Vanderbilt University facts for kids
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| Latin: Universitas Vanderbiltia | |
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Former name
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Central University (1873–1877) |
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| Motto | Crescere aude (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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"Dare to grow" |
| Type | Private research university |
| Established | 1873 |
| Accreditation | SACS |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $10.2 billion (2022) |
| Chancellor | Daniel Diermeier |
| Provost | C. Cybele Raver |
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Academic staff
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4,783 (2020) |
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Total staff
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9,253 |
| Students | 13,710 (2023) |
| Undergraduates | 7,151 (2023) |
| Postgraduates | 6,659 (2023) |
| Location |
,
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United States
36°08′55″N 86°48′18″W / 36.148649°N 86.804972°W |
| Campus | Large city, 330 acres (1.3 km2) |
| Other campuses | Brentwood |
| Newspaper | The Vanderbilt Hustler |
| Colors | Black and Old Gold |
| Nickname | Commodores |
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot | Mr. Commodore (Mr. C) |
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Vanderbilt University (also called Vandy or VU) is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee. It was started in 1873. The university was named after Cornelius Vanderbilt, a very rich man who made his money in shipping and railroads. He gave the school its first $1 million. He hoped his gift would help heal the country after the American Civil War. Vanderbilt is a founding member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). It has been the only private school in the SEC since 1966.
The university has ten different schools. Nearly 13,800 students from the US and 70 other countries study there. Vanderbilt is known for its "very high research activity." Many research centers are connected to the university. These include the Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities and the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center. The Vanderbilt University Medical Center used to be part of the university but became a separate place in 2016. All of Vanderbilt's buildings, except for an off-campus observatory, are on its 330-acre campus. This campus is in the middle of Nashville, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from downtown.
Getting into Vanderbilt as an undergraduate student is very competitive. For the class of 2028, only about 5.1% of applicants were accepted. Many famous people have been students or staff at Vanderbilt. These include 54 members of the United States Congress, 18 U.S. Ambassadors, 13 governors, 8 Nobel Prize winners, and 2 U.S. Vice Presidents. Other well-known alumni include 3 Pulitzer Prize winners, 27 Rhodes Scholars, and 5 Olympic medalists. Vanderbilt has over 145,000 alumni, with 40 alumni clubs around the world.
Contents
History of Vanderbilt University
How Vanderbilt University Started
Before the American Civil War (1861–1865), the Methodist Episcopal Church South wanted to create a university. They wanted to train ministers in a central location. In 1872, church leaders decided to start "The Central University" in Nashville. But they didn't have enough money because the South was still recovering from the war.
The next year, Bishop Holland Nimmons McTyeire visited Cornelius Vanderbilt in New York City. Vanderbilt was the richest man in the United States. He had planned to start a university in New York. But McTyeire convinced him to give $500,000 to Central University. Vanderbilt hoped his gift would "strengthen the ties" between different parts of the country.
The gift eventually grew to $1 million. Even though Vanderbilt didn't ask for it, the university was renamed in his honor in 1873. They bought land from Henry S. Foote, whose old house is still on campus.
The first main building, later called Kirkland Hall, began construction in 1874. In the fall of 1875, about 200 students joined Vanderbilt. The university officially opened in October. Bishop McTyeire was made the head of the Board of Trust for life. He chose Landon Garland as the first chancellor. Garland helped shape the school and hired its first teachers.
Early Leaders and Slavery
Many of Vanderbilt's early leaders had connections to slavery and the Confederacy. Bishop McTyeire was born into a family that owned slaves. He even wrote an essay supporting slavery. Chancellor Garland owned many slaves before the Civil War.
One of the first trustees, Hezekiah William Foote, was a Confederate soldier. He owned four plantations. The treasurer of the Board of Trust, Alexander Little Page Green, also owned slaves. The Elliston family, who owned slaves, donated land for the campus to expand.
Breaking Away from the Methodist Church
For the first 40 years, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, controlled Vanderbilt. But there were disagreements between the university and the church. They argued about how to choose members for the Board of Trust. They also disagreed on how many non-Methodists could teach at the school.
