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Need-based Assistance for Undergraduate Students
Returning Students | Incoming Freshman/Transfer Students
Incoming Freshman/Transfer Students
The typical need-based financial aid award that Vanderbilt offers to eligible first-year undergraduates consists of a combination of grants, scholarships, and employment opportunities/expectations.
Grants and scholarships come from various sources including Vanderbilt, federal, state, and private opportunities. These funds are considered “gift” assistance and do not have to be repaid. Employment opportunities offer students a chance to gain valuable work experience in addition to receiving a paycheck for their hours worked.
Loans are not included in financial aid packages based upon our initiative of replacing need-based loans with additional Vanderbilt scholarship and/or grant (gift) assistance. Under certain conditions and based upon individual family circumstances or desires, however, loans from federal and other sources may ultimately be made available to students upon their request to replace any work expectation in the award or to replace some portion of the family’s expected contribution.
Our office is available to answer questions or guide you through the steps in applying for need-based financial assistance. The following steps are designed to help guide you through the application process. Please review our Frequently Asked Questions page for the answers to several questions you might have regarding the application process.
Students are advised to pay close attention to the financial aid calendar. This will help students avoid any deadlines that may be crucial for certain awards as some funds are limited.
Steps in making application for need-based financial assistance:
- Submit the College Scholarship Service Financial Aid PROFILE CSS PROFILE, school code 1871.
- Submit the 2013-14 Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA), school code 003535.
- Submit copies of your and your parents' 2012 federal tax return with all attachments and W-2 forms to our office as soon as they are complete/available. These can be mailed to:
- 2309 West End Ave
- Nashville, TN 37203-1725
- Please include the student's name and only the first five digits of his/her Social Security number on all forms you submit to our office.
Determining Eligibility
Eligibility for need-based financial assistance is determined by subtracting a family's calculated Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from Vanderbilt's estimated Cost of Attendance (COA). The difference is called "demonstrated financial need." The EFC is determined by using Vanderbilt's institutional methodology that utilizes the data collected on the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Financial Aid PROFILE.
In addition to completing the College Scholarship Service PROFILE form, we do require that students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for financial aid other than merit-based assistance. The FAFSA information allows us to determine a student's potential eligibility for certain federal aid programs and helps us to maximize the overall types and amounts of aid that can then be offered to each applicant.
The typical need-based financial aid award that Vanderbilt will offer to eligible undergraduate students will consist of a combination of grants, scholarships, and employment opportunities/expectations.
Grants and scholarships will come from various sources including Vanderbilt, federal, state, and private entities. These funds are considered "gift" assistance and do not have to be repaid. Employment opportunities offer students a chance to gain valuable work experience in addition to receiving a paycheck for their hours worked during the academic year.
Loans will not be included in financial aid packages based upon our new initiative of replacing need-based loans with grant assistance. Under certain conditions and based upon individual family circumstances or desires, however, loans from federal and other sources may ultimately be made available to students upon their request to replace any employment expectation in their award or to replace some portion of their family's expected contribution.
Returning Students
Financial aid is awarded for one academic year only, so students must re-apply each year as described below. To continue receiving assistance, students must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward their degree and maintain minimum grade point average standards.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements for Need-Based Financial Aid: This policy is also published in the current Vanderbilt University Catalog.
Steps in making application for financial assistance:
- Submit the College Scholarship Service Financial Aid Profile CSS/PROFILE, school code 1871.
- Submit The Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA), school code 003535.
If you received financial aid in the past academic year, you may complete the renewal FAFSA application online. - Submit copies of your and your parents' 2012 federal tax return with all attachments and W-2 forms to our office as soon as complete/available.
- Submit the Outside Scholarship Notification form if you will be receiving a scholarship from a source other than Vanderbilt University
- View our loan application instructions if you have received your award notification letter and have been awarded a student loan.
Financial Aid Checklist 2013-14
Please review the checklist to ensure all steps are completed. The checklist also provides deadlines and additional information which may be helpful in completing your applications.