International Costs and Finances

Need-Based Aid for International Students

Vanderbilt University offers need-based scholarships to a limited number of international undergraduate applicants. If you indicate on your application for admission that you are seeking need-based assistance, the admission decision will be made on a need-aware basis. Applications from international citizens who apply for need-based assistance will be reviewed among all international applicants seeking need-based assistance, and will be chosen based on an evaluation of academic qualities, leadership and community engagement, financial need, and availability of resources.

In order to apply for need-based scholarships, you must submit the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile or the ISFAA (International Student Financial Aid Application).

For financial aid purposes, you are considered an international student if you do not meet the eligibility criteria to receive federal student financial assistance. To qualify for federal assistance, a student must be a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen. (Learn more about how these classifications are defined.)

U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens living abroad are eligible to receive need-based scholarships. For these students, Vanderbilt is proud to offer need-blind admission and meet 100 percent of each student’s demonstrated financial need with generous aid packages that do not include loans.

For international students admitted for fall 2023, Vanderbilt offered need-based aid and/or merit scholarships to 72 students representing 42 countries. The range of awards offered was $18,600–$98,552 per year for four years. All students demonstrated exceptional academic and co-curricular talent in the admissions process.

In addition to the non-restricted forms of financial aid for international students, Vanderbilt also offers financial aid to students meeting specific criteria. Examples of need-based financial assistance available for international students include the following:

• The Hilppa A. K. Roby Scholarship provides full-tuition support to undergraduate students from Finland with demonstrated financial need who are enrolled in Vanderbilt's College of Arts and Science. In addition to full tuition, the Hilppa A. K. Roby Scholarship will provide a stipend of up to $5,000 to be used for a one-time summer study abroad, research investigation or other approved experience, and an additional $1,500 per year as a travel allowance to and from Finland.
• The Irene and Thomas Harrington International Scholarship provides financial assistance to international students enrolled full time in any of Vanderbilt's four undergraduate schools. Preference is given to students from France, with second preference to students from the European Union.
• The Early-White International Scholarship provides assistance to undergraduate international students from the United Kingdom or European Union member countries enrolled in the College of Arts and Science.

The CSS Profile or ISFAA (International Student Financial Aid Application) must be submitted by the applicant to be considered for these awards.

Please note that we do not offer financial aid to international transfer students.

*Applicants from countries sanctioned by the U.S. government or countries from which the College Board has declined to accept credit cards (Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo) should contact the admissions counselor for their region.