Conflicts grew after James Hampton Kirkland became chancellor in 1893. The church tried to raise money for the university but only collected a small amount.
In 1905, Kirkland Hall burned down. It was rebuilt soon after, but with a different look. The Board of Trust decided to limit Methodist leaders on the board. A group led by Bishop Elijah Hoss tried to keep Methodist control. In 1910, the board refused to let three Methodist bishops join. The Methodist Church took the issue to court.
On March 21, 1914, the Tennessee Supreme Court decided that Cornelius Vanderbilt, not the Methodist Church, founded the university. This meant the board could choose its own members. The Methodist Church then voted to end its ties with Vanderbilt. They also decided to start a new university, Southern Methodist University, and expand Emory University.
Vanderbilt from the 1920s to World War II
In the 1920s and 1930s, Vanderbilt was home to important groups of writers and thinkers. These included the Fugitives and the Southern Agrarians. In 1925, Frank C. Rand donated $150,000 to the university. Rand Hall was named after him.
In 1928, three more buildings were finished: Garland Hall, Buttrick Hall, and Calhoun Hall.
In 1933, the United Daughters of the Confederacy gave $50,000 for Confederate Memorial Hall. It was completed in 1935.
In the 1930s, scientists at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine found ways to grow viruses in chicken eggs. This discovery helped create vaccines for diseases like chicken pox and smallpox. During World War II, Vanderbilt was one of many colleges that helped train students for the Navy.
After the war, from 1945 to 1947, Vanderbilt researchers did a study. They gave 800 pregnant women radioactive iron without their full permission. In 1998, the women received $9.1 million from Vanderbilt University in a lawsuit.
Changes in the 1950s and 1960s
In the early 1950s, some of the first women graduated as engineers from Vanderbilt. In 1953, Chancellor Harvie Branscomb allowed the first African American student to join the School of Divinity. In 1960, Branscomb expelled Divinity student James Lawson. Lawson was a civil rights leader who organized peaceful protests against segregation. Many teachers resigned because of this. Branscomb later said he regretted his decision. Lawson was later recognized as a distinguished alumnus.
In May 1962, the Board of Trustees approved allowing African Americans into all of Vanderbilt's schools. The first black undergraduate students started in the fall of 1964. In 1966, Vanderbilt gained national attention for recruiting Perry Wallace. He was the first African American to play varsity basketball in the SEC. Wallace faced a lot of opposition when playing at other SEC schools. In 2004, his jersey was officially retired.
Since 1964, Vanderbilt has held its IMPACT Symposium. This event brings speakers to discuss important and sometimes controversial topics. Famous participants have included Martin Luther King Jr., Robert F. Kennedy, and several U.S. Presidents.
From the 1970s to Today
In 1979, Vanderbilt took over Peabody College, which was then called the "George Peabody College for Teachers." Peabody College has a history going back to 1785.
In 2001, the university decided to change how undergraduate students live. They started creating an academic residential college system. This means building new dorms and fixing old ones to support this system.
In 2002, the university decided to rename Confederate Memorial Hall to Memorial Hall. This caused a lot of discussion and a lawsuit. In 2016, the university finally removed the word "Confederate" from the building's name. This happened after anonymous donors gave $1.2 million to repay the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
In 2009, Vanderbilt started a "no-loan" policy for financial aid. This means that students who need financial help get grants instead of loans. In 2015, they started "Opportunity Vanderbilt." This program ensures that the university accepts students based on their abilities, not their ability to pay. It also meets 100% of a student's financial need with grants only.
In 2015, Vanderbilt opened a new innovation center called The Wond'ry. This three-story building is a place for students and staff to work together on new ideas and projects.
Learning at Vanderbilt
| Admissions statistics | |
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2022 entering
class |
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| Admit rate | 6.7% |
| Yield rate | 52.3% |
| Test scores middle 50% | |
| SAT EBRW | 730-770 |
| SAT Math | 760-800 |
| ACT Composite | 34-35 |
As of 2021, Vanderbilt had about 7,111 undergraduate students and 6,685 graduate students. In total, there were 13,796 students. Students come from all 50 U.S. states and over 100 countries. About 68% of undergraduate students are from outside the South. About 10% are from other countries.
