Should I purchase the "mandatory" student health insurance for my freshman?

IMO, if your insurance offers access in the location where your student will be in school there is no reason to pay for the school-offered plan. BC/BS is national, but your policy has to include national access/access to in-network care if your child will be out of your ‘service’ area (i.e. not just emergency care).

At Vanderbilt, it’s ~$1900 annually. Why pay that if you can access doctors without it?