Nashville
They still call it “Music City,” but Nashville has earned a few other distinctions. It’s perennially on the list of America’s friendliest cities. It has been named the nation’s No. 1 smartest place to live.
Nashville is built upon an ecosystem of different industries. It’s a healthcare capital. An insurance capital. A publishing capital. A financial capital. And a tourist destination. All while simultaneously maintaining vibrant, cosmopolitan neighborhoods that blend a growing international flavor with traditional Southern hospitality and the laid-back feel of the West Coast.
As the Tennessee state capital and seat of government, Nashville offers exposure and opportunity for students to work with the state government, federal districts, nonprofit organizations, and clerkships. Our proximity to government and legal organizations, combined with the city's easy access to arts, sports, nature and world renown restaurants, make Nashville the ideal setting for law school.
The "It" City
Nashville is one of the top cities to move to or visit in the United States. It was recently named National Geographic’s #1 travel destination in the world.
-
No. 1
City with Nicest Residents (clever 2024)
-
No. 3
The South's Best Cities - Southern Living (2024)
-
No. 8
Best Cities in the US - Readers' Choice (2023)
Centrally Located
Explore Nashville
Climate & Weather
Nashville’s climate is often characterized as mild, with colder winter months and high temperatures in the summer. Most of the city’s rain occurs during the spring, and if a snowfall does occur, it’s seldom heavy. Campus life at Vanderbilt benefits tremendously from the city’s temperate weather, as outdoor activities can typically occur throughout the academic year.
-
2.1M
2024 Nashville MSA Population
-
80+
languages spoken in Nashville
-
+13k
Vanderbilt student body
-
20,000+
Annual live music performances
-
4
Professional sports teams
-
75+
Nonstop flights to major cities
Nashville from the Student Perspective
Jay Eischen '25
“Nashville is just a cool city. My wife and I were excited to live here, and I think it’s a great location."
Mary-Michael Robertson '24
“You can hear wonderful musicians everywhere you go in Nashville, not just the larger venues."
Marco Antonio Langer LLM'23
“The city is fantastic. It’s the perfect size—not too big and not too small—and it has a great quality of life,”
Vanderbilt University
From its founding in 1873 as an institution devoted to “strengthening the ties which should exist between all sections of our common country,” Vanderbilt University has forged a tradition of academic excellence infused with a unique spirit of collaboration and collegiality. Our mission lies in the quest to bring out the best in humanity—pushing new ideas into the frontiers of discovery, challenging the limits of what’s possible and working diligently in the service of others. Vanderbilt’s closely connected park-like campus, set in the heart of the rapidly growing city of Nashville, Tennessee, is representative of the enduring bonds that unite us as One Vanderbilt community.