About

About University of Virginia-Main Campus

selective public universityhigh research activityjefferson founded institutionstrong social sciencescharlottesville virginia campus

University of Virginia-Main Campus is a public research university in Charlottesville, VA, known for its selective public university, high research activity, and jefferson founded institution. With an acceptance rate of 19%, UVA is highly selective, typically enrolling around 4,022 students each year. UVA is test optional; students who submit scores are typically admitted with SATs between 1410–1520, though many competitive applicants choose not to submit. UVA meets 100% of demonstrated financial need and has replaced loans with grants; for families earning under $100,000, the net cost is often $0.

Admissions

University of Virginia-Main Campus acceptance rate and admitted student profile

highly selective

19%
Overall Accept Rate
3.50
Typical Admitted GPA
1465
Median Admitted SAT
SATSubmitted score range: 1410 – 1520 (test optional)

Build your free list to see where your scores land →

ED advantage at University of Virginia-Main Campus: ED acceptance rate is 28% vs 19% regular decision, more than double. If University of Virginia-Main Campusis your first choice and you've confirmed the financial fit, Early Decision is one of the highest-leverage decisions you can make.

Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to University of Virginia-Main Campus

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Essay Strategy
UVA requires you to select a specific school or program within the university and explain why you want to study there, so research your intended school deeply and name specific faculty, programs, or opportunities that connect to your goals rather than writing a generic 'I love learning' response.
Essay Strategy
UVA's 'Why UVA' essay is taken seriously by admissions readers, so reference concrete elements like the Honor System, specific research centers, student-run organizations, or the residential college communities to show you have done real homework on Charlottesville and the UVA culture.

Get a tailored strategy for University of Virginia-Main Campus. Build your free list to unlock personalized advice on submitting test scores and discover your actual admission odds based on your student profile.

Build My Free List →

Financial Aid & Cost

What University of Virginia-Main Campus actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Loan-free financial aid: University of Virginia-Main Campus has replaced all loans with grants. For families earning under $100,000, the average net annual cost is $0. University of Virginia-Main Campus's sticker price of ~$72k/year bears almost no resemblance to what most families pay.
Family IncomeSticker PriceEst. Net Cost / yr
0-30kOften $0~$72k/yr~$0 / yr
30k-48kOften $0~$72k/yr~$0 / yr
48k-75kOften $0~$72k/yr~$0 / yr
75k-110k~$72k/yr$20.8k
110k+~$72k/yr$35.4k

Not sure what University of Virginia-Main Campus would cost your family? Build your free SpearMatch list. We show estimated net cost for every college on your list based on your income bracket.

Unlock real pricing for University of Virginia-Main Campus and matching colleges →

Personalize this page

Compare your profile to University of Virginia-Main Campus's admitted class

SpearMatch builds a tiered college list from your actual grades, scores, and preferences — and shows where you stand at every college. Free, no account, 4 minutes.

Build My Free List →

✓ Free forever  ·  ✓ No account  ·  ✓ 1,300+ four-year US colleges

Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

95%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$72k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
15:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
17,009
Undergrad Enrollment
University of Virginia-Main Campus Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch