Prestigious, Popular Public Education at UVA
The University of Virginia appears in our ranking of the 50 Great Affordable Colleges in the South.
Ranked 33rd nationally by Forbes, the University of Virginia is a flagship land-grant, research-intensive AAU member in Charlottesville that offers 74 bachelor’s, 82 master’s, and 57 doctoral degrees plus the Early College Scholars Program for high schoolers at a 14:1 student-teacher ratio. For example, the Health Sciences Management B.P.S. follows a 60-credit, 3.5-year transfer track headed by Dr. Ana Abad-Jorge with upper-division online courses, one-day campus immersions, and internships like Culpeper Hospital for $31,560 total. Chaired by Dr. Janet Herman, the 120-credit Environmental Science B.A. encourages Cavaliers to undertake Mountain Lake Biological Station projects, volunteer at Shenandoah National Park, join the Sustainability Forum, and semester abroad in New Zealand.
Online on Blackboard starting Fall 2019, the School of Continuing & Professional Studies will grant a 30-credit, 20-month Master of Public Safety partnered with the FBI National Academy in Quantico under Chief Tim Longo for flexible part-time courses like Cyber Technologies and Constitutional Policing. Directed by Dr. Craig Benson, the Civil Engineering Ph.D. builds a 72-credit, ABET-accredited program where post-grads can conduct Center for Transportation Studies research, join the ASCE Chapter, and intern with Northrop Grumman. Other Virginia degrees include the Computer Science B.S., Kinesiology B.S.Ed., Classics B.A., Law LL.M., Accounting M.S., Landscape Architecture M.L.A., European Studies Ph.D., Gifted Education Ph.D., Medicine M.D., and Pharmacology Ph.D.
About the University of Virginia
The University of Virginia originated on October 6, 1817, when Presidents James Monroe, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a new school. In 1819, the Commonwealth formally chartered the institute as Central College. On March 7, 1825, an inaugural class of 40 enrolled in its eight independent divisions. In 1826, Founding Father Thomas Jefferson died and was buried at the University of Virginia. The next year, poet Edgar Allan Poe began studying Latin at UVA. In 1836, UVA opened the nation’s first comprehensive School of Engineering & Applied Science. Open throughout the Civil War, Virginia briefly became tuition-free in 1875. Four decades later, UVA was the South’s earliest Association of American Universities member. By 1944, UVA acquired Mary Washington College for women’s studies. In 1955, the University of Virginia became integrated with the first African-American undergrad.
Endowed for $6.3 billion, the University of Virginia now employs 17,000 staff serving 16,655 undergrad and 7,705 post-grad Cavaliers from 105 countries online, on the historic 1,682-acre Charlottesville campus, or at five satellite locations with 900+ clubs like X-Tasee Dance Crew. In 2018, Virginia received the CUPA Human Resources Excellence Award. In 2017, Virginia accepted an Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence Award. The University of Virginia won a 2019 CASE District III Circle of Excellence Award. The U.S. News & World Report named UVA the 25th best college, 38th top engineering school, and 28th best value. On Niche, UVA boasts America’s seventh-best kinesiology, eighth-best architecture, and 12th top nursing programs. WalletHub picked the University of Virginia 19th for education outcomes. The Princeton Review crowned UVA the seventh-best alumni network.