Vanderbilt offers over 70 different majors for undergraduate students. Students can also create their own major. These programs are offered in four undergraduate schools: the College of Arts and Science, the School of Engineering, Peabody College of Education and Human Development, and Blair School of Music. The university also has six schools for graduate and professional studies. These include the Divinity School and the Law School. As of 2021, there is one teacher for every 8 students.
Getting into Vanderbilt's undergraduate programs is very competitive. In 2022, only 6.1% of applicants were accepted. Vanderbilt is one of the most selective universities in the United States.
Vanderbilt is often ranked among the top universities in the country. In 2022, U.S. News & World Report ranked Vanderbilt 13th among all national universities. Many of its graduate programs are also highly ranked. For example, the Peabody College of Education was ranked 4th in the nation.
Research at Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt spends a lot of money on research. In 2021, it spent $1 billion on research and development. This made it the 24th highest among American universities. Its Institute for Space and Defense Electronics is the largest academic center in the world for radiation-effects research.
The university also has unique research centers. For example, there are institutes dedicated to studying coffee and the game of bridge. The modern form of bridge was even developed by Harold Stirling Vanderbilt. He was a former head of the university's Board of Trust and a great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt.
In 2010, Vanderbilt's Center for Intelligent Mechatronics started testing a powered exoskeleton. This device helps people who are paralyzed or semi-paralyzed to walk. The Vanderbilt exoskeleton is now sold around the world.
Vanderbilt helped discover Tennessine, element number 117 on the periodic table of elements. It was named after the state of Tennessee in 2016.
Campus Life at Vanderbilt
The Vanderbilt campus is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southwest of downtown Nashville. It covers 330 acres (1.3 km2). The oldest part of the campus is known for its many trees and green spaces. In 1988, the campus was named a national arboretum. It has about 190 different types of trees and shrubs. One very old tree, the Bicentennial Oak, was thought to have lived during the American Revolution. It fell down in 2022 due to age.
Main Campus Areas
The original part of the campus is in the northeast corner. This area has most of the buildings for arts, humanities, law, business, and divinity schools. The Heard Central Library and Sarratt Student Center are also here.
South of the original campus are the Stevenson Center for Science and Mathematics and the School of Engineering. These buildings house science, math, and engineering departments. The Vanderbilt University Medical Center is in the southeastern part of campus. It has hospitals, clinics, and research facilities.
West of the main campus are the student dorms and Greek Row. Most students who live on campus stay in these areas. There are 20 residence halls and apartments.
The buildings on campus have many different styles. Kirkland Hall, built in 1873, is one of the most famous buildings. It was rebuilt with one tower after a fire in 1905. Campus planners try to keep the old buildings and green spaces to make the campus easy to walk around.
Memorial Gymnasium, Vanderbilt Stadium, and other sports facilities are in the far west of campus.
Peabody Campus Area
The campus of the Peabody College of Education and Human Development is across 21st Avenue from the Medical Center. The design of the Peabody campus was inspired by the University of Virginia. Its central lawn and surrounding buildings were named a historic district in 1965. The Peabody campus is also home to the Martha Rivers Ingram Commons, where all first-year students live.
How Vanderbilt is Organized
| College/school |
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| Arts and Science |
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| Law |
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| Medicine |
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| Divinity |
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| Education and Human Development |
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| Graduate School |
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| Engineering |
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| Nursing |
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| Music |
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| Management |
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Vanderbilt University is run by an independent Board of Trust. This board has 45 members and the chancellor, who is the university's main leader. Each trustee serves for five years. Bruce R. Evans is the current chairman of the board.
Daniel Diermeier became the chancellor of Vanderbilt University on July 1, 2020.
Past Chancellors
Only nine people have been chancellor since the university opened in 1875. Landon Garland was the first, from 1875 to 1893. He helped organize the university.
