Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Nashville, TennesseeMD Official website

MCAT521Average · 2024Source for MCAT
GPA3.54AverageSources and context for GPA
Class size952025-2026Source for Class size
In-state tuition$72,803One year, tuition and feesSource for In-state tuition

Mission

The School of Medicine is led by a talented and expert team of administrators, staff and faculty who are committed to the success of its people and the advancement of safe, effective, ethical, evidence-based, and patient-centered health care. The core values of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine are integrity, belonging, humility, fairness, mutual respect, and excellence. Our Mission The mission of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine is to catalyze the advancement of impactful discovery, servant leadership, and lifelong learning. To carry out this mission, we make these strategic commitments: *To nurture the growth of clinicians, scientists, and educators who will serve and lead their local, national, and global communities. *To create, implement, and disseminate new knowledge that expands understanding of health, disease, and healthcare systems. *To teach, learn, and provide compassionate, personalized caring of the highest quality for every patient who seeks our service and to strive to achieve health for all in the populations we serve. *To embrace a culture of lifelong learning, critical thinking, and innovation so that we will continuously improve in all we do. *To build a broad community of faculty, staff, and students that expands the richness of our learning environment and enhances excellence in all of our endeavors.
As the school states it

Admissions office

Office of Enrollment ServicesSuite 224,Eskind Biomedical Library and Learning CenterNashville, TN 37232 USA
(615) 322-2145
[email protected]

Tuition and cost

Tuition and fees
In state$72,803
Out of state$72,803
One year, as reported. A missing figure means the school did not report it, never that it costs nothing.
Cost of attendance
In state$116,943
Out of state$116,943
Tuition plus the living costs the school budgets for. This is what a loan is sized against.
What you leave with
Average graduating debt
$182,022
Students receiving aid
73%
Health insurance
In state
$4,074
Out of state
$4,074
After graduation
Monthly loan payment
$1,965
Earnings, 1 year out
$66,933
Earnings, 5 years out
$112,986

Loan payment is on federal graduate loans only. Earnings are medians for everyone who finished this program, and a year out most of them are in residency.

Who can apply

Out-of-state ApplicantsYesYes, As of 3-3-2026, there are no restrictions to be accepted to VUSM as an out of state applicant.
Canadian ApplicantsYesYes, We accept applications from any applicant who meets our academic and other prerequisites, without regard to citizenship or immigration status.
International ApplicantsYesYes, We accept applications from any applicant who meets our academic and other prerequisites, without regard to citizenship or immigration status.
DACA Status ApplicantsYesYes, We accept applications from any applicant who meets our academic and other prerequisites, without regard to citizenship or immigration status.
Transfer applicantsNoNot accepted
Community college prerequisitesYesAccepted
AP creditYesAccepted
Online courseworkYesAccepted
Pass/fail courseworkNoNot accepted

Vanderbilt recognizes that everyone's pathway to medical school is different. That is what sparked our movement from pre-requisites to recommendations. Vanderbilt has no issue with candidates who take coursework at a community college, as long as their MCAT performance is strong.

Applying

How competitive is admission here?

80.9applications per seat2025-2026
7,685applications received2025-2026
5%from in state2025-2026
  1. MCAT scores this school will read
    Oldest accepted
    January 2023
    Latest accepted
    September 12, 2026
  2. AAMC PREview
    Policy
    We are not using PREview scores in the admissions
  3. Secondary application
    Required
    Yes
    Fee
    $95
    Sent to
    Selected applicants are invited to fill out the secondary application, after review of the verified AMCAS. Approximately 5700, out of over 7400 applicants, received secondaries for the 2026 cycle.
    Fee waiver
    Available
  4. Secondary deadline
    Due
    MD Deadline=November 15; MD/PhD=December 1
  5. Letters of recommendation
    Committee letter
    Accepted
    Letter packet
    Accepted
    Individual letters
    Accepted
  6. Interview
    Format
    One-on-one
    Invitations
    Invitations to interview for both the MD and MD/PhD programs are sent via email from August until January.
  7. Deposit on an offer
    Required
    No

Prerequisite coursework

  • BiologyWe do not require or recommend a class in "biology" only. If there is another course that you have taken that fits our recommended content, we are comfortable with that: https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/md- admissions/admission-requirements/LabRecommended
  • ChemistryWe do not require or recommend a class in "chemistry" only. If there is another course that you have taken that fits our recommended content, we are comfortable with that: https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/md- admissions/admission-requirements/LabRecommended
  • PhysicsWe do not require or recommend a class in "physics" only. If there is another course that you have taken that fits our recommended content, we are comfortable with that: https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/md- admissions/admission-requirements/LabRecommended
  • PsychologyWe do not require or recommend a class in "psychology" or "sociology" only. If there is another course that you have taken that fits our recommended content, we are comfortable with that: https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/md- admissions/admission-requirements/Recommended
  • StatisticsWe do not require or recommend a class in "statistics" only. If there is another course that you have taken that fits our recommended content, we are comfortable with that: https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/md- admissions/admission-requirements/Recommended

Interview

One-on-oneFile: closed file
Video interview

VUSM will conduct Zoom interviews for this cycle. Emails regarding additional information sessions for candidates will be sent to interviewees as the cycle progresses

Regional interviews

Regional interviews are not available

How the school describes it

Two interviews are held.One interview is an open file (AMCAS and secondary) interview that lasts roughly 35 minutes.The other is a short, closed file interview that lasts roughly 20 minutes.Candidates spend the rest of the day learning more about us.

Invitations

Invitations to interview for both the MD and MD/PhD programs are sent via email from August until January.

A typical interview day

For the 2026 cycle, Vanderbilt will conduct virtual interviews. Candidates are invited to an informal gathering with current students virtually. For the virtual interview day, VUSM utilizes a Zoom platform. For an hour before the interview, there is an informal conversation with a faculty member. After the candidates interview, a session on the curriculum is held. While interviewees are eating lunch, there is a student experience panel (no faculty or staff allowed). After that session is over, VUSM explains the admissions and financial aid process. There are also sessions throughout the cycle for interviewees to learn more about research. Interviewees are encouraged to reach out with any questions they might have about the area or school. The MD Ambassadors (https://medschool.vander bilt.edu/md/admissions/am bassadors/) are a wonderful way to get a current student's perspective. The MD/PhD interview allows candidates to interview with potential research mentors.

If you are waitlisted

Waitlist positions
All applicants not initially admitted will be placed on the non-ranked waitlist. The number of candidates admitted ranges from around 0- 20 each cycle. VUSM accepts updates and letters of intent.
Waitlist offers
20

Applicants are encouraged to stay in touch with VUSM, as we view that as interest in staying on the non-ranked waitlist. The committee uses a holistic review in selecting from the waitlist.

Sources

Figures here were last reviewed on 2026-08-04.

PreMD publishes no ranking of medical schools and republishes nobody else's. Reported averages and medians describe entering classes; they do not predict an applicant's result.

PreMD is an independent planning tool for applicants. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by this school, and this is not the school's official website. Marks are shown for identification.