Types of Financial Assistance
Grants and Scholarships can be awarded from a variety of sources including Vanderbilt, federal, state and private entities. These funds are considered "gift" assistance and do not have to be repaid.
University Need-Based Scholarships
Eligibility for these funds is determined by completing the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Financial Aid PROFILE. University need-based scholarships are typically awarded for the award year to undergraduate students on the basis of financial need. Please note that the minimum required cumulative GPA for renewal of University need-based scholarship funds is a 2.00 after the freshman year, but we anticipate that your level of academic performance will be higher. The maximum time frame to receive assistance from Vanderbilt financial aid programs is a total of four years (eight semesters) of full-time enrollment.
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University Need-Based Scholarships
Scholarship assistance to undergraduate students pursuing their first baccalaureate degree and awarded based upon financial need. Amounts vary based upon need. -
University Restricted Scholarships
Scholarship assistance to undergraduate students pursuing their first baccalaureate degree and awarded based upon financial need and academic performance. Amounts vary based upon need. Dollars for this assistance are provided by generous alumni and friends of Vanderbilt. Eligible students will be matched with appropriate scholarship funds by the staff of the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.
Federal and State Grants and Scholarships
Eligibility for these funds is determined by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
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Federal Pell Grant
For families with low incomes. (Undergraduate Only) -
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
For those with exceptional need. $200 to $2,500 per year (undergraduates only). -
Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA)
File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by February 1, which will then allow for information to be made available to the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC). Funding allocations by the state are limited. Eligibility for this program is determined annually by TSAC. Awards range from $2,000 to $4,000 (undergraduate, Tennessee residents only). Your award notice will include projected eligibility for TSAA. Final eligibility for this grant assistance will be determined by the TSAC. TSAC will notify you directly. -
Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program (TELS)
Undergraduate Tennessee residents are required to complete the FAFSA each year to qualify for the TELS programs. Additional eligibility requirements are determined through the program rules. The filing deadline for fall eligibility is September 1 and for spring eligibility is February 1 of each year.
Please note that if we have included an ESTIMATE of your eligibility for one or more Tennessee State financial aid programs that does not guarantee your receipt of those awards. The Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) makes all final decisions regarding eligibility to receive TSAA and TELS awards. Please visit TSAC for eligibility information. TN Lottery Scholarship FAQs.
Loan Assistance
Student loans are available and must be repaid, with interest, based upon a certain payment schedule. For more loan information, please see the section, "Loan Information & Payment Plan Options".
Academic Year Student Contribution: AYSC
As the primary beneficiary of a Vanderbilt education, you are expected to participate in paying for a portion of your college costs. Your financial aid package for the academic year will typically include an Academic Year Student Contribution. For most students, the Academic Year Student Contribution is currently no more than $ 2,700 each academic year.
It is our initial expectation that you will cover all or part of your Academic Year Student Contribution from part time employment while in school. Employment information for both on and off-campus job opportunities may be found at Student Employment . Vanderbilt does not place or guarantee students employment. If you receive an outside scholarship it will be used first to replace or reduce your Academic Year Student Contribution before reducing Vanderbilt need-based assistance.
The Academic Year Student Contribution represents the dollar amount you are expected to earn as part of your financial aid award to help meet your demonstrated financial need. It is not an expense for which you will be billed and it is not an amount that will be credited directly as payment towards your bill.
Student Employment
Student employment opportunities offer students a chance to gain valuable work experience in addition to receiving a paycheck for their hours worked. Employment positions are not assigned; students must initiate the job search and application process. Wages earned from employment are not disbursed to your student account. Instead they are earned by employment through Vanderbilt University and received as a paycheck that can either be applied to the balance on your student account or be used for living expenses. Visit Student Employment website .
- Federal Work Study Students must complete the FAFSA to determine eligibility for this program. Eligible undergraduate students may work up to 19 hours per week on-campus. Eligible graduate/professional students may work up to 29.5 hours per week on-campus. There are a variety of work locations and settings. Wages begin at $7.25, but vary depending on type of job. Most undergraduate students are awarded $1,000-$2,700 per year. Students are normally paid bi-weekly for hours worked.
