University of Virginia-Main Campus: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Charlottesville, Virginia · Public · Highly selective · CDS 2024-2025
University of Virginia-Main Campus is a public university in Charlottesville, Virginia that admits about 17% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $22,881 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Economics and Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 96% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 15.3 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
University of Virginia-Main Campus is a public institution located in Charlottesville, Virginia and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Virginia-Main Campus admits roughly one in four applicants, with an overall admission rate of 17%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1488 and an ACT composite around 34. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $22,881 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of Virginia-Main Campus is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What parents should know about University of Virginia-Main Campus right now
The University of Virginia is consistently ranked among the most selective public universities in the country. For the Class of 2027, UVA received a record 56,439 applications and admitted 16.2 percent, with the 2025 entering class showing a 15.3 percent admit rate, a 39.1 percent yield, and a middle-50 percent SAT range of 1400 to 1540. Early Action acceptance was about 27 percent for Virginians and 12 percent for out-of-state students, so in-state status matters meaningfully. UVA is need-blind for domestic applicants and meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need, one of only two public institutions in the country to do so. Through AccessUVa, in-state students from families earning under $50,000 receive tuition, fees, room, and board; families under $100,000 receive full tuition and fees; and families up to $150,000 receive at least $2,000 in tuition grants, levels that took effect in the 2024 to 2025 cycle. Distinctive academic strengths include the McIntire School of Commerce, ranked first among public undergraduate business programs by Poets and Quants, and the School of Law, ranked first among public law schools by U.S. News in 2024. UVA was ranked first nationally for free speech by FIRE in 2025. Recent campus news includes May 2024 pro-Palestinian protests and a November 2025 governor-elect request to pause the presidential search, both of which families may see in coverage.
What GPA does my child need for University of Virginia-Main Campus?
Most admitted students at University of Virginia-Main Campus present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does University of Virginia-Main Campus weight in admissions?
University of Virginia-Main Campus reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Class rank
- • Academic GPA
- • Character/personal qualities
- • State residency
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Standardized test scores
- • First generation status
- • Geographical residence
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • Interview
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
- • Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores University of Virginia-Main Campus typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 710–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 720. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 32–34. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
| 25th percentile | 1410 |
| 50th percentile | 1470 |
| 75th percentile | 1520 |
| % submitting SAT | 45.6% |
| 25th percentile | 32 |
| 50th percentile | 33 |
| 75th percentile | 35 |
| % submitting ACT | 13.8% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 84% |
| Top 25% of class | 97% |
| Top 50% of class | 99% |
| % submitting class rank | 34% |
How much does University of Virginia-Main Campus actually cost?
Published tuition is $20,986 for in-state students and $58,014 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,940 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $22,881 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 14% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | $18,613 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $56,994 |
| Room and board | $15,300 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $22,881 |
| Application fee | $75 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Virginia-Main Campus
| Regular deadline | 1/1 |
| Notification date | 4/1 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | 11/1 |
| ED acceptance rate | 28% |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | 11/1 |
Will my child graduate from University of Virginia-Main Campus?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Most popular majors at University of Virginia-Main Campus
The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Virginia-Main Campus, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Economics and Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. Across all programs, University of Virginia-Main Campus confers roughly 3,273 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Economics program report a median income of about $95,941 five years after entering college. Major popularity is a practical signal of where a school concentrates its teaching strength and where your child will find the deepest course offerings and peer community.
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 1,247 | — |
| Economics | 465 | $95,941 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 368 | — |
| Biology, General | 337 | $67,974 |
| Psychology, General | 251 | $67,873 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 230 | $160,993 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 203 | $87,416 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 172 | $65,660 |
Is University of Virginia-Main Campus safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Virginia-Main Campus disclosed 270 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 15.3 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 34 violent offenses and 91 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Per-1,000-student rates matter more than raw counts when comparing schools, because larger universities mechanically report more incidents. Under the federal Clery Act, every college that receives federal aid must publish these numbers annually.
What is campus life like at University of Virginia-Main Campus?
About 41% of undergraduates at University of Virginia-Main Campus live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Virginia parents ask about
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University93% acceptance
- College of William and Mary89% acceptance
- James Madison University86% acceptance
- Old Dominion University82% acceptance
- George Mason University91% acceptance
- Virginia Commonwealth University17% acceptance
- Washington and Lee University90% acceptance
- University of Richmond94% acceptance
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of Virginia-Main Campus
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of Virginia-Main Campus recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about University of Virginia-Main Campus
What GPA do I need for University of Virginia-Main Campus?
Most admitted students at University of Virginia-Main Campus present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Virginia-Main Campus typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 710–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 720. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 32–34.
How much does University of Virginia-Main Campus actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Virginia-Main Campus after grants and scholarships is $22,881 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is University of Virginia-Main Campus realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, University of Virginia-Main Campus is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Virginia-Main Campus?
University of Virginia-Main Campus accepts about 17% of applicants out of roughly 58,951 who apply each year. That makes it a highly selective school.
Is University of Virginia-Main Campus test-optional?
Yes. University of Virginia-Main Campus is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at University of Virginia-Main Campus?
About 96% of students at University of Virginia-Main Campus graduate within six years, and 92% finish in four years. 98% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at University of Virginia-Main Campus?
University of Virginia-Main Campus's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 28%, compared with its overall rate of 17%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does University of Virginia-Main Campus look for in applicants?
University of Virginia-Main Campus rates course rigor, class rank, GPA and character and personal qualities as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is University of Virginia-Main Campus a public or private school, and where is it located?
University of Virginia-Main Campus is a public institution located in Charlottesville, Virginia.
What are the most popular majors at University of Virginia-Main Campus?
The largest undergraduate majors at University of Virginia-Main Campus by annual graduates are Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Economics and Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. The school awards about 3,273 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is University of Virginia-Main Campus safe? What is its campus crime rate?
University of Virginia-Main Campus reported 270 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 15.3 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at University of Virginia-Main Campus?
At University of Virginia-Main Campus, 41% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Virginia-Main Campus, the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act campus safety disclosures. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.