University of Richmond acceptance rate and your odds of getting in
University of Richmond, a private college in Virginia, reports a 22% acceptance rate and sits in the highly selective band. In practice that means it turns away most applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.
Use this page to see what University of Richmond weighs, where it ranks among Virginia schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1430, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
University of Richmond application deadlines, 2026-27 · University of Richmond supplemental essays, 2026-27
What do students study at University of Richmond?
Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.
Will I get into University of Richmond?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of Richmond, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into University of Richmond?
Your odds at University of Richmond are not the same as its 22% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of Richmond in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is University of Richmond hard to get into?
University of Richmond is highly selective: it turns away most applicants, with about a 22% acceptance rate. Strong academics are expected here, so the rest of your profile usually decides the outcome.
What GPA do you need to get into University of Richmond?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of Richmond, but most admitted students present roughly a 3.8 to 4.0 GPA with a rigorous course load. University of Richmond reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
Your chances at University of Richmond by GPA and SAT
Estimated chance of admission at University of Richmond for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 6 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).
What are my chances at University of Richmond with a 3.7 GPA and a 1470 SAT?
About 40% (Target), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.7 unweighted GPA and a 1470 SAT, the middle of University of Richmond's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.9 GPA with a 1530 SAT comes out near 48%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.
Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/university-of-richmond.
Early Decision, Early Action and the waitlist at University of Richmond
From University of Richmond's own 2024-25 Common Data Set (fall 2024 entering class): sections C1, C2, C21-C22 and D2.
What is the early decision acceptance rate at University of Richmond?
33.8%. University of Richmond admitted 397 of 1,175 Early Decision applicants for fall 2024, against 22.2% of all 16,152 first-year applicants (University of Richmond's 2024-25 Common Data Set).
Does applying early decision help at University of Richmond?
On the raw numbers, yes: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 33.8% versus about 21.3% for everyone who applied another way, 1.6x the rate, and Early Decision filled 11.1% of the admitted class. Part of that gap is who applies early (recruited athletes and legacy applicants often do), so it is not all the round itself. Early Decision is binding: apply only if University of Richmond is your clear first choice and the family can commit without comparing aid offers.
What is University of Richmond's early action acceptance rate?
23%: 2,329 admitted of 10,124 Early Action applicants for fall 2024 (University of Richmond's 2024-25 Common Data Set).
How many students get off the waitlist at University of Richmond?
71 for fall 2024. University of Richmond offered 3,866 applicants a waitlist spot, 2,117 accepted one, and 71 were admitted from it: 3.4% of those who stayed on (University of Richmond's 2024-25 Common Data Set).
What is the transfer acceptance rate at University of Richmond?
45.6%: 165 of 362 transfer applicants were admitted for fall 2024 (University of Richmond's 2024-25 Common Data Set).
Source: University of Richmond Common Data Set 2024-25. Every figure appears verbatim in the document. See how early rounds compare across colleges in the Early Decision rankings.
How to get into University of Richmond
Built from University of Richmond's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.
There is no formula that guarantees a spot at University of Richmond, but the applicants who get in tend to do the same four things. Here is what the numbers say each one looks like.
CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at University of Richmond carries about a 3.76 core GPA and a 1480 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Landing at or above it makes you competitive; the rest of the file decides.
The admitted middle 50% is 1410 to 1530 SAT (33 to 35 ACT). Submit a score at 1470 or higher; below 1410, apply test-optional if the policy allows.
University of Richmond rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: essays that sound like you and answer the actual prompt, and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.
Selective private colleges admit a larger share of their class in binding Early Decision; if University of Richmond is your clear first choice and the net price works, ED is the single biggest lever an applicant controls. Most early deadlines fall on November 1 and Regular Decision on January 1 to 15; confirm University of Richmond's exact dates at www.richmond.edu.
How many students apply to University of Richmond, and how many get in?
University of Richmond admitted 3,525 of the 15,121 students who applied for fall 2023, which works out to 23.3%. 833 enrolled. Only about 24% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. University of Richmond enrolls about 2,980 undergraduates in total, 54% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for University of Richmond?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Richmond scored between 1410 and 1530 on the SAT (average 1497). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 33 to 35. A score above 1530 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1410 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. University of Richmond is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.
What University of Richmond looks for
What University of Richmond weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
The factors that carry the most weight at University of Richmond are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay. At this level of selectivity, the difference between admits is rarely the transcript alone; essays, recommendations, and a coherent story matter. These ratings come from University of Richmond's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at University of Richmond
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.
How much does University of Richmond cost after financial aid?
University of Richmond's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $80,961 per year. Tuition and fees alone are $65,230. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $31,309 a year, and it ranges from $12,808 for families earning under $30,000 to $49,892 for families earning over $110,000. 17% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.
What do University of Richmond graduates earn, and how many graduate?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Richmond student who received federal aid earns $76,178 a year, up from $67,927 at six years. 85% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 91% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $21,000; 32% of undergraduates take federal loans.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.
How University of Richmond compares in Virginia
University of Richmond ranks #3 most selective of 28 schools in Virginia in our database.
Among the 28 Virginia schools we track, University of Richmond ranks #3 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Washington and Lee University (14%) and University of Virginia (17%) sit nearby, which makes Virginia a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.
Similar to University of Richmond
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
Applicants targeting University of Richmond often weigh Wake Forest University, Hillsdale College, and Skidmore College, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What is University of Richmond's acceptance rate?
University of Richmond admitted 3,525 of 15,121 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 23.3% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 24% of admitted students enrolled.
What SAT score do you need for University of Richmond?
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1410 to 1530 on the SAT and 33 to 35 on the ACT. A score above 1530 is in the top quarter of admits. University of Richmond is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.
Is University of Richmond test-optional?
Yes. University of Richmond reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.
How much does University of Richmond cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Richmond, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $31,309 a year against a sticker price of about $80,961. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $12,808 on average.
What do University of Richmond graduates earn?
Median earnings ten years after entering University of Richmond are $76,178 a year among students who received federal aid, and 85% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).
What does University of Richmond value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, University of Richmond weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does University of Richmond consider legacy or demonstrated interest?
Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. University of Richmond's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.
How can I improve my chances at University of Richmond?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of Richmond specifically.
Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.