Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee, founded in 1873 through a gift from Cornelius Vanderbilt. It enrolls roughly 13,500 students across undergraduate and graduate programs.
The university includes 10 schools, spanning liberal arts (College of Arts & Science), engineering, education (Peabody), music (Blair), business (Owen), plus graduate and professional schools in law, divinity, medicine, and nursing. Vanderbilt is classified as an R1 research university, meaning “very high” research activity.
The campus is 340 acres, located close (about 1.5 miles) to downtown Nashville, giving students a blend of a park-like academic environment with vibrant city access. Vanderbilt has a strong tradition of interdisciplinary research, with over 100 research centers and institutes.
Vanderbilt’s mission emphasizes academic excellence, discovery, and public service. Its history is marked by a commitment to growth and innovation: for its 150th anniversary, Vanderbilt highlighted investments in faculty (Destination Vanderbilt) and infrastructure to scale up research.

