Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN · founded 1873 · 13,500 students · private research university · Southeastern Conference

Known for: Vanderbilt is known for combining academic excellence with a vibrant social scene in the heart of Nashville. The university excels in research, particularly in medicine and education, while offering students access to Music City's cultural opportunities.

Rankings

U.S. News national: #18
QS World: #312
Times Higher Education: #94
ARWU Shanghai: #201
Forbes: #21

Top programmes

Medicine
Education (Peabody)
Engineering
Law
Nursing
Blair School of Music

Notable alumni

Al Gore — 45th Vice President of the United States, Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Muhammad Yunus — Nobel Peace Prize winner, microfinance pioneer
James Patterson — Bestselling author
Lamar Alexander — U.S. Senator and former Secretary of Education
Amy Grant — Grammy-winning singer
Dinesh Patel — First Indian-born player to sign with Major League Baseball
Roy Blunt — U.S. Senator from Missouri

Traditions

Rites of Spring music festival
Commodore Quake at football games
Anchor Dash 5K
Dore-to-Dore Halloween celebration
Senior Week activities

If Vanderbilt University were…

As a food: Hot chicken from Hattie B's — Nashville's signature dish—looks approachable and fun, delivers a punch, and everyone Instagrams it. It's trendy, a little painful, but you keep coming back because it's the cool thing to do.
As an athlete: Peyton Manning — Tennessee royalty, polished, wildly successful, and beloved by everyone in the South. Both are smart, pre-professional, and represent the gold standard of doing everything right with a smile.
As a person alive today: Reese Witherspoon — Southern belle turned media mogul, perfectly polished, runs in elite circles, and built an empire on being relatable yet aspirational. Vanderbilt produces people who make ambition look effortless and fun.
As a historical figure: Cornelius Vanderbilt — The robber baron railroad tycoon who founded the university and embodied Gilded Age wealth. His name is literally on the school, and his legacy is unapologetic capitalism with a philanthropic sheen.
As a movie or TV show: Nashville (TV series) — The ABC drama about beautiful, ambitious people navigating Music City's elite scene—full of networking, social climbing, and Southern charm masking cutthroat competition. That's Vanderbilt in a nutshell.
As a US president: Bill Clinton — Southern, charismatic, incredibly smart but also deeply social and political. Both are ambitious operators who work every room and make success look like a fun party you're lucky to attend.
As a city: Austin — Southern city that's booming, trendy, full of young professionals and Greek life energy, where everyone's networking disguised as fun. Both are hot, social, and increasingly expensive playgrounds for the ambitious.
As an element: Platinum — Rarer and more expensive than gold, valued in both jewelry and industry. Vanderbilt is the Southern school that's elite without being stuffy, prestigious in both social and professional realms.
As a car: 2024 BMW X5 M50i — Nashville's polished powerhouse combines Southern hospitality with ambitious pre-professional drive—sleek, sporty, expensive, and equally comfortable at tailgates or investment banking mixers. The ultimate preppy all-rou

Campus life

Vanderbilt offers a balanced college experience with strong academics, active Greek life, and Division I athletics. Students enjoy Nashville's music scene, restaurants, and internship opportunities while maintaining a collaborative academic environment. The campus has a Southern charm with a diverse, increasingly national student body.