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Vanderbilt UniversityMove-In Guide

Nashville, Tennessee

🏫 Private UniversityEst. 1873🔗 www.vanderbilt.edu

Vanderbilt's 330-acre campus in Nashville is anchored by the historic Kirkland Hall clock tower, with all first-year students living together on The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons, a self-contained community of ten houses.

Enrollment

13,575

Total Students

Freshman Class

1,805

Approx.

Move-In Dates

Aug 22, 2026

Fall 2026 (completed)

Acceptance Rate

6%

Most recent cycle

Move-In

Fall 2026 Move-In Details

Students will be provided a specific move-in time between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m. Housing assignments and move-in instructions are emailed in early August. Activate your Mobile Commodore Card before arrival.

Check your assignment in the housing portal for your specific date and time.

Move-in day logistics

Arrival window
First-year student move-in is Saturday, August 22, 2026, with a specific time between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m. assigned by email. Other groups move in on separate days: international students Aug 19, Move Crew volunteers Aug 20, transfer students Aug 21, and continuing upper-division students Aug 23.
Check-in location
Go to your designated front desk to check in and pick up your room key. Locations vary by residence area: Rothschild/Zeppos/Blakemore residents check in at Nicholas S. Zeppos College; Cole/Tolman/Ingram/Carmichael/McGill at Oliver C. Carmichael College; Warren/Moore at Kissam Center; Highland Quadrangle at Lewis; The Commons/The Village at the Hank Ingram 24-Hour Desk.
Parking
Specific unloading locations vary by residence area, with designated move-in times generally running August 15-25. Garage height restrictions apply: 9'6" for the Kissam garage and 6'5" for the Village garage, with oversized vehicles prohibited in certain areas.
What you'll receive
Your room key at your designated front desk, required for all students - you'll need an activated Mobile Commodore Card (or physical card) for entry into all residence halls.
Vehicle restrictions
Oversized vehicles are prohibited in certain areas, and garage height limits apply (9'6" Kissam, 6'5" Village).

Move-in day tips

  • Arrive during your assigned move-in window - arriving early may mean waiting until your time slot.
  • Bring a rolling cart or hand truck - campus carts can run out quickly during busy move-in periods.
  • Have a parking backup plan - spaces near residence halls can fill up quickly, so know where you can unload if your preferred area is full.
  • Watch the loading-zone time limit - many campuses require you to move your vehicle to longer-term parking after unloading.

Housing & Dorms

First-year halls (10)

Reserved for first-year students

  • Crawford House

    First-year only

  • East House

    First-year only

  • Gillette House

    First-year only

  • Hank Ingram House

    First-year only
Show 6 more

  • Memorial House

    First-year only

  • Murray House

    First-year only

  • North House

    First-year only

  • Stambaugh House

    First-year only

  • Sutherland House

    First-year only

  • West House

    First-year only

Residence halls (15)

Open to undergraduates (first-year students may be able to live here)

  • Blakemore House

  • Chaffin Place

  • Cole Hall

  • E. Bronson Ingram College

Show 11 more

  • Lewis House

  • Mayfield Place

  • McGill Hall

  • Moore College

  • Morgan House

  • Nicholas S. Zeppos College

  • Oliver C. Carmichael College

  • Rothschild College

  • Tolman Hall

  • Village at Vanderbilt South Tower

  • Warren College

Apartments (1)

Apartment-style housing, usually for upperclass students

  • Village at Vanderbilt Townhouses

Housing Links

Who can live where

First-year only:
Reserved for incoming first-year students.
Residence halls:
Not marked first-year only, so they may also house returning students. Assignment follows the school's housing process.
Apartments:
Apartment-style housing, often for sophomores and up. Confirm eligibility with the housing office.

Eligibility rules vary and can change. Check with the housing office.

Orientation

CommonVU Orientation (required, begins Move-In Day)

All new students are required to attend one orientation session.

August 22 - August 27, 2026

Orientation tips

  • Register as early as your class allows - popular session dates fill up first.
  • Bring a parent/guardian if separate family programming is offered.
  • Check whether placement testing or advising sign-ups happen the same day.

Costs

Room & Board

$23,048

Estimated / Year

Figures shown are estimates for room and board only, and can vary by hall and meal plan. Check with Vanderbilt University's financial aid office for a cost breakdown specific to your situation.

Nearby Essentials

  • CVS Pharmacy0.3 miles
  • Walgreens0.7 miles
  • Publix2.9 miles
  • Target3.1 miles
  • Walmart3.2 miles

Need Dorm Essentials Delivered?

More Links

Checklists

Get the Ultimate College Move-In Checklist

A free, printable packing checklist covering everything from bedding to important documents - built for any freshman, including yours at Vanderbilt University.

Get the checklist

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Dates last checked September 2026.