About VanderCook College of Music

Founded in 1909, VanderCook College of Music. is a college. Located in Illinois, which is a city setting in Illinois, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 133 full time undergraduate students, and 40 full time graduate students.

The VanderCook College of Music Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 6:1. There are 12 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at VanderCook College of Music include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate90%
Application Deadline
Application Fee35
SAT Range
ACT Range20-25

Admissions at VCM are considered Less Selective, with ,3% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 39 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

81% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 35% were in the top quarter, and 8% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE Reviews

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at VanderCook College of Music.

0%
“We”re apathetic”
0%
“We know about current events and vote”
100%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
0%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
0%
“Sometimes, but not often”
0%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
100%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
50%
“I only go out in groups”
50%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
0%
“I feel extremely safe”
100%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
0%
“We bought the gear”
0%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
0%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
0%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
100%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
0%
“They keep regular office hours”
100%
“They”re always available”
0%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
0%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
100%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
100%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
0%
“We only party on weekends”
0%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
0%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
100%
“There might be people who do”
0%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
0%
“We”re apathetic”
0%
“We know about current events and vote”
100%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
0%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
0%
“Sometimes, but not often”
0%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
100%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
50%
“I only go out in groups”
50%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
0%
“I feel extremely safe”
100%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
0%
“We bought the gear”
0%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
0%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
0%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
100%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
0%
“They keep regular office hours”
100%
“They”re always available”
0%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
0%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
100%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
100%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
0%
“We only party on weekends”
0%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
0%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
100%
“There might be people who do”
0%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    4 Students rated on-campus housing 2.5 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    3 Students rated off-campus housing 4.3 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    4 Students rated campus food 3.5 stars. 25 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    4 Students rated campus facilities 4.5 stars. 75 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    4 Students rated class size 5 stars. 100 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    4 Students rated school activities 4.3 stars. 75 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    4 Students rated local services 4.5 stars. 50 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    4 Students rated academics 5 stars. 100 % gave the school a 5.0.

VanderCook College of Music REVIEWS

What's your overall opinion of VanderCook College of Music?

2 Students rated VanderCook College of Music

Haley - 01/04/2018

VanderCook College of Music is the only school in the country that is entirely based on a single major: Music Education. It’s a small school and all of the students are close with their professors on a name to name basis. Professors are always available and easy to help students in need. The school is filled with talented, music loving students. It’s like a second family.

Zoe - 08/24/2017

VanderCook College of Music is incredibly demanding. It can be stressful, but they are preparing students for the long hours of being a music educator. The credit hours can be excessive, but students have to keep in mind that VanderCook College of Music does squish a five year degree into a four year degree. They want to get students into the real world of education as soon as possible. Finishing the degree in four years rather than five years doesn't mean they are neglecting some parts of the degree program, though. VanderCook students will actually have more experience and classes that relate to being an educator over most 5 year programs. VanderCook also has very very small class sizes. Each and every student gets individual attention and instructors are very easy to contact at any time of day for extra help. The fact that VanderCook is strictly for music educators means that students are not mixed in with other music majors. The minute they walk into the school, they are not music majors, they are future music educators. I have visited and even attended other schools, and VanderCook is the only one that feels like home. For such a small school, they are very involved. They have tons of extracurricular groups and even greek life. Students may also join Illinois Institute of Technology organizations if they please. For a school with such a small population, it has a great reputation, world renowned performers for instructors, and is known all over the world. VanderCook students always leave a good impression on the music world.

VanderCook College of Music FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at VanderCook College of Music?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for VanderCook College of Music is 90%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    The most stressful aspect of college has not been the curriculum, but the financial burden. I worked many hours while attending high school and I simply spent almost everything I earned. If I could give myself a piece of advice my senior year of high school, it would be to save up as much money as possible. Not needing to worry about money makes one's academic life and social life much more manageable and enjoyable. I made sure to make the most out of my years in high school, but because I did not think to save more money, it has become difficult to take full advantage of my time in college. Without the stress of not knowing whether I would be able to afford my books, or even pay rent for the entire semester, I would be able to focus more on my classes to reach my full learning potential, as well as enjoy more free time to socialize and grow as a person. After all, that is what college is about.

    Read all 5 answers

  3. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    VanderCook is a 4-year vocational school for music educators that has no equal within the United States.

    Read all 2 answers

  4. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    Teacher to student ration, resources, location, and historical tradition.

    Read all 2 answers

  5. What's unique about your campus?

    The professors at VanderCook are phenominal and becuase the class sizes are so small, they are always willing to help you with anything.

    Read all 2 answers

  6. Describe the students at your school.

    My classmates at VanderCook are very unique with their music and their social life because everyone is so universal to on another.

    Read all 1 answers

  7. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    VanderCook College of Music is know for the ability to have the students learn 18 instruments and be in ever group possible. The students are musicians. We do everything that musicians can do. I am a saxophone major, but I also sing and play other instruments because of VanderCook College of Music.

    Read all 1 answers

  8. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    One whose love for music does not completely ovetake them. If you aren't willing to commit yourself totally then you shouldn't come here.

    Read all 1 answers

  9. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    At times there is really no one to guide you through the maze of paper work and in getting scholarships. When you start out you have a track coach but then after awhile that goes by the wayside and then you feel lost at times,

    Read all 1 answers

Student Body

Students

47%

female

53%

male

133

Total Undergrad Enrollment

40

Total Grad Students

29%

Out-Of-State

71%

In-State

N/A

International

Organizations

N/A

Student Organizations

1

Fraternities

1

Sororities

Housing

No

On-Campus Housing

100%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
3%
% Black or African-American
6%
% Hispanic/Latino
17%
% White or Caucasian
52%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

100% of students attending VanderCook College of Music receive some sort of financial aid. 25% were awarded federal grants. While 90% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$27,180

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,900

Books and Supplies

$7,000

Room and Board

36,080

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$23,256
$30 - $48K
$15,976
$48 - $75K
$27,956
$75 - $110K
$29,654
$110K & UP
$27,511

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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