University of Virginia 2025 Admission Statistics

University of Virginia Admission Guide — Class of 2030 (Applying 2025-26)

“At UVA we expect you to bring honor to the Lawn and bold ideas to the lab—preferably on the same day.” — UVA admission dean, June 2025

Why read this?

You’re a high-school junior eyeing the 2025-26 cycle.
Virginia’s flagship just released its 2024-25 Common Data Set—fresh numbers on admits, scores, costs, and aid. Skip the spreadsheets and skim this narrative cheat-sheet—no tables, no fluff—to benchmark your odds, plan every deadline, and craft an application that shouts Wahoowa.

The Admission Landscape — Numbers in Plain English

• 58,951 first-year applications last cycle.
• 9,909 offers → overall admit rate ≈ 17 %.
• 3,961 freshmen enrolled → ≈ 40 % yield—strong pull for both Virginians and out-of-state high achievers.
• Early Decision bump. ED I (Nov 1) admitted ≈ 28 % (1,245 admits / 4,461 apps) versus < 15 % in the RD pool.
• Early Action safety net. Non-binding EA (also Nov 1) draws tens of thousands; admit rate sits between ED and RD.
• Wait-list long shot. 10,470 offered; 6,759 opted-in; only 242 admitted—opt-in, then move on.
• Stickiness. First-year retention 97.9 %; six-year graduation 95.6 %—Hoos come, stay, and finish.

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Academic Profile of the 2024-25 Admitted Class

• Testing required again.
  • SAT middle 50 %: 1410 – 1520 composite.
  • ACT middle 50 %: 32 – 35 composite.
  • Send scores only if ≥ 1450 / 33 (higher for Engineering or McIntire).
• GPA & rank. Average un-weighted GPA ≈ 3.9; 84 % ranked in the top tenth.
• Course rigor reigns. Expect 8-12 AP/IB/dual-enrollment classes—AP Calc BC or beyond, lab science, and fourth-year language.
• Holistic hotspots. Rigor, GPA trend, essays, recommendations, extracurricular impact, talent, and first-gen status all sit in the “very important” tier.

What UVA Values (and How to Show It)

• Honor & character: Essays that show choices grounded in integrity.
• Intellectual curiosity with impact: Quantify outcomes—“sequenced 300 bee genomes,” “built an AI imaging plug-in adopted by 14 clinics.”
• Community stewardship: Service that lifts Virginia communities or global causes matches Jeffersonian ideals.
• Interdisciplinary flair: Bridge politics + data science, architecture + sustainability, or commerce + social equity.
• Demonstrated fit: Mention Scholars’ Lab, Madison House, or the Rotunda restoration—not generic “public Ivy” praise.

The Money Question

• Projected sticker 2025-26 (annual):
  • Virginia resident tuition + fees: ~ $20,100
  • Non-resident tuition + fees: ~ $59,100
  • Housing + dining: ~ $16,400
  • Total cost of attendance: ~ $36,500 in-state · ~ $75,500 out-of-state
• AccessUVA promise:
  • Virginia families ≤ $50 k income pay nothing for tuition, fees, housing, or meals.
  • Families ≤ $100 k see tuition + fees covered.
  • Families ≤ $150 k receive at least $2 000 in need-based grants.
• Merit funds are scarce (Jefferson, Walentas, Echols Honors). Apply by Nov 1 for consideration.
• Aid paperwork: CSS Profile + FAFSA priority deadline Mar 1 2026.

Anticipated Timeline for Class of 2030

Spring 2025 – finalize senior schedule; register for August SAT/ACT if trending 1450+/33+.
Summer 2025 – draft Common App + UVA supplements; deepen a flagship impact project.
Nov 1 2025 – ED and EA application deadline (and merit consideration).
Mid-Dec 2025 / Feb 15 2026 – ED and EA decisions.
Jan 1 2026 – Regular Decision deadline; send final test scores by Jan 15.
Apr 1 – RD decisions drop.
May 1 – Deposit + housing contract due.

Life on Grounds

• 15 : 1 student-faculty ratio; upper-division seminars under 20.
• Residential tradition: 97 % of first-years live on Grounds—old-school dorms like McCormick mingle with new Alderman suites.
• Traditions: Lighting of the Lawn, Rotunda Sing, streaking the Lawn (your call), and singing the “Good Old Song” after touchdowns.
• Research engine: $1 B+ in annual R&D; freshmen can win Harrison research grants their first spring.
• Charlottesville advantage: Farm-to-table eats, Blue Ridge hikes, startup incubators on the Downtown Mall, and D.C. internships two hours away.

Quick-Hit Checklist

• [ ] Maintain unweighted GPA ≥ 3.9 with max rigor.
• [ ] Submit SAT ≥ 1450 or ACT ≥ 33 only if it helps.
• [ ] Finish one measurable impact project by September.
• [ ] Reference a UVA hallmark (Honor Code, Scholars’ Lab, Rotunda) in your supplement.
• [ ] Apply ED/EA by Nov 1 2025; RD by Jan 1 2026.
• [ ] File CSS + FAFSA by Mar 1 2026.
• [ ] Celebrate with Bodo’s Bagels after smashing “Submit.”

Final Word

UVA fuses public-mission access with Jeffersonian ideals and a research punch felt worldwide. Admission is tough yet transparent: stellar academics, a quantified impact narrative, and essays that echo honor, inquiry, and service. Nail those, hit the deadlines, and you could soon be running the Lawn at dawn before a seminar on ethical AI.

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