What Is UVA’s Acceptance Rate for the Class of 2030?
UVA admitted 10,287 students from a record 82,118 applicants for the Class of 2030, producing a 12.53% overall acceptance rate (Cavalier Daily, March 2026). Applications surged 27.4% year over year, the largest single-year increase in UVA history. However, the overall rate is misleading for out-of-state families because UVA is legally required to maintain a two-thirds Virginia resident enrollment. Virginia residents were admitted at 22%, while out-of-state applicants faced a 10% rate overall and just 6.97% in Regular Decision. For context, see our Top 25 admissions statistics.
| Round | Applicants | Admitted | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision | 5,108 | 1,225 | 24% |
| Early Action | 57,495 | 7,151 | 12.4% |
| Regular Decision | 26,767 | 1,895 | 7.08% |
| Overall | 82,118 | 10,287 | 12.53% |
Source: Cavalier Daily, UVA Today, 2025-2026.
What Is UVA’s Out-of-State Acceptance Rate?
This is the most important number for NJ, NY, and CT families. Out-of-state applicants to the Class of 2030 faced a 10% overall acceptance rate (5,970 admitted from 62,154). In Regular Decision alone, out-of-state applicants saw a 6.97% rate (1,423 from 20,390). By contrast, Virginia residents were admitted at 22% overall and 7.4% in RD. The in-state advantage is significant and structural: Virginia law requires UVA to enroll two-thirds Virginia residents.
| Residency | Overall Rate | EA Rate | RD Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Residents | 22% | 22.8% | 7.4% |
| Out-of-State | 10% | 9.8% | 6.97% |
Source: Cavalier Daily, UVA Today, 2025-2026.
Should You Apply Early Decision or Early Action to UVA?
UVA is one of the few top public schools offering binding Early Decision (24% rate), non-binding Early Action (12.4%), and Regular Decision (7.08%). The ED advantage is clear, but ED is binding. For out-of-state families who are certain UVA is their top choice, ED is the strongest strategic move. EA is valuable for in-state families who want an early read without commitment. RD should be a last resort given the 7% rate. For early round strategy, see our ED vs RD guide.
How Does UVA Compare to Other Selective Schools?
| School | Overall Rate | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| MIT | 4.6% | 28,349 |
| Notre Dame | 9% | 36,102 |
| Tufts | 10% | 36,000 |
| WashU | ~12% | 32,741 |
| UVA (out-of-state) | 10% | 82,118 |
| Georgetown | 13% | ~26,900 |
Source: Institutional data, CDS, 2024-2026.
What GPA and Test Scores Do You Need for UVA?
UVA maintains a test-optional policy. The middle 50% SAT range is approximately 1390-1530 and ACT is 32-35 (UVA CDS, 2024-2025). UVA rates academic rigor, GPA, and personal qualities as “very important” in admissions. The School of Engineering has separate admissions and is generally more competitive than the College of Arts & Sciences. For testing strategy, see our test strategy guide. For essay strategy, see our Common App essay guide.
What Are Your Chances on the UVA Waitlist?
UVA’s waitlist has been extremely tight in recent years. For the Class of 2028, 242 students were admitted from 6,759 who accepted their spot, a 3.6% rate. For the Class of 2026, just 7 students were admitted (0.1%). The high ED and EA fill rate leaves very few spots for the waitlist. Write a strong Letter of Continued Interest. For complete data, see our waitlist rates comparison.
Final Thoughts: UVA Admissions in 2026
UVA’s 82,118 applications represent a 27% surge that puts it in the same volume tier as NYU and UCLA. For out-of-state families, the 10% overall rate and 6.97% RD rate make UVA a reach school, not a match. At Oriel Admissions, our team of former admissions officers from Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia has helped students earn acceptances to UVA and other top universities. Schedule a consultation to discuss how we can help.
10% overall for out-of-state applicants (5,970 from 62,154). In Regular Decision, out-of-state applicants faced just 6.97% (1,423 from 20,390). Virginia residents were admitted at 22% overall.
Yes. UVA’s 10% out-of-state acceptance rate is lower than Cornell (6.9%) but comparable to or lower than where several Ivies were just 3-4 years ago. The 6.97% out-of-state RD rate is harder than Georgetown, Tufts, and WashU in Regular Decision.
If UVA is your top choice, strongly consider it. The ED acceptance rate was 24%, roughly double the EA rate and triple the RD rate. For out-of-state students, the binding ED commitment signals genuine first-choice interest and gives you the best odds.
Yes. Virginia law requires UVA to maintain two-thirds Virginia residents. This creates a structural 2x advantage for in-state applicants (22% vs 10%). For NJ, NY, and CT families, UVA should be treated as a reach, not a match.
Multiple factors: growing national reputation, successful athletics programs increasing visibility, expanded financial aid, and the halo effect of UVA’s rising selectivity attracting more applicants. Out-of-state applications increased 43.7%, far outpacing the 19.6% increase in-state.
Generally yes. Engineering has separate admissions and a smaller class. For the Class of 2030, 1,604 students were admitted to Engineering through EA compared to 5,261 for Arts & Sciences. The Engineering acceptance rate is typically several points lower.
Very low in recent years. The Class of 2028 saw a 3.6% waitlist rate (242 from 6,759). The Class of 2026 admitted only 7 students from the waitlist (0.1%). UVA’s high early-round fill rate leaves minimal waitlist spots.
UVA’s out-of-state cost of attendance (~$73,000) is comparable to private peers. However, UVA’s AccessUVA program provides substantial aid: free tuition, fees, housing, and dining for Virginia families under $50,000, and significant aid up to $150,000. Out-of-state students can receive need-based aid but should run the net price calculator before committing.
