University of Virginia acceptance rate and admissions profile
With an acceptance rate near 17%, University of Virginia is a highly selective public university in Virginia. Because it turns away most applicants, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.
Use this page to see what University of Virginia 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 1510, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
Will I get into University of Virginia?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of Virginia, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into University of Virginia?
University of Virginia admits roughly 17% of applicants, but that overall rate is not your personal chance. 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 Virginia in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is University of Virginia hard to get into?
University of Virginia is highly selective: it turns away most applicants, with about a 17% 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 Virginia?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of Virginia, but most admitted students present roughly a 3.8 to 4.0 GPA with a rigorous course load. University of Virginia reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
What SAT score do you need for University of Virginia?
University of Virginia does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1510. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at University of Virginia.
What University of Virginia looks for
What University of Virginia weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
In its review, University of Virginia leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. 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 Virginia'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 Virginia
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.
How University of Virginia compares in Virginia
University of Virginia ranks #2 most selective of 28 schools in Virginia in our database.
Among the 28 Virginia schools we track, University of Virginia ranks #2 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Washington and Lee University (14%) and University of Richmond (22%) sit nearby, which makes Virginia a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.
Similar to University of Virginia
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
Build around University of Virginia with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as University of Michigan, University of North Carolina, and Georgia Tech. 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 does University of Virginia value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, University of Virginia weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does University of Virginia favor in-state applicants?
As a public university, University of Virginia generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.
How can I improve my chances at University of Virginia?
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 Virginia specifically.
How does residency affect admission to University of Virginia?
As a public university, University of Virginia typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.
What makes an application stand out at University of Virginia?
Beyond strong academics, University of Virginia rewards a clear, specific story: focused activities with real impact, essays in an authentic voice, and recommendations that corroborate it. Depth beats a long list of unrelated activities.
Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.