Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship

About This Scholarship

The Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship is Vanderbilt University's signature merit award: full tuition for four years plus a one-time summer stipend for an immersive experience after sophomore or junior year. Recipients whose demonstrated financial need extends beyond tuition also receive need-based aid on top, so for many families the award effectively converts Vanderbilt into a full ride.

Unlike merit awards folded invisibly into admission review, Vanderbilt runs a real application: after submitting an admission application, students apply through the MyAppVU portal by December 1, 2026. The university says the Cornelius Vanderbilt application is strongly encouraged and that preference is given to those who submit it — so treat it as required in practice.

Selection weighs academic achievement, intellectual promise, and leadership and contributions outside the classroom; Blair School of Music applicants also have audition scores factored in. The scholarship renews annually with a minimum 3.0 GPA, and recipients are notified by the end of March 2027.

Eligibility

• High school senior applying for first-year admission to Vanderbilt University (any admission plan)
• Selection based on academic achievement, intellectual promise, and leadership/contributions outside the classroom
• Renewable with a minimum 3.0 GPA

How To Apply

• Submit an admission application to Vanderbilt University
• Complete the merit scholarship application in the MyAppVU portal and submit it electronically by December 1, 2026
• Watch for recipient notification by the end of March 2027

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Frequently Asked Questions