Vanderbilt University is a private, independent, research university located in Nashville, Tennessee.

Founded in 1873 as the result of a gift of one million dollars by shipping and rail magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who had hoped his gift and the work of the university would help to heal the sectional wounds of the Civil War, Vanderbilt is now one of the most prestigious universities in the United States.

Comprised of 10 schools--4 undergraduate and 6 graduate--and a medical center, the university has an approximate total enrollment of 11,000. Its chancellor is Gordon Gee.