Vanderbilt University is also featured in our ranking 30 Top Affordable Master’s in Accounting/Master’s of Accountancy Degree Programs.

Vanderbilt University began when Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt donated $1 million, his only benevolent gift, to create the school. The idea was presented to him by his wife, Amelia Townsend’s, cousin, Bishop Holland N. McTyeire while the bishop spent time recovering from medical treatment at the Vanderbilt mansion in New York. While convalescing at the mansion, the Bishop often talked to the Commodore about the need for an institute of higher learning in the South that would help heal wounds left after the Civil War and allow the South to recover.

The Bishop chose the location for the new school and supervised building construction. He was personally responsible for many of the trees that make up the Vanderbilt Arboretum on the campus today. Because of the Bishop’s ties to the Methodist Episcopal Church, for the first 40 years the school operated under control of the church. In 1914, the school and church severed ties due to disagreements about appointing members of the board of trustees.

The original plan created by Bishop McTyeire was for an all-male school, but the trustees barred women from attending. Initially, women were admitted as non-degree students or as a courtesy of the professors. In 1892, women were permitted to attend with full legal equality although they were not permitted to stay in the dorms.

Today, Vanderbilt is a private research university with over 11,000 students enrolled. U.S. News & World Report ranks the school sixth among colleges for veterans and the undergraduate teaching program tenth in the country. The school is ranked third in private school best value while Princeton Review ranks the city surrounding the college number one for student enjoyment and second for the happiest students in the country.

Vanderbilt University Degree Program(s) Available

Master of Accountancy Assurance

Vanderbilt University offers a Master of Accountancy with a concentration in Assurance. Graduates of the program are qualified to be an aduit and assurance associate within accounting firms. Students gain the technical skills desired by top firms and features a paid internship that gives students real-world understanding of the industry. The program also includes CPA examination preparation. It is a full-time one-year intensive program that begins in August and ends the following summer. Courses required include:

  • Accounting Information Systems
  • Advanced Adult Topics
  • Advanced Cost Accounting
  • Advanced Financial Reporting
  • Audit Engagement Documentation
  • Audit Institutions and Processes
  • Becker CPA Review Course and CPA Exam
  • Business Ethics in Accounting
  • Communication, Leadership and Ethics in Accounting
  • Financial Reporting I & II
  • Introduction to Law and Business
  • Managerial Economics
  • Managerial Finance
  • Research in Financial Reporting
  • Strategic Management
  • Taxation of Business and Investment Transactions
  • Taxation of Business Ethics

Graduates of the program have a 90 percent first-time pass rate on the CPA examination. Within 90 days of graduation, 100 percent of students who complete the program have jobs in their field. The average salary during the paid internship is $11,000 while students also gain hands-on knowledge at leading global accounting and professional service firms.

Master of Accounting Valuation

The Master of Accounting with a concentration in Valuation at Vanderbilt University prepares graduates for careers as valuation associates. The program is an accelerated, 12-month curriculum with small class sizes and courses related to business management, finance and accounting. Students learn how to analyze financial statements, determine the value of intellectual property as well as company value as they pertain to mergers and acquisitions. Students gain the knowledge and skills to help businesses make informed decisions on strategy, acquisitions, asset management, restructuring, divestiture and planning. Courses required include:

  • Advanced Cost Accounting
  • Advanced Financial Reporting
  • Audit Institutions
  • Becker CPA Review Course and CPA Exam
  • Communication, Leadership and Ethics in Accounting
  • Corporate Value Management
  • Engagement Documentation
  • Financial Economics I & II
  • Financial Modeling
  • Financial Reporting I & II
  • Financial Statement Analysis
  • Introduction to Law and Business
  • Research in Financial Reporting
  • Schweser CFA Exam Review
  • Strategic Management
  • Taxation of Business and Investment Transactions

Graduates of the program have a first-time pass rate of 94 percent on the CFA Level 1 Examination over the past four years. Within 90 days of graduation, 100 percent of graduates have obtained position in their field. A paid internship is required as part of the program and the average salary during the internship is $11,000 in addition to gaining hands-on experience from global firms and organizations.

Vanderbilt University Accreditation Details

Vanderbilt University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. This indicates to parents, students and employers that graduates of Vanderbilt are well-prepared in their field of study. It also indicates that the school has the resources to meet their goals and objectives. Vanderbilt also agrees to address any areas the accrediting agencies notes as needing improvement during their periodic reviews.

Business programs at Vanderbilt University are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Vanderbilt University Application Requirements

Students without college credit earned after high school graduation are first-year, or freshmen, at Vanderbilt. They may apply by completing either the Coalition or Common Application. They may alos apply using QuestBridge or through the Universal Application process but should only use one application system to apply. Students must provide official transcripts as well as official ACT or SAT scores. Recommendations and essays are also required.

Students with college credit earned after they graduated high school may be admitted as transfer students. In order to be considered a transfer, students must have at least 12 credit hours earned after high school graduation. Students with less than 12 credits follow the same application rules as freshmen applicants. Students must have a GPA of at least B+ and have competitive SAT or ACT scores.

Each graduate school has their own requirements for applying so students should speak to an admissions counselor before completing an application.

Vanderbilt University Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time undergraduate tuition at Vanderbilt is $46,500 per year while graduate tuition varies by program. In order to qualify for financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and it must be renewed on an annual basis. Undergraduate students must also complete the College Scholarship Service Financial Aid Profile. Financial aid may be based on need or merit and could include grants, scholarships or work-study programs. Students may also receive student or parent loans either federally subsidized or private.

Students in graduate programs are awarded financial aid based on merit, including gift aid like scholarships and grants. They may also qualify for teaching assistantships as well as loans that can help offset the cost of tuition.

For more than 130 years. Vanderbilt University has provided students with education that helps them succeed. Vanderbilt University students receive the skills and knowledge to become leaders in their field of study upon graduation.