Vanderbilt University is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee, and ranks among the top 20 universities in the US. It is best known for medicine, education, business and engineering, with a medical centre that is one of the largest employers in the state. Choose it for small classes, generous aid and a lively music city.
Nashville, United States
Official website: vanderbilt.edu
#248
Top 20 (U.S. News)
Top 5 in the US (U.S. News)
Top 30 US MBA (U.S. News)
$62,000 – $68,000
International students, undergraduate and most master's programmes
$18,000 – $24,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on vanderbilt.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
MBA (Owen Graduate School of Management)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
MS Data Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
MS Finance
Masters DegreeDuration
10 Months
Intake
Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
MEd International Education Policy and Management
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
Peabody College — one of the top 5 education schools in the US.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center — a top-20 US hospital and Tennessee's largest private employer.
Endowment above USD 10 billion — funds no-loan financial aid and small classes.
Nashville — the campus is a 330-acre arboretum minutes from Music Row and downtown.
Graduates join Deloitte, Amazon, HCA Healthcare, Bain and Nashville's healthcare and music industries.
Owen MBA graduates report median base salaries above USD 130,000.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Education alumni move into school leadership, policy roles and international organisations.
Undergrad
1 Jan 2027
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The campus is a designated arboretum in the West End, with red-brick halls, the medical centre and Peabody's own quad, all within a 15-minute walk of each other.
Nashville is one of the fastest-growing US cities, known for live music, food and a big healthcare industry. Rent has risen but stays below the coasts, and a car helps beyond the campus area.
Form I-20 issued by Vanderbilt
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
For fall 2027 undergraduate entry, Early Decision I closes 1 November 2026, and Early Decision II and Regular Decision both close 1 January 2027. Graduate deadlines vary by school: most engineering and data science master's close in January or February, and Owen's MBA runs rounds from October to April.
Vanderbilt admits undergraduates for the fall (late August) only. Nearly all graduate programmes are fall entry as well, with the MS Finance starting in July. A few professional programmes accept spring applicants, so check your programme's admissions page.
You need an F-1 student visa. International Student and Scholar Services issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, the Owen MBA, data science, finance and education policy attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a strong bachelor's degree, TOEFL 100 or IELTS 7.0, and the GRE or GMAT for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is highly selective, with an acceptance rate around 6%.
Vanderbilt offers need-based financial aid to admitted international undergraduates, though admission for them is need-aware, and the aid packages contain no loans. Merit awards such as the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship (full tuition) are open to international applicants who apply by 1 December. Graduate scholarships vary by school.
