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Undergraduate Admissions

Undergraduate Transfer Students

Transfer Student Group

A group of transfer students gather for a photo on sunny Wilson Field (Credit: Creative Services)

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Overview

Admission of transfer students to Vanderbilt is competitive and based on academic merit. While there is not a strict priority based on the date of application submission, transfer students are encouraged to submit their application by the March 15 deadline for fall term consideration. Applications received after March 15 may be considered on a space-available basis. We will begin notifying students of their decisions by late April and continue on a rolling basis until our transfer class is full. It is our practice to offer transfer admission for the fall semester only.

Transfer Admission

Students from accredited institutions are welcome to apply as transfer students to Vanderbilt University. Students must have completed at least 12 semester hours of credit to be considered for transfer. All students admitted as transfers must be enrolled for at least 4 semesters (60 credit hours) to earn a degree from Vanderbilt University.

Preference will be given to students who have been enrolled full-time in college-level coursework at institutions similar to Vanderbilt. Collegiate academic achievement is important in admissions decisions, and we also review indicators of academic success including the high school record, standardized test scores (required for transfer admission), letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities. We also consider the fit with the undergraduate school and the Vanderbilt major/program for which students have applied.

Interviews are not part of the transfer admission process at Vanderbilt. The Common Application essays provide insight into the applicant's perspective and enhance our understanding of how the applicant might contribute to the Vanderbilt community. An audition is required for Blair School of Music applicants and is a vital factor in the final application review.

Students who already have a bachelor's degree may not apply to the College of Arts and Science to pursue a second bachelor's degree, but are encouraged to look into graduate and professional school admission. Students with a bachelor's degree are welcome to apply to the Blair School of Music, School of Engineering, or Peabody College of Education and Human Development to earn a more specialized second bachelor's degree.

Financial Aid

Through Opportunity Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students (including transfer students) and the admissions process is need-blind for U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens. (Read more about the three important commitments we make to admitted students through Opportunity Vanderbilt.) Vanderbilt does reserve the right to be need-aware from the wait list, and merit-based financial aid is not available to transfer applicants. 

The University has no need-based aid available for international transfer applicants who are not U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens. 

For more information on need-based financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid and Undergraduate Scholarships website.

Transfer Credits and Housing 

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions does not evaluate transfer credit. After admission, transfer students can contact the appropriate undergraduate school for details about how their credits will be applied at Vanderbilt.

Transfer students are also required to live in on-campus housing unless granted a waiver by the Office of Housing and Residential Education.

International Students

International students interested in transferring to Vanderbilt University must submit the required application materials listed below. Moreover, international students are required to submit the TOEFL or the IELTS unless a student has been engaged in an English speaking curriculum for at least three years, including any time spent in college. The TOEFL/IELTS requirement may also be waived for a student who has scored above 600 on the SAT Critical Reading. All application materials, including materials from nationally or internationally accredited colleges and secondary schools, must be submitted in English or must be translated by a professional translating service (please visit EducationUSA if you have questions regarding translating services).

Financial aid is not available for international transfer students. It is the responsibility of the student to secure funding. For financial aid purposes, students are considered to be international if they do not meet the eligibility criteria to receive federal student financial assistance. (To qualify for federal assistance, students must be United States citizens or eligible non-citizens.) International transfer students with financial need should investigate external sources of financial aid.

Veterans and Active Military Duty

Applicants who wish to take advantage of veterans benefits at Vanderbilt University should visit registrar.vanderbilt.edu/va-benefits/ or www.gibill.va.gov.

Vanderbilt University participates in the Yellow Ribbon program. Learn more here. 

There are no additional application materials required for admission beyond the Common Application requirements. Once admitted, students are required to file additional paperwork in order to receive veterans benefits.

Application Checklist

  • Submit Part 1: The Vanderbilt Common Application Supplement and the Common Application Transfer Application
  • $50 Application Fee
  • Give The Common Application College Official's Report to the registrar of your current or most recent college/university. Arrange to have a separate official transcript sent from each institution attended.
  • Give The Common Application College Instructor Evaluation forms to two professors or other academic teachers who can comment on your abilities, motivation, and potential. It is preferable that these evaluations be completed by post-secondary instructors, but evaluations by high school teachers will also be accepted.
  • Have your SAT, ACT, and Advanced Placement (AP) scores reported directly to Vanderbilt by the testing agencies. Vanderbilt's ETS code is 1871; the ACT code is 4036.
  • Homeschooled applicants should also complete The Common Application Homeschool Supplement.
  • Blair School of Music applicants should also complete the Music Profile and Audition Form and mail it to:
Blair School of Music
Vanderbilt University
2400 Blakemore Avenue
Nashville, TN 37212

Request letter of recommendation from music teacher(s); and students who are unable to attend an on-campus audition should contact the Blair School of Music for information about off-campus auditions.

  • Academic credit earned at accredited institutions is evaluated on a course-by-course basis. Generally, if a course is similar in description and content to a course at Vanderbilt, transfer credit may be awarded.

Admitted Transfer Students

In addition to the Transfer Enrollment publication, admitted transfer students should visit the Dean of Students website for the most pertinent resources regarding dates and deadlines, orientation, and much more. Additionally, the links below provide admitted and prospective transfer students a few key ways to continue getting to know Vanderbilt.

Additional Resources