University of Virginia
Thomas Jefferson's university: a top-five public with an Academical Village at its heart and a student-run honor system.
- Acceptance rate
- 16%
- Class entering fall 2025; applying now for fall 2027
- Students
- 26,685
- 17,848 undergraduates
- International
- 5%
- of students
- Tuition
- $62,054
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1819
About UVA
The University of Virginia was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, who designed its Academical Village around a library, the Rotunda, rather than a chapel; together with nearby Monticello it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. In fall 2025 UVA had 17,848 undergraduates and 8,837 graduate and professional students on Grounds in Charlottesville, in 12 schools, with about two-thirds of students from Virginia.
First-years apply to one of five entry points: the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Architecture, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of Nursing, or the Kinesiology program in the School of Education and Human Development. Students interested in the McIntire School of Commerce, the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy or the School of Data Science apply through the College and most declare a major at the end of their first or second year.
UVA admitted 10,086 of 64,457 applicants for fall 2025 (about 15.6%), with Virginians, non-Virginians and international applicants read in separate pools, while UVA keeps about two-thirds of its students from Virginia. It meets 100% of demonstrated need for all eligible US undergraduates and has the highest graduation rate of any public university in US News. It suits students who want a traditional residential campus with a strong honor culture, big-time ACC athletics and a small-city setting in the Blue Ridge foothills.
Why students choose UVA
AccessUVA covers at least tuition and fees for Virginia families earning under $100,000, and tuition, fees, housing and food under $50,000, and UVA meets 100% of demonstrated need for all eligible US undergraduates.
US News reports UVA's 95% six-year graduation rate as the highest of any public university, a distinction it has held since 2003.
Students run a honor system in which they pledge not to lie, cheat or steal, and applicants sign an honor statement when they apply.
Professional schools stand out among publics: UVA Law is ranked the No. 1 public law school and Darden the No. 2 public business school by US News (2026).
Admissions
Class entering fall 2025; applying now for fall 2027
About 1 in 6 applicants is admitted
10,086 admitted from 64,457 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
For fall 2025, UVA made 10,086 offers to 64,457 completed first-year applications and enrolled 3,986 first-years. Virginians, non-Virginians in US high schools, and international applicants are reviewed in separate pools, and each UVA school forms its own pool; UVA aims to keep about two-thirds of students from Virginia. About 10% of offers are made in Early Decision.
Deadlines
- Early Decision Binding Next deadline · In 25 daysNovember 1, 2026
Teacher and counselor materials due November 8; decisions of admit, deny or defer by December 15; deposit due January 15.
- Early Action Non-binding In 25 daysNovember 1, 2026
Non-binding and unrestrictive; teacher and counselor materials due November 8; decisions by February 15; reply by May 1.
- Regular Decision Non-binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 5, 2027
Teacher and counselor materials due January 10; decisions by April 1; reply by May 1. First-semester senior grades are considered.
UVA's Deadlines and Instructions page lists these dates by month and day (November 1, January 5) for the current cycle. ED/EA applicants can switch plans by 5 pm on November 6. Financial aid applications (FAFSA and CSS Profile) are due March 1. UVA says there is no admission advantage to any plan and aid offers are identical across plans.
How to apply
Common Application with UVA's questions, choosing one undergraduate school or program and up to two academic interests; secondary school report, transcript and school profile from your counselor; one academic teacher recommendation (a counselor recommendation is optional); optional SAT/ACT; optional arts portfolio via SlideRoom. UVA does not accept resumes or research papers and does not track demonstrated interest.
What admissions looks for
- Academic success within the context of your school: UVA wants students who embrace challenge across the curriculum, but does not require a perfect transcript or a set number of AP, IB or dual-enrollment courses.
- A love of learning and problem-solving, whether your interests are broad or focused on one field.
- Potential for lives of purpose and service: impactful activities in school or community and how they shaped your character, not the number of clubs.
- Kindness, integrity and ethical, collaborative leadership, plus determination in the face of challenges or limited opportunities.
Tips for applying to UVA
- 1 Pick your school carefully: you apply to only one UVA school or program, and applicants to different schools are in separate pools.
- 2 Interested in McIntire Commerce, Batten or Data Science? Apply to the College of Arts and Sciences; you enter those schools after you enroll.
- 3 Out-of-state applicants are read in a separate non-Virginian pool, and UVA aims to keep about two-thirds of its students from Virginia.
- 4 International applicants who are foreign nationals should know UVA has no scholarship or loan funds for them (United World College graduates excepted), and must provide a financial guarantee if admitted.
- 5 Write your own essays: UVA asks applicants to sign an honor statement and not to paste any AI-generated text.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for University of Virginia
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
UVA meets 100% of demonstrated need for all eligible US undergraduates, Virginian or out-of-state. Through AccessUVA, Virginia families earning $100,000 or less (with assets under $100,000) get grants covering at least tuition and fees, and those earning $50,000 or less also get housing and food covered; a $2,000 Cornerstone grant goes to eligible Virginians with income under $150,000. Foreign nationals are not eligible for UVA scholarships or loans, except United World College graduates (Davis scholarships).