- Vanderbilt Institutional Employment Program Vanderbilt has an institutional employment program for those students who do not qualify for the Federal Work Study program. Most positions are obtained through the HireADore job website. Eligible undergraduate students may work up to 19 hours per week on-campus. Eligible graduate/professional students may work up to 29.5 hours per week on-campus. There are a variety of work locations and settings. Wages begin at $7.25, but vary depending on type of job. Students are normally paid bi-weekly for hours worked.
Outside Scholarships
These funds may be available from sponsoring organizations including parents' employers, religious organizations, fraternal societies, women's clubs and vocational rehabilitation funds. Information and advice regarding outside sources of assistance can be obtained through high school guidance counselors, publications, and the Internet. FastWeb (www.fastweb.com) and the College Board . If you have been notified of outside scholarships not listed on your financial aid award notice, please follow the Outside Scholarship instructions outlined on our downloads page.
WHERE TO SEND SCHOLARSHIP CHECKS: It is very important that YOU notify the donor/provider of each scholarship to send the scholarship checks to the Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships, PMB #407810, 2309 West End Ave., Nashville, TN 37240-7810. If the donor sends the check directly to you at your home, then YOU MUST FORWARD that check to our office. Please endorse the back of the check, include your Social Security number, and write 'For Deposit Only to Vanderbilt University'. DO NOT FORWARD THE SCHOLARSHIP CHECK TO THE STUDENT ACCOUNTS OFFICE WITH YOUR PERSONAL CHECK REMITTANCE WHEN YOU ARE PAYING YOUR STUDENT ACCOUNT BALANCE.
HOW YOUR SCHOLARSHIP(S) ARE REFLECTED ON YOUR BILL: If you notify this office before the August 1 billing of any outside scholarship(s) you are receiving, the scholarship(s) will appear on your bill as 'Anticipated aid' and will be deducted from your charges. This does not mean the scholarship check has been credited to your account. It is your responsibility to make sure payment is sent to Vanderbilt. Some scholarship donors provide full payment of their scholarships for the fall semester while other donors might send one-half of the scholarship in the fall and one-half in the spring. In order for the 'Anticipated aid' to reflect how your donor will pay your scholarship, YOU WILL NEED to provide this information to us. If you are notified of scholarship awards after you have returned the form to us, promptly provide us, in writing, with the name of the scholarship, amount, and manner of payment (full amount in fall or one half each semester). Provide us with as much detailed information regarding the scholarship as possible. Please include a copy of the scholarship award notice from the donor, if possible.
BILLING OR ENROLLMENT VERIFICATION REQUIRED BY DONOR: If your donor requires a bill from Vanderbilt be sent to them before they will pay your scholarship, YOU must notify the Office of Student Accounts (Box 1671, Station B, Nashville, TN37235). You then must provide them with a written request that includes the name and address of the donor, amount of the scholarship, and your name, address and Social Security number. The request may also be faxed to Student Accounts at (615) 343-8511.
If your donor requires an enrollment verification before paying your scholarship, YOU must notify the Vanderbilt University Registrar (PMB 407701, 110 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37240). You need to provide them with the name and address of the donor, amount of the scholarship and your name, address and Social Security number. You may contact them by mail at the above address or by phone (615) 322-7701 or by fax (615) 343-7709.
VU Supplemental Scholarship
Vanderbilt guarantees all households with incomes of $150,000 or less with typical assets scholarship assistance equal to tuition. While most households with less than $150,000 typically will receive Opportunity Vanderbilt funds in excess of tuition, Vanderbilt may need to provide supplemental dollars to some families. Eligibility for this scholarship is determined annually by verification of the data provided on the CSS Profile. For information on this scholarship, please visit VU Supplemental Scholarship webpage.