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
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 - your exact move-in date is shown above in the Overview.
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
- Photo coming soon
Crawford House
Traditional · Coed
First-year only - Photo coming soon
East House
Traditional · Coed
First-year only - Photo coming soon
Gillette House
Traditional · Coed
First-year only
Housing Links
Each available link goes directly to Vanderbilt University's own specific page, not just its general homepage.
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
Nearby Essentials
- CVS Pharmacy0.3 miles
- Walgreens0.7 miles
- Publix2.9 miles
- Target3.1 miles
- Walmart3.2 miles
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.
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