UVA Acceptance Rate: 21%
Shortcuts to sections offered for UVA prospective students UVA Acceptance Rate:
Successful Applicant Profile
- Demographics
- Majors
- SAT/ACT Scores
Entry Requirements
- Tuition
- Scholarships
- Checklist of Application Requirements
- Application Deadlines
What Should You Expect?
- Student life
- Academics offered
- Athletics offered
- Notable alumni
UVA Acceptance Rate – Important Information for Applicants
The University of Virginia, better known as UVA, is a historic public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, UVA is one of only two colleges that have been founded by US presidents.
Jefferson’s famous Academical Village, which earned the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located on campus. Among its academic offerings, UVA is known for its historic roots, secrete societies, and honor code that’s student-run.
Some of the UVA’s most successful alumni have founded uber-successful companies such as Reddit and CNET, which produce $1.6 trillion annually and produce millions of jobs.
If the achievements of a school’s alumni are any testament to the university’s value, then UVA deserves to be considered among the best colleges in the United States – which it often is. In fact, US News ranks UVA 28th in the list of the country’s best universities. As you might expect, this prestige and esteem translate into a competitive UVA acceptance rate.
Although it changes each year, the UVA acceptance rate is 21%. In other words, every fourth student that applied was granted admittance, on average. When compared to the admit rates for some leading Ivy League Schools, the UVA acceptance rate is quite encouraging for many students.
Still, it’s important to understand that UVA is a selective college with a competitive admissions process. A great way to increase your chances of getting accepted is by working with a reputable college admissions specialist. That’s where AdmissionSight comes into play.
The AdmissionSight team has been supporting students in the pursuit of their academic goals for years. We’ve established a reputation for helping students get into some of the best universities in the country.
To help you overcome the challenging UVA acceptance rate, we’ve put together the following guide. You’ll learn everything you need to know about what it takes to get accepted into UVA and what the application process is like.
Successful Applicant Profile
When a university is able to combine a renowned curriculum with an above-average acceptance rate, it’s expected that a flood of applications will make its way to the college each year.
That’s exactly the result of the UVA acceptance rate and its prestigious academic offerings. In 2019 alone, there was an impressive total of 40,839 applications that made it through the admissions office. Of the tens of thousands that applied, 9,778 students were admitted to join the Class of 2023.
Like most leading universities, UVA takes a comprehensive look at each applicant in order to get a more complete image of their talents, aspirations, and successes on both an academic and personal level.
In other words, everything on your application will be taken into consideration, including your test scores, high school GPA, course difficulty, extracurriculars, work experience, and even personal interests. It’s advisable to speak about your academic and personal achievements when filling out your application to give admission officers a more holistic picture of who you are.
Where are the applicants from?
With the UVA acceptance rate higher than many other esteemed universities and world-class academic programs, you’d expect this university to attract students from across the country. While you’d be right in assuming that, you might not have known that UVA also brings students from all corners of the globe to study in its historic halls.
Although 70% of students attending UVA come from within Virginia, the rest of the enrollees from the United States represent 46 different states and Washington D.C.
If we take a broader look, we see that there are a significant number of international students originating from 46 different countries that also make up a decent percentage of the overall student population.
It’s estimated that there are around 2,237 on campus with 734 being undergraduates. UVA states that around 9.2% of its student population hails from a foreign country.
Over the past several years, the average number of international students is growing at a rate of roughly 7.3%. China is currently the largest contributor to this continued growth with around 1,129 students. Similar to many other colleges, South Korea and India represent a large portion of the enrolled international students at UVA.
What are the more common programs?
With such a diverse range of programs, it’s difficult to give students a short answer when describing the academic offerings at UVA. In fact, the school has over 121 majors – double the amount of some colleges – spanning across eight undergraduate schools and three professional schools.
The most popular majors for students at UVA are Psychology, International Relations, and Affairs, Business and Commerce, Biological Sciences, and Economics. You find a complete list of offered majors on the UVA site.
