The entity that issues the W-2
- SystemVanderbilt University Medical Center501(c)(3) nonprofit
- Physician groupHospital, foundation or groupUsually the same 501(c)(3) system.
- W-2 employerThe 501(c)(3) entityA W-2 from the listed nonprofit counts.
The name on the door is not the test. The legal employer on the W-2 is.
Independent nonprofit academic medical center providing adult and pediatric care in middle Tennessee.
501(c)(3) nonprofit academic health system qualifying for PSLF.
Directory entry checked 2026-11-02. The Department of Education decides PSLF eligibility; this page reports the directory's classification.
Example valuesjoinandwise.com/employers/vanderbilt-healthAndwise employer directorychecked November 2, 2026amounts entered are masked
Names grouped under this entry
The directory groups these names and brands under Vanderbilt University Medical Center. A contract, a recruiter email or a W-2 can use one of them without naming the parent:
- VUMC
A brand is not a legal entity. The offer letter and the W-2 should name the same legal employer, with the same EIN.
What this means for a contract
The contract may name a system-level corporation, a foundation or a medical group. The W-2 entity should be the 501(c)(3) corporation. A for-profit medical group or subsidiary inside the same system would not count on its own; the two contractor arrangements in the rule are the exception.
The directory lists the entity as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, one of the qualifying routes in 34 CFR §685.219.
A for-profit subsidiary, medical group or management company inside the same system would not count. The two contractor arrangements in the rule are on the directory page.
What to check before you sign
- What is the exact legal entity name and EIN that will appear on the W-2?
- Does the offer letter name the same legal entity as the W-2?
- If the entity is for-profit, which of the two contractor arrangements in 34 CFR §685.219(b)(9) applies?
The same questions apply after a merger or a change of staffing contractor: the brand can stay the same while the W-2 employer changes. A contract that names the hospital as the employer and a W-2 that names a staffing company are two different answers. The directory page lists the full set of questions.
If the W-2 is nonprofit
If the W-2 comes from the listed 501(c)(3) entity, payments made during that employment can count toward PSLF. A for-profit subsidiary, medical group or management company inside the same system would not count on its own; the two contractor arrangements in the rule are the exception.
How this page is built
The directory entry is a curated classification, not a Department of Education determination. The rule and the StudentAid.gov tool are the sources that decide eligibility. The editorial policy explains how entries are checked and how a page is retired when its source changes.
The 501(c)(3) status was checked against the IRS Business Master File through ProPublica.
How we check information · Medical advisory board · The full directory
Related employers
Sources
- Source34 CFR §685.219checked November 2, 2026https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-685/subpart-B/section-685.219
- SourceStudentAid.gov PSLF Help Toolhttps://studentaid.gov/pslf/
- SourceProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (IRS Exempt Organizations data)checked November 2, 2026https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/
- SourceAndwise employer directorychecked November 2, 2026
Not legal or financial advice. PSLF eligibility turns on the legal employer, the W-2 and the Department of Education's records. Confirm the entity and EIN with the employer, then check them in the StudentAid.gov PSLF Help Tool.