- $42,014 Virginian; $83,286 to $84,976 non-Virginian
- Estimated first-year cost of attendance 2026-27 (Arts and Sciences)
- Grants cover at least full tuition and fees
- AccessUVA, Virginia families under $100,000
- Grants cover tuition, fees, housing and food
- AccessUVA, Virginia families under $50,000
- Full four-year grant-based support
- QuestBridge College Match
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
McIntire School of Commerce
UVA's undergraduate business school; first-years interested in commerce apply to the College of Arts and Sciences and enter McIntire after enrolling.
School of Engineering and Applied Science
About 725 first-years a year apply directly to Engineering, a separate admission pool from the College.
School of Nursing
One of the few UVA programs where first-years declare their major at entry, with about 75 first-year places a year.
Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy
An undergraduate public-policy school that students enter through the College of Arts and Sciences.
Echols and Rodman Scholars
Scholars designated by the Office of Admission can opt into a dedicated first-year Scholars Community in Alderman Road housing.
UVA London First
Students admitted to the College can apply to spend their first semester studying in London.
Research
- UVA Health's Comprehensive Cancer Center is designated by the National Cancer Institute and serves 3.2 million people across 87 counties.
- UVA reports a 2026-27 operating budget of $7.0 billion, including $2.5 billion for the Academic Division and $4.3 billion for the Medical Center.
- The university runs six pan-University research institutes alongside its 12 schools, according to UVA.
Schools & faculties
- College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
- School of Architecture
- School of Engineering and Applied Science
- School of Nursing
- School of Education and Human Development
- McIntire School of Commerce
- Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy
- School of Data Science
- Darden School of Business
- School of Law
- School of Medicine
UVA reports an average starting salary of about $83,000 for undergraduate degree earners. The four-year graduation rate is 92%. College Scorecard reports median earnings of $86,863 ten years after entry for students who received federal aid.
Student life
All first-year students must live on Grounds, in the Alderman Road or McCormick Road first-year areas or, by choice, in one of three residential colleges or the Echols and Rodman Scholars Community. Students can later live on the Lawn and Range of Jefferson's Academical Village, where rocking chairs outside the rooms are a fixture and Edgar Allan Poe's room at 13 West Range is preserved. Students run the nation's first codified honor system, and the Cavaliers field 25 NCAA Division I teams with 37 national championships.
- The student-run honor system: students pledge not to lie, cheat or steal.
- Living in a Lawn or Range room in the Academical Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Virginia Athletics has won 37 NCAA team championships.
- UVA women's swimming has won six consecutive NCAA national championships.
Housing. All first-year students must live on Grounds; room assignments are made randomly after the application deadline.
Location
Charlottesville is a small city in central Virginia, and the Grounds sit in the city and surrounding Albemarle County. Life centers on the Academical Village and the surrounding student neighborhoods, with Jefferson's Monticello just outside town and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west. It has the feel of a college town, with the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport nearby for travel.
Nearest airport: Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO)
Notable alumni
- EA Edgar Allan PoeWriter and poet; attended UVA in 1826, where his room at 13 West Range is preserved
- WW Woodrow Wilson28th president of the United States; attended the UVA School of Law
- RF Robert F. KennedyUS Attorney General and senator; law degree from UVA
- WR Walter ReedArmy physician who confirmed that yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes
- KC Katie CouricJournalist and news anchor
- TF Tina FeyComedian, actress and writer; studied playwriting and acting
- RS Ralph SampsonBasketball Hall of Famer and three-time national player of the year at Virginia
Frequently asked questions
What is UVA's acceptance rate?
For fall 2025, UVA made 10,086 offers to 64,457 first-year applicants, about 15.6%. Virginians, non-Virginians and international applicants are reviewed in separate pools, and UVA aims to keep about two-thirds of its students from Virginia.
Does UVA have Early Decision and Early Action?
Yes. Binding Early Decision and non-binding Early Action are both due November 1, and Regular Decision is due January 5. ED decisions come by December 15 and EA decisions by February 15.
Is UVA test-optional for fall 2027?
Yes. You choose whether to share SAT or ACT scores when you submit the Common App and are not disadvantaged either way. Enrolled students in fall 2025 had a middle 50% ACT of 32-35.
Does UVA give financial aid to international students?
No. UVA has no scholarship or loan funds for foreign nationals, except United World College graduates, and admitted international students must provide a financial guarantee.
How much does UVA cost for out-of-state students?
For 2026-27, first-year non-Virginians in the College of Arts and Sciences pay $62,054 in tuition and fees, with an estimated total cost of $83,286 to $84,976. Engineering costs more ($73,582 in tuition and fees).
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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