Whether you’re looking to study something mainstream or obscure, there’s no doubt you’ll be able to find relevant programs and majors at UVA that will help you develop the skills and expertise needed to pursue a career in your desired field.
What is the average SAT/ACT score of admitted students?
Although the UVA acceptance rate is higher than many other esteemed universities, the admission process is still highly competitive, especially when compared to standard state colleges.
One of the most effective ways to stick out of the crowd is to score high on your SAT and ACT exam. Admission officers look at these tests to get an accurate idea of how students will handle college-level material.
Even if you’re feeling unconfident due to low grades, fantastic SAT and/or ACT scores can really help to bolster your application and improve your chances of gaining admittance.
UVA Average SAT Score of Admitted Students
Overall average score: 1350
75th percentile score: 1460
In order for your SAT score to work to your advantage on your application, you’ll need to score at least 1350.
UVA Average ACT Score of Admitted Students
Overall average score: 31
75th percentile score: 33
In order for your ACT score to work to your advantage on your application, you’ll need to score at least 31.
The average admitted student to UVA has an unweighted GPA of 3.9, paying further testimony to the competitiveness of the UVA acceptance rate. There should be no question that admission officers at UVA are looking for the very best students.
Since you’ll most likely be applying with equally qualified students, it’s important to do everything in your power to stand out. AdmissionSight advises high school students to fill their schedules with AP classes and other weighted courses. These honor classes work to improve your GPA while also preparing you to take the SAT and ACT tests – a win-win situation.
Entry Requirements
As you might assume from the challenging UVA acceptance rate, this university has stringent entry requirements that all accepted students must surpass in order to catch the attention of admission officers.
With tens of thousands of other students eager to receive that illustrious accepted letter in the mail, it’s important for students to gain a better understanding of the UVA admissions process overall and its requirements. With a median starting salary of $69,890, graduates can expect their hard work during the application process – and throughout their enrollment at UVA – to literally pay off after graduation.
Another major consolation to applicants is the holistic approach that admission officers take when deciding which students are accepted and which are rejected. Although we highlighted the importance of a high GPA and excellent test scores prior, other components of your application will be taken into account, including your extracurriculars, sports involvement, program participation, work experience, personal statements, and letters of recommendation – just to name a few.
AdmissionSight advises that students consider the overall cost of UVA tuition and any financial aid opportunities for which they’re eligible before starting the application.
How much will it cost to attend?
The exact cost of attending UVA will vary between all first-year students. Each program comes with different costs and unique fees. Below, we’ll provide the overall cost an average UVA student – from both in-state and out-of-state – in the College of Arts and Sciences can expect to pay over the course of a year.
Annual Tuition and Related Fees:
| College of Arts and Sciences | Virginian | Non-Virginian |
| Tuition | $13,682 | $46,330 |
| Fees | $2,958 | $3,640 |
| Subtotal | $16,640 | $49,970 |
| Additional Categories | $16,368 | $16,368 to 17,488 |
| Total | $33,008 | $66,338 to 67,458 |
Additional Annual Costs:
| Categories | Virginian | Non-Virginian |
| Housing | $6,720 | $6,720 |
| Dining | $5,230 | $5,230 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,384 | $1,384 |
| Personal | $2,552 | $2,552 |
| Direct Loan Fees | $72 | $72 |
| Subtotal | $15,958 | $15,958 |
| Travel | $410 | $410 to 1,530 |
| Total | $16,368 | $16,368 to 17,488 |
*info from sfs.virginia.edu
For accurate and up-to-date tuition information for various UVA programs, students can visit the university’s official site.
What financial aid opportunities are available?
Since it’s inception nearly 200 years ago, UVA has been empowering great leaders, innovators, and thinkers from diverse walks of life. This university has remained dedicated to the idea that financial burdens shouldn’t prevent a talented and eligible student from gracing the halls of such a prestigious university.
