance and a reasonable work expectation.

The estimated average costs for full-time undergraduate students attending Vanderbilt University for academic year 2011-12 are:

First-Year Engineering Laboratory Fee and Laptop Allowance* - $2,150

Upperclass Laboratory Fee (Engineering Students only)* - $650

*The Engineering Laptop Allowance and Laboratory Fee apply to engineering students only. First-year engineering students are required to either purchase a laptop from Vanderbilt or provide their own computer that meets published requirements.

Steps in applying for financial aid:

1. Submit the College Scholarship Service Financial Aid PROFILE CSS PROFILE, school code 1871.
2. Submit the 2012-13 Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA), school code 003535.
3. Submit copies of your and your parents' 2011 federal tax return with all attachments and W-2 forms to our office as soon as they are complete/available.

These can be mailed to:

2309 West End Ave
Nashville, TN, 37203-1725

For more specific instructions and information about applying for financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid and Undergraduate Scholarships.

• The amount of need-based financial aid awarded to a family is the difference between the amount a student and family are expected to pay toward college (expected family contribution) and the total cost of attendance.
• The average financial aid package for first-year students entering fall of 2011 who were offered need-based assistance included 97% gift aid and 3% work.
• While loans are not included in financial aid packages, under certain conditions and based upon individual family circumstances or desires, loans from federal and other sources may be made available to students upon their request to replace any work expectation in the award or to replace some portion of the expected family contribution.
• Total amount of gift assistance, from all sources, awarded to first-year undergraduate students for the 2011/12 academic year: $39,415,354
• Undergraduate students receiving financial aid (need-based and/or merit-based) for the 2011/12 academic year: 62%
• Average financial aid package for 2011/12 academic year: $43,163
• First-year applicants awarded merit-based scholarships: 2.6%