James Hampton Kirkland was chancellor for the longest time, from 1893 to 1937. He was important in separating the university from the Methodist Church. The main building was renamed Kirkland Hall after him.
Harvie Branscomb was chancellor from 1946 to 1963. During his time, the university grew a lot. He was responsible for allowing students of all races to be admitted.
G. Alexander Heard was chancellor from 1963 to 1982. The campus's library system is named after him. During his time, the Owen Graduate School of Management was started. Vanderbilt also merged with Peabody College.
Joe B. Wyatt was chancellor from 1982 to 2000. During his time, the university's money grew a lot. Student diversity also increased. Vanderbilt rose to the top 25 in the U.S. News & World Report rankings for the first time.
After several other chancellors, Daniel Diermeier took office on July 1, 2020.
Medical Center
Until April 2016, the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) was part of the university. Now, it is a separate organization. However, it still works closely with the university. Many medical staff also teach at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Vanderbilt University School of Nursing.
Student Life at Vanderbilt
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| White | 41% |
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| Asian | 17% |
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| Black | 11% |
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| Other | 11% |
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| Hispanic | 11% |
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| Foreign national | 9% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 16% |
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| Affluent | 84% |
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Residential College System
In the early 2000s, Vanderbilt decided to change its dorms into a residential college system. The goal is to create a strong network of homes that encourage creativity and build community. The first part of this plan was opening The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons in 2008. All first-year students live in 10 houses there. Each house has a faculty head who lives among the students.
After their first year, students move into a Residential College. This will be their home for the rest of their time at Vanderbilt. The first two upper-class colleges, Warren College and Moore College, opened in 2014. More colleges are being built so that all upper-class students will live in these special communities.
Many of the new buildings have received special environmental certifications. This shows they are built in an eco-friendly way.
Generally, undergraduate students must live in dorms on campus. First-year students live in The Commons. Upper-class students live on the main campus. Some exceptions are made for students living with family or with health reasons.
Student Groups
The university has over 430 student organizations. These include groups for academic majors, sports clubs, and more. The oldest is the Vanderbilt Sailing Club.
The Vanderbilt Hustler is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Nashville. It started in 1888. Other student publications include the Vanderbilt Political Review and the Vanderbilt Historical Review. The campus radio station, WRVU, plays different kinds of music.
Vanderbilt also has a large performing arts community. There are dance groups, theater groups, music groups, and singing groups. These include The Melodores, a male a cappella group that won a national competition in 2014. Over 1,000 students are involved in performing arts groups.
The student body is led by the Vanderbilt Student Government. This group helps manage nearly $2 million in funds for student organizations.
Greek Life
Vanderbilt has 15 fraternities and 12 sororities. About 23% of all undergraduate students are part of a Greek organization.
Sports at Vanderbilt
| Men's | Women's |
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| Baseball | Basketball |
| Basketball | Bowling |
| Cross country | Cross country |
| Football | Golf |
| Golf | Lacrosse |
| Tennis | Soccer |
| Swimming | |
| Spirit - Cheer and Dance | |
| Tennis | |
| Track and field |
Vanderbilt is a founding member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). For 50 years, it has been the only private school in the conference. The university has six men's and ten women's sports teams. They have won five NCAA championships. Vanderbilt is the smallest school in the SEC. The next smallest school has almost twice as many undergraduate students.
Vanderbilt's women's lacrosse team plays in the American Athletic Conference. The women's bowling team is part of Conference USA. Vanderbilt is the only SEC school that does not have softball and volleyball teams. However, the university plans to bring back volleyball in 2025–26.
Both basketball teams play in Memorial Gym, built in 1952. Vanderbilt's home court advantage is often called "Memorial Magic."
Sports Success
Vanderbilt has had a lot of success in sports. In 2006–07, it was one of the best years for Vanderbilt athletics. At one point, seven of Vanderbilt's 16 teams were ranked in the Top 25. The women's bowling team won the NCAA championship. This was the university's first team championship.
The baseball team has also been very successful. They won the College World Series in 2014 and 2019. The 2014 win was the school's first national championship in a men's sport.
