All PhD students are fully funded. This includes full coverage of tuition, the student health fee, and individual health insurance, with an annual stipend (currently $39,000). The funding mechanism is a fellowship, research assistantship, or training grant. Continuation of funding is dependent on the student making good academic progress in the program (as determined by their dissertation committee, their advisor, and the director of graduate studies) and satisfactory performance on their research assistantship. When these conditions are met, funding typically lasts for at least five years.
| Expense | Vanderbilt/Funder Responsibility | Student Responsibility |
| Tuition: $2,419/hour | 100% | 0% |
| Health insurance: $4,314/year (or comparable insurance) | 100% | 0% |
| Health fee: $1,012/year | 100% | 0% |
| Additional allowances: a one-time $2,000 student success stipend*; up to three $1,000 student travel awards for presenting research at major meetings and conferences; $500 when completing the oral qualifying examination |