What the funding covers
- Full tuition for four years.
- Funding for summer experiences, for example a one-time funded summer for Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholars and support for service projects for Ingram Scholars.
- Merit awards can be combined with need-based aid where applicable.
What you will still pay
| Cost | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Tuition ($69,822 in 2026–27) | Covered in full by an Ingram or Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship |
| Housing, meals and the student support fee ($15,170 + $8,520 + $3,384 for first-years in 2026–27) | You, unless you are also awarded need-based aid, which is limited for international students |
| Application fee ($50) | You, unless you qualify for a fee waiver |
| CSS Profile ($25 for the first college, $16 for each extra one), only if you apply for need-based aid | You, or file the free ISFAA instead |
| US student visa: $185 application fee and $350 SEVIS fee, plus a new $250 visa integrity fee that some embassies now charge | You, before you travel |
Who can apply
- First-year applicants to Vanderbilt, including international applicants ('international applicants are eligible to receive any of Vanderbilt's merit scholarships').
- The Chancellor's Scholarship is no longer offered to students applying for autumn 2027 onwards.
Which nationalities can apply
Every nationality can apply.
Documents you will need
- Common Application, Coalition (Scoir) or QuestBridge application (only one of them)
- SAT or ACT only if you want them considered (optional for fall 2027 and 2028 entry, required again for fall 2029)
- Proof of English proficiency, required for international students
- The merit scholarship application in your MyAppVU portal by 1 December 2026
- For need-based aid: the CSS Profile or ISFAA by 1 November 2026 (ED I), 1 January 2027 (ED II) or 1 February 2027 (Regular Decision)
How to apply
- Apply to Vanderbilt (Early Decision I in November, Regular Decision by 1 January).
- Submit the separate merit scholarship application by 1 December 2026, earlier than the Regular Decision deadline.
- Finalists are invited to further selection steps in the spring.
Before you apply: things to know
- The scholarship deadline (1 December) comes before the Regular Decision deadline; applying in January is too late for the scholarships.
- These are merit awards, not guaranteed aid. Vanderbilt considers international students' financial need in admission.
- Older articles still describe the Chancellor's Scholarship; it has been discontinued.
Common questions
How many international students get money from Vanderbilt?
For fall 2026, Vanderbilt offered need-based aid or merit scholarships to 89 international students from 54 countries, worth $16,815 to $99,998 a year for four years.
Does asking for need-based aid affect my admission?
Yes. For international applicants who ask for need-based aid, the decision is need-aware: you compete with other international aid applicants for a limited budget. Merit scholarships are open to all international applicants.
I live in Ghana or Nigeria and cannot pay the CSS Profile fee by card. What now?
Vanderbilt notes that the College Board does not accept credit cards from Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo. Contact the Vanderbilt admissions counsellor for your region, or use the ISFAA, which has no fee.
A working timeline
Counting back from the next deadline (Dec 1, 2026). Steps marked NOW are already due if you start today.
Sep 8, 2026 · NOWResearch the route in depth: confirm eligibility, costs and every required document
Sep 22, 2026 · NOWAsk your referees (for a PhD, email potential supervisors with a short, specific pitch)
Oct 6, 2026 · NOWWrite the first full draft of your motivation letter or statement of purpose
Oct 20, 2026 · NOWOrder transcripts and certified translations · book any language test
Nov 3, 2026 · NOWSecond draft: get feedback from someone who reads critically
Nov 17, 2026Finalise every document and complete the online form
Nov 24, 2026Submit, but never on the last day
Dec 1, 2026Deadline