University of Richmond vs University of Virginia

University of Virginia is the more selective of the two at 19%, versus 24% at University of Richmond. Here is how they compare on selectivity, test scores, and what they weigh, plus a free way to estimate your odds at each.

University of Richmond
Highly selective
24%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1430
Private · Virginia
University of Virginia
Highly selective
19%
acceptance rate
SAT 75th pct: 1510
Public · Virginia

University of Richmond vs University of Virginia: the differences that matter

How University of Richmond and University of Virginia stack up on selectivity, scores, and what they value.

University of Virginia is meaningfully harder to get into, admitting about 19% of applicants versus 24% at University of Richmond, a gap of roughly 5 percentage points. Treat University of Virginia as the bigger reach of the two when you build your list.

The two also read applications a little differently. University of Richmond leans more on application essay, character / personal qualities, level of applicant interest, while University of Virginia puts more weight on alumni / legacy relation, geographical residence, state residency. The same profile can land differently at each, which is why a per-school estimate matters more than a single GPA.

On test scores, University of Richmond's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1430 and University of Virginia's is around 1510. Admitted students at University of Virginia post somewhat higher scores. Run your own numbers below to see where you stand at each.

What each school weighs

Factors either school weighs heavily, side by side.

FactorUniversity of RichmondUniversity of Virginia
Rigor of secondary school recordvery importantvery important
Academic GPAvery importantvery important
Standardized test scoresimportantimportant
Application essayvery importantimportant
Recommendationsimportantimportant
Extracurricular activitiesimportantimportant
Talent / abilityimportantimportant
Character / personal qualitiesvery importantimportant
Calculate your chances at both →

Frequently asked questions

Is University of Richmond or University of Virginia harder to get into?

University of Virginia is harder to get into, with a 19% acceptance rate versus 24% at University of Richmond.

What's the difference in SAT scores between University of Richmond and University of Virginia?

University of Richmond's admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1430, and University of Virginia's is around 1510.

What are my chances at University of Richmond and University of Virginia?

That depends on your full profile. CollegeCalcAI gives a free, personalized estimate for each school in a few minutes.