Notable programs
Peabody College of Education and Human Development
Ranks number two nationally for graduate education (US News). Number-one programs in audiology, special education, educational administration, and nurse-midwifery. Strong undergraduate education and human development pathways leading directly into top graduate cohorts.
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Ranks fifth nationally for research (US News). Number-eight NIH funding rank. Top-tier basic science departments including Cell and Developmental Biology (1st), Biochemistry (3rd), and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (3rd). Offers MD/PhD via the Medical Scientist Training Program and the innovation-focused MIDP track.
Vanderbilt Law School
US News rank 12 (2026). 93.97 percent full-time bar-passage employment within nine months for the Class of 2024, 94.55 percent bar passage rate, and 9 percent federal clerkship placement ranking thirteenth nationally. Cost of attendance USD 113,733 for 2025-26.
Owen Graduate School of Management (MBA)
US News rank 16 (2026), Financial Times rank 51 globally. Roughly 600 total students with 7:1 student-faculty ratio. Notable alumni include Adena Friedman (CEO, NASDAQ), Doug Parker (former CEO, American Airlines), David Farr (former CEO, Emerson Electric), and Anu Aiyengar (Head of M&A, JPMorgan Chase).
Blair School of Music
One of the few conservatory-grade music schools embedded in a top research university. Delivers performance-track training while permitting full Vanderbilt cross-registration — a structurally rare combination that benefits from the Nashville music industry ecosystem.
School of Engineering
Strong programs in biomedical engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering with direct collaboration with VUMC for medical-device and biotech research. A clear tier below MIT, Stanford, and Carnegie Mellon engineering, but stronger than the Vanderbilt overall ranking would suggest.
Cornelius Vanderbilt and Ingram Scholarship Programs
Roughly 300 merit-based scholarships awarded annually to incoming first-year students. The Cornelius Vanderbilt, Ingram Scholars, and Chancellor's Scholarships offer full tuition for up to eight semesters with research and study-abroad stipends. Open to international applicants — a meaningful access point given Vanderbilt's broader need-aware international aid posture.