UVA: the complete school report for parents
UVA rates 5 of the 18 admission factors Very Important, among them course rigor, GPA and personal qualities. A second tier of the essay, extracurricular activities and recommendations carries real weight too. It does not consider legacy, demonstrated interest and the interview, so campus visits and emails will not move the decision. With a 16.8% admit rate and 91% of enrolled students at a 4.0 GPA or above, the transcript is the entry ticket and scores are optional but help when they are strong. Transfer applicants are admitted at 32.0% against 16.8% for first-years, so the transfer route is materially wider.
UVA is officially University of Virginia-Main Campus, also known as University Of Virginia. Admissions figures below come from its 2024-2025 Common Data Set (see the source), with the admission-factor grid re-read from that file on 2026-10-21.
Is UVA a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places UVA against the figures above. No account needed.
What does UVA actually weigh in admissions?
UVA rates 5 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA, personal qualities, class rank, state residency. It does not consider 4 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is UVA's 2024-2025 answer, read from the grid in its own file.
| Factor | How UVA rates it |
|---|---|
| course rigor | Very Important |
| GPA | Very Important |
| test scores | Considered |
| the essay | Important |
| extracurricular activities | Important |
| recommendations | Important |
| personal qualities | Very Important |
| talent | Important |
| class rank | Very Important |
| demonstrated interest | Not Considered |
| the interview | Not Considered |
| legacy | Not Considered |
| first-generation status | Considered |
| geography | Considered |
| state residency | Very Important |
| volunteer work | Considered |
| work experience | Considered |
| religious affiliation | Not Considered |
Does UVA consider how hard my child’s courses were?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. The senior-year schedule should keep its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
Does UVA consider GPA?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does UVA consider SAT or ACT scores?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UVA consider the application essay?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UVA consider extracurricular activities?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UVA consider recommendation letters?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UVA consider character and personal qualities?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does UVA consider a special talent or ability?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UVA consider class rank?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does UVA consider demonstrated interest?
No. UVA does not consider it. Campus visits, emails and info sessions do not move the decision.
Does UVA consider an interview?
No. UVA does not consider it. There is no interview to prepare for.
Does UVA consider legacy status?
No. UVA does not consider it. A parent or grandparent who attended gives no advantage.
Does UVA consider being first-generation?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. Say so on the application; it is read as context.
Does UVA consider where we live?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UVA consider state residency?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. Residency changes the odds materially.
Does UVA consider volunteer work?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UVA consider work experience?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UVA consider religious affiliation?
No. UVA does not consider it.
What GPA do admitted students actually have?
91% of enrolled students had a 4.0 GPA or above. , reported for 81.47% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.
| High school GPA | Share of enrolled students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 90.5% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 6.8% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 2.1% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 0.3% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 0.1% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0.2% |
| 2.00–2.49 | Not reported |
What is the UVA waitlist really like?
UVA offered a place on its waiting list to 10,470 applicants and 6,759 accepted one. 242 were ultimately admitted. That is 3.6% of those who waited.
Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?
UVA admitted 32.0% of 4,245 transfer applicants, against 16.8% of first-year applicants. For a student who does not get in at eighteen, the transfer route is a genuinely wider door and worth planning for deliberately. The minimum college GPA considered is 2.
When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?
Applying Early Decision changes the odds materially: 27.9% of ED applicants were admitted against 16.8% overall, a gap of 11 points. ED is binding, so that advantage costs the ability to compare financial-aid offers.
| Regular application deadline | January 1 |
|---|---|
| Decisions released | April 1 |
| Reply / deposit deadline | May 1 |
| Early Decision offered | Yes |
| Early Decision deadline | November 1 |
| Early Action offered | Yes |
| Early Action deadline | November 1 |
| Application fee | $75 |
| Fee waiver available | Yes |
| Deferred admission offered | Yes |
What does my child need to take in high school?
UVA requires 16 academic units and recommends 19. A college-preparatory program is recommended. A GED is accepted.
| Subject | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 years | 4 years |
| Mathematics | 4 years | 4 years |
| Science | 2 years | 4 years |
| Foreign language | 2 years | 4 years |
What will UVA actually cost us?
