Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars Program

The Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars Program is a partnership between Vanderbilt University and Metro Nashville Public Schools that offers a direct cost scholarship to eligible MNPS students. The program will launch for students applying to enter college for fall 2025. Through this partnership, Vanderbilt pledges to increase the number of MNPS graduates who are admitted to and enroll at Vanderbilt, and to work with MNPS college counselors, teachers and administrators to prepare more MNPS graduates to be successful in the admissions process at selective colleges and universities. 

aerial photograph of downtown Nashville with Vanderbilt's campus in the foreground. white clouds in in a bright blue sky

About the Scholarship

The Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars Program covers direct costs at Vanderbilt, including tuition, fees, housing, and meals – currently valued at approximately $91,000. Scholars also receive a one-time summer stipend of $6,000 after the second or third year at Vanderbilt to offset costs associated with summer internships. 

Scholarship Eligibility

To be eligible for the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars Program, students must meet the following requirements:

  • Graduate from a Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) high school
  • Qualify for a Federal Pell Grant or have parent income of $100K or less
  • Apply to Vanderbilt through either the Early Decision I or Early Decision II plan
  • Apply for need-based financial aid through the College Board Financial Aid Profile and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (includes DACA and undocumented students)

How to Apply

To be considered for the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars Program, eligible students must:

  • Apply to Vanderbilt through one of Vanderbilt’s Early Decision plans:
    • Early Decision I – apply by November 1
    • Early Decision II – apply by January 1
  • Apply for need-based financial aid through the College Board Financial Aid Profile and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Eligible students who apply through the Early Decision plans and for financial aid will be automatically considered for the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars Program. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What does the scholarship cover?

    The Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars Program award covers the direct costs at Vanderbilt, including tuition, fees, housing, and meals (currently valued at approximately $91,000). The scholarship also provides a one-time summer stipend of $6,000 after the second or third year at Vanderbilt to offset costs associated with summer internships. The scholarship is awarded for a total of four years (8 semesters) of undergraduate study. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress to receive the scholarship each year.

  • Who is eligible to receive the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars Program award?

    To be eligible for the scholarship, you must graduate from a Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) high school and be admitted to Vanderbilt through Early Decision I or Early Decision II. In addition, you must qualify for a Federal Pell Grant or your parent adjusted gross income must be $100K or less, and you must apply for need-based financial aid through the College Board Financial Aid Profile and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (for US Citizens and eligible non-citizens).

  • What types of scholarship and grant assistance are used to provide the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars Program award?

    Vanderbilt’s scholarship pledge can be funded based upon the following types of financial assistance administered by Vanderbilt:

    • Vanderbilt need-based assistance
    • Vanderbilt merit-based assistance including Athletics
    • Vanderbilt Faculty-Staff tuition benefit
    • State of Tennessee General Merit Assembly Scholarship
    • State of Tennessee Aspire Scholarship
    • State of Tennessee Hope Scholarship
    • State of Tennessee Ned McWherter Scholarship
    • Federal Pell Grant
    • Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (Federal SEOG)
    • Tennessee Student Assistance Award
    • Outside sources of assistance (e.g., outside scholarships, outside tuition benefits, VA Benefits, ROTC Scholarships)
  • How do you define parent income?

    Income for purposes of determining eligibility for the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars Program award is defined as the parent adjusted gross income (AGI) on the tax information or equivalent used in the application process.

  • If I apply Early Decision but Vanderbilt chooses to defer my admission to Regular Decision, would I still qualify?

    Yes. Each year, Vanderbilt defers a limited number of students to Regular Decision who originally apply in either Early Decision I or Early Decision II. If Vanderbilt defers your application to the Regular Decision round, you would still qualify for the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholarship.

  • Are transfer students eligible to receive the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars Program award?

    No, transfer students are not eligible to receive this scholarship, but may apply for other need-based assistance.

  • Is there a limit to the number of scholarships offered?

    No, there is no limit to the number of students who can qualify for the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars Program.

  • Are international students eligible for this scholarship?

    Only US citizens, eligible non-citizens, DACA, or undocumented students can qualify for the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholar Program. International students are not eligible to receive this scholarship. International students may apply for other need-based and merit-based assistance.

Helpful links