Vanderbilt University’s
College of Education and Human Development
Peabody College's mission is to enhance the human condition through the preparation of teachers and leaders; through cycles of research, implementation and refinement; through service to families, schools and communities; and through external engagement with professionals, leaders and policymakers. Our graduates are equipped to drive positive change in their communities, across the nation and around the globe.
Online Ed.D Program, Fortune 2024
Best Education School (tie), U.S. News & World Report 2025
Professional Student Job Placement in 2025
Peabody College offers a range of innovative programs for undergraduates, master’s, and doctoral students (both Ed.D. and Ph.D.). In our programs, students find close collaboration, faculty-student mentoring, research opportunities, access to advanced learning resources and exposure to contemporary best practices.
Use our helpful Program Finder to quickly sort and look through all programs.
Peabody undergraduate majors include innovative programs in education, child development, cognitive studies, child studies and more, including the Human and Organizational Development program, which is the most popular at Vanderbilt. These programs magnify Peabody's focus on improving the lives of individuals and enhancing their communities and organizations.
Prospective students should visit the Vanderbilt University Undergraduate Admissions and financial aid pages for detailed admissions information.
Whether your goal is teaching, strengthening international education, leading organizations to success, solving pressing challenges facing children and families, or fostering social change through public policy, there's a Peabody master's program designed for you. Our top-ranked master’s programs will equip you with the knowledge, skills and experiences to carve out a successful career and make a positive difference in the world.
We offer M.Ed., M.P.P. and M.S. programs, and many of these programs have Early Start opportunities
Our intensive doctor of education programs allow students to pursue a doctorate while continuing full-time work. This model provides an academically rigorous approach that equips graduates with the skills and knowledge to make a positive influence in education policy and practice worldwide.
Our 36-month education doctorate programs are innovative, cohort-based programs designed to meet the needs of mid-career K-12 and higher education professionals.
Offered through the Vanderbilt Graduate School, Peabody's doctor of philosophy programs follow the master-apprentice model of scholarly training and are designed to prepare the next generation of researchers and scholars studying education and human development. Students will conduct and present research developed in collaboration with academic advisers and nationally recognized faculty.
Graduates go on to careers as academic faculty, researchers, and organizational or institutional leaders.
Peabody College’s online professional programs equip students to advance their careers within a timeline that fits their professional schedule. Our online programs are designed specifically for working professionals who are looking to upgrade their careers while maintaining a full-time job.
Peabody College online degrees are for experienced professionals, educators and leaders who are ready to expand their impact and create lasting change by gaining a world-class education on their own terms.
Enhance your graduate or professional degree from Vanderbilt University and Peabody College by earning a career-focused, credit-bearing certificate. Students who are already enrolled in a graduate or professional degree program at Peabody College are able to earn an additional, professionally-focused certificate using elective credits.
Peabody College is committed to student belonging, engagement, development, and inspiring leaders to make a positive difference in our communities. We don’t think of life as extracurricular but rather co-curricular. You will grow in and out of the classroom during your time at Peabody.
Discover our Career Services, info on student organizations, tips for exploring Nashville and more.
Peabody’s emphasis on research differentiates us from other schools and ensures that our students benefit from early access to the latest findings. We build research around real-world problems to improve lives and strengthen practice. Peabody’s focus on learning differences has helped define the college, as has our reputation for empirical rigor in educational neuroscience; child, family, and community development; special education; the learning sciences; and educational leadership and policy.
We publish news in publications such as Ideas in Action, the Peabody Reflector and more.
Our faculty are the some of the best in the world, made up of leaders in their fields, award winning lecturers and researchers and passionate educators who are dedicated to teaching the next generation of education and human development professionals. Their scholarship drives Peabody's engagement and social impact through strategic initiatives and partnerships in Nashville, Tennessee, nationally and around the world.
Our alumni go on to lead effective and fulfilling careers. From teachers to social innovators and policy makers, Peabody graduates work in a variety of fields supporting their community and making an impact in their work.
Learn more about alumni activities, our Dare to Grow giving campaign, and the career paths our graduates have taken on our Alumni Impact Stories page.
I am grateful to Vanderbilt and Peabody for empowering me to use my voice, skills, knowledge, and passion to make a change in my community for people with disabilities, and most of all, to always dream big.
Fill out our Request Information form to connect with us and learn more about how an education from Peabody College supports your career goals.