History
Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt was in his 79th year when he decided to make the gift that founded Vanderbilt University in the spring of 1873. For the first 40 years of its existence, Vanderbilt was under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Education
Vanderbilt offers undergraduate programs in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, music, education and human development, as well as a full range of graduate and professional degrees.
Research
Vanderbilt is home to more than 85 centers and institutes that work to tackle major challenges and meet important societal needs by bringing together faculty from a broad range of disciplines and producing cutting edge research. A center or institute is generally defined as a unit of the university engaged in combined aspects of research, scholarship, instruction, outreach or related service. Most commonly, a center or institute will have a substantial research/scholarship component to its mission, and also may have affiliated education programs.
Career
The Career Center serves undergraduates enrolled full-time in all Vanderbilt schools and colleges, and we also provide career coaching to recent graduates (0-2 years out).
Short Courses
University Ranking
Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University
2023
66 -2
2022
64 1
2021
65
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
World University Rankings by Times Higher Education
2024
92 6
2023
98 15
2022
113
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
QS World University Rankings by TopUniversities
2024
261 -62
2023
199 19
2022
218
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report
2024
-
2023
78 -5
2022
73
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
Student services
Student Services:
- Active Citizenship and Service
- Address Change
- Bookstore
- Computer Labs
- Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Disability Services Department
- International Student & Scholar Services
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Life Office
- Reserve a Room
- Student Leadership Development
- University Chaplain and Religious Life
- Women's Center
Housing services
The Office of Housing and Residential Education provides safe, secure, comfortable, accessible and healthy housing for its residents. Programming for residents builds communities in which students’ social needs for belonging, friendship, recognition, respect and dignity are met. These communities foster learning, personal development, academic achievement, and successful transitions for both new students and graduates.
Library services
The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries are fundamental to the university’s goal of advancing scholarship and learning. We collect, preserve and make accessible a wide variety of resources, we partner with faculty and students to shape research, and we encourage the development of informed scholars and engaged citizens.
ICT services
Vanderbilt Information Technology is a division of Vanderbilt University, formally created July 1, 2013, with the mission of providing world-class information technology to Vanderbilt University and Medical Center. As of May 2016, the Medical Center and the university are legally separate entities, and this organization serves the university community.
Medical services
Health and Wellness is the award winning umbrella division for three programs that provide support for the health and productivity of faculty and staff. There are multiple activities offered 24/7 at all Vanderbilt campuses.
Campus life
Located a mile and a half southwest of downtown Nashville, Vanderbilt is home to more than 300 tree and shrub varieties and was designated an arboretum in 1988. The oldest building on the original campus was constructed around 1859. The Peabody College section of campus has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark since 1966. Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory, located about nine miles from campus, also is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 333 acres
- 177 buildings
- Total physical plant: 9.0 million square feet
- Real estate (54 buildings): 2.7 million square feet
Sports facilities
- Men's varsity teams: Baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis
- Women's varsity teams: Basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field
Student clubs
Our multidisciplinary philosophy isn’t limited to academics. The value we place on community brings students, faculty and staff together to keep more than 530 organizations up and running and the varied interests of more than 6,800 undergraduates fulfilled.
Vanderbilt University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelors, masters, professional, and doctoral degrees.