Through a robust collection of scholarships, grants, and other forms of financial assistance, UVA strives to help every qualified student afford an education at the college no matter their economic background.
Operating under that ideal, UVA accepts students only on their academic prowess, with no regard for their economic standing. The university meets 100% of a student’s financial needs so long as applicants apply by the deadline of March 1st.
These financial demands will be met through grants, scholarships, and need-based and work-study loans. UVA also works to limit student debt by limiting need-based loans to roughly $7,000/year for those coming from out of state and $4,500/year for Virginians.
What are the application requirements for UVA?
UVA accepts first-year applicants and transfers through the popular Common Application platform. You’ll have to submit all of the required materials online while your teachers and counselors can send their portions by mail or online. To make sure your application is considered and reviewed, you have to make sure all the following requirements are submitted before the admission deadline.
- The Common Application
- UVA supplemental essays
- SAT and/or act scores
- $70 non-refundable application fee or waiver
- Recommendation from one high school teacher
- Recommendation from a high school counselor
- Mid-year and final high school reports
International students might have different deadlines and requirements than students applying from within the United States. For more specific information, please visit UVA’s international admissions page.
What are the timelines for UVA applications?
| Early Action | Regular Decision | |
| Application and fee | November 1 | January 1 |
| Standardized test scores | November 1 | January 1 |
| Official high school transcripts | November 1 | January 1 |
| Teacher and counselor recommendations | November 1 | January 1 |
| Mid-Year Reports | when available | February 15 |
| Final Transcripts | when available | when available |
| Fee waiver supporting documents | November 1 | January 1 |
What to Expect
UVA is a stunning and historic university located in one of the oldest cities in the United States. Students can expect a clean, well-organized, and beautiful campus with plenty of space.
Classes are average in size with enough personalization to give students a feeling of connection. There’s active participation from many students in extracurricular activities such as clubs, athletics, programs, and more.
What do students think of life at UVA?
97% of first-year students at UVA decide that stick around for another year is worthwhile. With one of the highest student retention percentages in the United States, it’s fair to say that the student satisfaction rate at UVA is high. To give you a clearer idea of what students think, here’s a review from a UVA freshman.
“I have met the most extraordinary people at the University of Virginia. Professors and students have made my first year amazing. The academics are exceptional, as I challenge myself to learn and expand my horizons every day. I have come to feel at home and feel safe at this school.” – Anonymous UVA Freshman 2020
What academics are offered?
Academics have always been UVA’s strong suit. In fact, the University of Virginia is often regarded as one of the best public universities in the entire country. Despite having a large student population, UVA still maintains an impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1.
Roughly 55.1% of its classes have fewer than 20 students. This means students will feel like they can communicate directly with professors effectively without being drowned out by classes that are too large.
What athletic options are available?
Whether you’re hoping to play on the collegiate level, want to enjoy exciting games as a spectator, or simply want to spend your free time participating in fun intramural sports, UVA delivers on all of these levels.
As a Cavalier, students have the opportunity to play in a wide variety of both male and female sports, some of which are very competitive on the NCAA level. For those students who feel rock climbing, field hockey, or ultimate frisbee is more of their speed, UVA’s variety intramural sports will certainly deliver.
Who are some famous UVA alumni?
Tina Fey – One of the most successful and famous female comics turned actress, author, and producer
Robert F. Kennedy – Famous American lawyer and politician who served as the 64th United States Attorney General
Edgar Allen Poe – Celebrated American author, poet, and literary critic is known for his strong influence in the mystery and horror genres
Are you eager to get into UVA?
If you’re eager to secure a spot in the incoming freshman class at UVA, feel free to reach out to AdmissionSight for help. As your committed college admission specialist, we have the tools and resources to aid in the achievement of your academic goals. Whether you need help choosing a summer program, editing your supplemental essays, or perfecting your application overall, we can help. You can contact us here to learn more about what services we offer and how we can help you specifically.
