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How to Get Into University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA · Public · 2025-2026 cycle · Verified data

University of Virginia-Main Campus Admissions Statistics

16.8%
Acceptance Rate
700-760
SAT Reading (mid 50%)
710-780
SAT Math (mid 50%)
32-35
ACT (mid 50%)
17,597
Undergrads
96%
Graduation Rate

How to Actually Get Into University of Virginia-Main Campus

Understand what 16.8% really means

At University of Virginia-Main Campus's admit rate, your position against the published ranges genuinely matters. Land above the middle 50% and this behaves like a target; inside it, a true toss-up worth real effort on essays and fit signals; below it, treat it as a reach. Place it on your list accordingly instead of trusting the headline rate.

Position your scores against the real bands

The middle 50% of enrolled students sits around 1410-1540 combined SAT or 32-35 ACT. Above the 75th percentile, scores work for you and this can behave like a target. Below the 25th percentile, the rest of your application has to carry the file, treat it as a reach. Since scores are not required (test-optional) here, submit only if you're inside or above the band; a below-band score is information you don't have to volunteer.

Use the Early Decision round deliberately

University of Virginia-Main Campus offers Early Decision, which is binding. The early bump is real but overstated (hooked applicants cluster early and inflate it). Spend ED once, on the school where it actually moves you a tier, and only if the money works without comparing aid offers. If that school is University of Virginia-Main Campus, the deadline table below is your calendar.

The supplements are where files separate

University of Virginia-Main Campus asks 1 supplemental question (the exact prompts are below). At any selective school, essays are where you stop being a data point, generic answers read as generic everywhere, so specificity about University of Virginia-Main Campus is the whole game. Answer why THIS school, with details that could not be pasted into another application.

The bigger picture: no single school decides your outcome, the shape of your whole list does. Read how top counselors build a college list before you finalize where University of Virginia-Main Campus fits.

University of Virginia-Main Campus Application Deadlines (2025-2026)

Round Deadline
Early Action (EA) November 1, 2025
Early Decision (ED) November 1, 2025
Regular Decision (RD) January 5, 2026

Deadlines verified from official sources for the 2025-2026 cycle. Rounds change year to year, always confirm on the school's site before submitting.

University of Virginia-Main Campus Supplemental Essay Prompts

  1. 1. Who will you ask for recommendation letters? Teachers: 1 required, 1 optional. Other recommenders: 0. List only.

    50 words

Application Requirements & Costs

Application platform Common App
Application fee $75
Test scores Not required (test-optional)
Writing supplement Not required
Counselor recommendation Not required
Teacher evaluations 1

University of Virginia-Main Campus Cost & Financial Aid

Total cost of attendance (sticker, per year) $39,926
Tuition & fees (in-state / out-of-state) $21,803 / $59,512
Room & board (on campus) $14,800
Average net price (aid-receiving families) $21,565

What You'd Actually Pay, by Family Income

Average net price per year (after grants and scholarships) for aid-receiving families, from federal College Scorecard data:

Family income Average net price / year
$0-30k $8,174
$30-48k $9,696
$48-75k $13,283
$75-110k $20,822
$110k+ $35,402
15.6%
Students receiving Pell Grants
20.0%
Students taking federal loans
98%
Freshman retention rate
15:1
Student-faculty ratio

These are averages, not your number. Get your family's actual price in about 10 minutes:

Use University of Virginia-Main Campus's Official Net Price Calculator →

More University of Virginia-Main Campus Data, Coming Soon

We're building the deepest per-school database in admissions. Rolling out for University of Virginia-Main Campus:

Programs & Majors Soon Every degree program at University of Virginia-Main Campus, with outcomes
Transfer Pathways Soon How to transfer into University of Virginia-Main Campus, and where transfers come from
Institutional Aid Soon University of Virginia-Main Campus's own grants and how they're awarded
Private Scholarships Soon Outside scholarships University of Virginia-Main Campus students actually win

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