Families pay an average of $21,565 a year at UVA after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $18,613. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 100% of demonstrated need on average.
What families at each income level actually paid:
| Family income | Average net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $8,174 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $9,696 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $13,283 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $20,822 |
| Over $110,000 | $35,402 |
30% of UVA graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $25,137 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $186 a month in repayment. UVA’s net price calculator gives your own figure.
Does a degree from UVA pay off?
Graduates earn a median $86,863 ten years after entering, and $72,359 at six years. 90% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 86% are actively paying down their loans three years in.
Four-year net cost against that earnings premium:
| Family income | Four-year net cost | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $32,696 | 0.8 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $38,784 | 0.9 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $53,132 | 1.2 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $83,288 | 1.9 |
| Over $110,000 | $141,608 | 3.3 |
A scale, not a forecast: it assumes aid and earnings hold steady.
$160,993 to $46,334, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at UVA:
| Major | Median earnings, 5 years | Graduates a year |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $160,993 | 230 |
| Computer Engineering | $139,318 | 51 |
| Mathematics | $133,210 | 87 |
| Systems Engineering | $131,258 | 81 |
| Economics | $95,941 | 465 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $94,692 | 127 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $91,262 | 88 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $87,416 | 203 |
| Political Science and Government | $84,910 | 118 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $64,686 | 115 |
| Anthropology | $55,460 | 61 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $46,334 | 72 |
College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.
Will my child actually graduate?
98% of first-years return for a second year. 92% graduate within four years and 96% within six (2018 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 92.0% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 96.4% of everyone else, a gap of 4.4 points.
How big are the classes?
47% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 7% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 15:1, and 96% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
What is life at UVA like?
17,901 undergraduates, 31% of first-years from out of state. 99% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 41% across all undergraduates. 16% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $79,524.
First-year students at UVA are required to live on Grounds. The University is adding upperclass housing with the aim of having all second-year students living on Grounds by 2030.
Source: Life at UVA, University of Virginia
UVA reports an average starting salary of $83,000 among undergraduate degree earners, and Princeton Review 2027 ranks it No. 4 among public schools for career placement.
How is UVA ranked, and how strong is the alumni network?
UVA is ranked #4 for public universities in the U.S. News Best Colleges 2027. Its full set of published positions, including the ones that are less flattering:
| Ranking | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. News Best Colleges 2027, public universities | #4 |
| U.S. News Best Colleges 2027, national universities | #26 |
| U.S. News Best Colleges 2027, best value (public) | #4 |
| U.S. News Best Colleges 2027, undergraduate teaching (public) | #3 |
| Princeton Review 2027, best public university for financial aid | #1 |
Shown in full, including the less flattering ones.
Source: U.S. News ranks UVA No. 4 public school in the nation, UVA Today (22 September 2026); Facts and Figures, University of Virginia
What this means for your student
- Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. UVA recommends 19 academic units.
- 91% of enrolled students are at a 4.0 GPA or above. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
- Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
- Early Decision is worth 11 points of admit rate, but it is binding and removes any ability to compare aid offers.
- The waitlist is live but thin: 242 of 6,759 who waited were admitted, about 4%.
- If the first-year answer is no, the transfer route is genuinely wider here and worth planning for from the first semester of college.
- Its highest-earning major returns $160,993 five years out against $46,334 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
- See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.
Common questions about UVA
What GPA do you need for UVA?
91% of enrolled students at UVA had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
Does the UVA waitlist move?
6,759 students accepted a place on the UVA waiting list and 242 were admitted in the 2024-2025 cycle.
What do UVA graduates earn?
UVA graduates earn a median $86,863 ten years after entering, and 90% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years.
Other schools families compare with UVA
Where these numbers come from
Admissions figures: UVA’s 2024-2025 Common Data Set, published here, factor grid re-read from it on 2026-10-21. Earnings, debt, net price and graduation rates: College Scorecard (2022-2023). Unreported values show as “Not reported”.