University of Virginia Accreditation Details
On March 21, 2017, the University of Virginia hosted an on-site evaluation committee from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to reaffirm the Level VI accreditation status through 2027-28 under the ninth president, Dr. James E. Ryan, who earned the SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Award. Located 502 miles down Route 29 in Decatur, Georgia, this esteemed 11-state Southeast Region accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Education Department and State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. The Institutional Assessment & Studies Office also lists the following degree accreditations:
- Planning Accreditation Board
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- National Association of School Psychologists
- Council on Social Work Education
- Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Council on Education for Public Health
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
- Council on Education for Public Health
- American Psychological Association
- Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System
- Liaison Committee on Medical Education
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- National Architectural Accrediting Board
- American Bar Association
- Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
University of Virginia Application Requirements
Getting into the University of Virginia is classified “very difficult” by Peterson’s because only 9,828 of the 37,182 Fall 2018 applicants were successful for tough 26 percent acceptance. First-year Cavaliers must culminate a college-prep high school curriculum with four English and three math units. The Class of 2022 presented a mean secondary GPA of 4.22. The middle 50th percentile had SAT scores of 1340-1500. Mid-range admitted ACT scores were 32-34. The College at Wise has a much lower 18 ACT and 900 SAT minimum. Incoming transfers need 12+ graded college credits with GPAs of 2.0 or better. International learners should achieve at least 600 TOEFL pBT or 7.0 IELTS scores. Graduate programs require an accredited four-year bachelor’s or higher degree and GPA above 3.0. Admitted post-grads have an average 155 GRE Verbal and 159 GRE Quantitative score. The Darden School accepts a median 706 GMAT score. Juris Doctor cohorts reach a mean LSAT score of 168. The School of Medicine has a 517 MCAT score average.
The University of Virginia set freshman deadlines of October 15th for Early Decision, November 1st for Early Action, and January 1st for Regular Decision. Transfers are welcome until March 1st for Fall or October 1st for Spring enrollment. The Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs has widely varying deadlines though. For instance, the East Asian Studies M.A. closes on May 1st. Statistics Ph.D. entrants must file before January 15th. The Architectural History Ph.D. considers candidates through December 15th. Check program specifics for completing the UVA or Common Application online for $70 ($85 if graduate). Send official transcripts electronically or to PO Box 400160 in Charlottesville, VA 22904. Directly submit testing reports via SAT/GRE code 5820, GMAT code KC7-0X-86, or ACT code 4412. Learn supplemental steps by contacting (434) 982-3200 or [email protected].
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2019-20, the University of Virginia is charging in-state undergrads $13,682 annually. Non-resident bachelor’s tuition is $46,330 each year. The School of Architecture raises rates to $14,682 and $47,366. School of Commerce students pay $23,920 or $56,950 respectively. Residing at the Charlottesville campus’ dorms like Alderman Hall adds $6,720 for housing. Standard meal plans for Crossroads Food Court are $5,230 extra. UVA budgets $1,384 for books, $2,552 for personal expenses, and $72 for loan fees. Annual undergrad attendance equals about $33,493 in-state and $64,872 out-of-state. The Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs bills Virginians $16,578 and non-residents $27,770 each year. Master’s or doctoral students pay $735 to $1,239 per credit. Comprehensive graduate fees are $2,960 every nine months.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Student Financial Services Office in Georges Student Center Room 236 connects 59 percent of new UVA Cavaliers to tuition aid averaging $21,865 apiece for $30.72 million combined. University funds include the Berning Scholarship, Heather Heyer Memorial Scholarship, Crestar Scholarship, Myerley Trust Scholarship, Jerdone Scholarship, Oldfield Scholarship, Hilltop Foundation Scholarship, Beck Family Scholarship, Colgate Darden Scholarship, Hoffman Access Scholarship, Helen Marks Scholarship, Hargroves Memorial Scholarship, and Williams Scholarship. The Jefferson Scholars Foundation gifts stipends of $31,500 to $62,000 annually to 120 outstanding finalists admitted for Early Decision. The $5,000 Legacy Scholarship has an April 11th deadline for children of alumni with minimum 3.0 GPAs. Federal resources, such as the Pell Grant or Direct Unsubsidized Loan, require FAFSA applications coded 003745. Virginians could also earn the Commonwealth Award, Guaranteed Assistance Grant, Teacher Assistance Grant, and War Orphans Education Grant.
Search through 12 innovative schools delivering 200+ diverse top-notch degrees placed 51st overall by Times Higher Education at the University of Virginia website.