Acceptance rate · Public · Charlottesville, Virginia
University of Virginia acceptance rate: 17%
University of Virginia admits about 17% overall — in-state and out-of-state rates differ sharply — and the in-state admit rate is roughly double the out-of-state rate. Here are the numbers that actually shape a decision there, in plain language, with the caveats most rate pages skip.
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UVA at a glance
| Overall acceptance rate | about 17% overall — in-state and out-of-state rates differ sharply |
|---|---|
| SAT middle 50% | 1400–1540 |
| ACT middle 50% | 32–34 |
| Typical admitted GPA band | 3.8–4.0 |
| Application deadlines | Early Action: November 1 · Regular Decision: early January |
| Tuition | Virginia residents: roughly $17,000–$22,000/year tuition and fees · Non-residents: roughly $60,000/year |
Approximate, most-recent publicly reported figures (fall 2024 entering class unless the school reports newer). The authority for current numbers is always UVA's own Common Data Set and admissions site.
How to read UVA's number
University of Virginia is a public Ivy with a constitutional commitment to its Virginia applicants — two very different admit rates under one overall number. An overall acceptance rate averages wildly different applicant pools — for UVA, the in-state admit rate is roughly double the out-of-state rate, so the honest way to use the number is as a starting anchor, then adjust for the parts that describe you: residency, GPA band, and where your test scores (if you send them) sit inside the middle 50%.
- Inside the middle 50%: your academic file reads as typical-for-uva — the decision then turns on rigor, essays, and context.
- Above the top of the band: academics help you, but at a rate of about 17% overall — in-state and out-of-state rates differ sharply they rarely decide it alone — and residency can matter more than any score.
- Below the bottom of the band: admission happens every year, but you need a clear explanation (upward trend, school context, exceptional work) the reader can see quickly.
Three things that genuinely move your odds
- Rigor over polish. The single most-cited factor in UVA's reviews is the strength of your senior-year coursework relative to what your school offers. A slightly lower GPA in the hardest schedule usually beats the reverse.
- One specific story. Essays that could only have been written by you outperform impressive-but-generic ones. Tie what you did to what UVA is known for.
- Deadline strategy. Early Action: November 1 · Regular Decision: early January. Pick the round that lets you submit your strongest file — not the earliest one by reflex.
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate for University of Virginia?
The most recently reported overall acceptance rate for University of Virginia is about 17% overall — in-state and out-of-state rates differ sharply. The in-state admit rate is roughly double the out-of-state rate. Rates move a little every year — confirm the current figure on UVA's official Common Data Set before relying on it.
What GPA do you need for UVA?
Admitted students at University of Virginia most often land in roughly the 3.8–4.0 unweighted range. That's a middle band, not a floor — a GPA below it is offset by exceptional coursework rigor, essays, or context, and a GPA above it guarantees nothing by itself.
What SAT or ACT score is good enough for UVA?
The middle 50% of enrolled students at University of Virginia scores roughly SAT 1400–1540 / ACT 32–34. Landing inside that band makes your academic file competitive; landing above it helps most at the margins.
How can I improve my chances at UVA?
Three levers matter most: (1) coursework rigor — admissions readers weigh the hardest schedule you can sustain; (2) a specific, demonstrated interest that matches what UVA is known for — public Ivy with a constitutional commitment to its Virginia applicants — two very different admit rates under one overall number; (3) apply at the deadline that fits: Early Action: November 1 · Regular Decision: early January. Then run your own numbers in our acceptance odds calculator.