Vanderbilt University's seven-year initiative of progressively reducing education-related undergraduate student debt has reached a bold new level. Financial aid packages awarded to incoming and returning undergraduate students beginning in the fall of 2009 will not include need-based loans. The amount of need-based loans students would have been offered in the past to meet demonstrated financial need will now be replaced with increased amounts of Vanderbilt scholarship and/or grant (gift) assistance. In addition, all seniors set to graduate in May 2009 will have their need-based loans for the spring 2009 semester replaced with Vanderbilt scholarship and/or grant assistance.

Why is Vanderbilt doing this? We believe that when barriers to a Vanderbilt education can be reduced or eliminated, every student benefits from a learning community that includes talented, qualified individuals from all backgrounds. Please click the buttons to the right to learn more about this exciting new initiative that caps Vanderbilt's important long-term focus on accessibility.