Mascot
Vanderbilt's sports teams are called the Commodores. This nickname honors Cornelius Vanderbilt, who made his money in shipping. A "commodore" was a high-ranking naval officer in the 1800s. Vanderbilt's mascot, "Mr. C," looks like a naval officer from that time. He has sideburns, a sword, and a uniform.
Vanderbilt fans often cheer "Anchor down!" They also use a special "VU" hand sign.
Famous People from Vanderbilt
Many famous people have attended Vanderbilt. These include leaders from different countries. For example, José Ramón Guizado was the 17th President of Panama. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali was the 15th Prime Minister of Somalia.
Important U.S. political figures from Vanderbilt include two U.S. Vice Presidents: John Nance Garner and Al Gore. Also, Supreme Court Justice James Clark McReynolds and U.S. Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander went to Vanderbilt. Many members of Congress, ambassadors, and governors have also studied there. This includes Governor of Texas Greg Abbott and Governor of Kentucky Andy Beshear.
Other famous leaders from other countries include Baso Sangqu, who was President of the United Nations Security Council. Redley A. Killion was Vice President of Micronesia.
Important people outside of politics include civil rights leader James Lawson. Muhammad Yunus, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, is known for starting microfinance.
In business, famous alumni include Time Inc. CEO Ann S. Moore and American Airlines Group CEO Doug Parker. The founder of Facebook, Jeffrey J. Rothschild, was also a Vanderbilt engineering student.
In science, notable alumni include Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner Stanford Moore. Astronomers E. E. Barnard and J. Davy Kirkpatrick also attended Vanderbilt. NASA astronauts Michael L. Gernhardt and Charles R. Chappell are also alumni.
Vanderbilt graduates in medicine have made important discoveries. Norman Shumway was the first to perform a successful heart transplant in the United States. Ernest William Goodpasture invented ways to grow viruses, which helped create vaccines.
Many Vanderbilt alumni have made big contributions to literature. The Southern Agrarians and Fugitive Poets were influential groups of writers based at Vanderbilt. Three U.S. Poets Laureate are alumni: Allen Tate, Robert Penn Warren, and Randall Jarrell. Robert Penn Warren won the Pulitzer Prize twice. Famous authors like James Patterson also went to Vanderbilt.
In popular culture, singers like Dinah Shore and Amy Grant attended Vanderbilt. Actors like Kim Dickens and film directors like Duncan Jones are also alumni. Academy Award winners Delbert Mann and Tom Schulman also went to Vanderbilt.
Many Vanderbilt alumni are professional athletes. These include NFL players like Jay Cutler and NBA players like Darius Garland. Baseball stars like David Price and Dansby Swanson also played at Vanderbilt. Olympians like Jeff Turner (basketball) and Shannon Vreeland (swimming) are also alumni.
Images for kids
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US Supreme Court Justice and Attorney General James Clark McReynolds (BS, 1882)
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32nd Vice President of the United States John Nance Garner (Law, 1886)
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American astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard, (B.A. 1887)
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Pulitzer Prize-winning author of All the King's Men Robert Penn Warren (BA, 1925)
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Singer/actress Dinah Shore (BA, 1938)
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Founder of Bain & Company Bill Bain (BA, 1959)
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45th Vice President of the United States Al Gore (Div, 1971–72)
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Nobel Peace Prize-winning social entrepreneur Muhammad Yunus (PhD, 1971)
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American author James Patterson (MA, 1970)
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Chairman and CEO of American Airlines Group, Inc. Doug Parker (MBA, 1986)
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Former CEO of Time Inc. Ann S. Moore (BA, 1971)
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Former Prime Minister of Somalia and President of Puntland Abdiweli Mohamed Ali (MA, 1988)
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48th Governor of Texas Greg Abbott (JD, 1984)
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Former United States Secretary of Commerce Mickey Kantor (BA, 1961)
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See also
In Spanish: Universidad Vanderbilt para niños
- Latin American Public Opinion Project
- Southern Ivy
