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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. UVA at 12-14% OOS places it in the same competitive tier as Georgetown (12%), Northwestern (7%), and WashU (12%). The key difference is that UVA is a public school with a legislated in-state enrollment mandate, which structurally limits OOS spots. Within the OOS applicant pool, competition is intense and national. Apply Early Action for the best positioning – UVA’s EA round for OOS applicants provides a modest statistical advantage over RD.
At 25-30% in-state, UVA is borderline match/reach for strong Virginia residents (3.9+ GPA, 1450+ SAT). It depends on the specific school within UVA – the Engineering school (SEAS) is more selective than the College of Arts and Sciences. The in-state advantage is real but does not make admission comfortable. Virginia residents should still include VT, W&M, and JMU as genuine alternatives. A 25-30% rate means 70-75% of in-state applicants are rejected.
UVA’s acceptance rate has declined over the past five years, driven by increasing application volume (partially from test-optional adoption) and growing national awareness of UVA’s quality. The OOS rate has been particularly affected because the in-state mandate is fixed while OOS applications have surged. For families who remember UVA as a relatively accessible public school, the current 12-14% OOS rate represents a meaningful shift. Treat current UVA applications with the same rigor as any top-15 school.
OOS tuition is comparable at all three ($55-60K all-in). The value differentiation is program-specific. UVA’s McIntire Commerce is top-5 for undergraduate business. Michigan’s Ross BBA and Engineering are exceptionally strong. Berkeley’s EECS and CS programs are arguably the best public university offerings in the country. For pre-law and political science, UVA’s DC proximity gives it an edge. For engineering broadly, Michigan offers the most comprehensive program. For pure CS, Berkeley is strongest. Campus culture differs dramatically – UVA is traditions-oriented Southern, Michigan is Big Ten Midwestern, Berkeley is intellectually intense West Coast.
SEAS (Engineering) and the College have different acceptance dynamics. In some years, SEAS is slightly more accessible for OOS applicants because it draws from a more specialized applicant pool. However, applying to SEAS when your interests are clearly liberal arts will produce a weaker application than applying to the College authentically. Apply to the school that matches your genuine academic interests. If your child has a legitimate engineering interest, SEAS may offer slightly better OOS odds.
No. At 12-14% OOS (and even 25-30% in-state), UVA rejects the majority of applicants at every credential level. A student with a 4.0 and 1560 SAT has roughly a 1 in 4 chance in-state and a 1 in 7 chance out-of-state. Those are reach odds, not safety odds. A safety school is one where your child’s profile exceeds the 75th percentile AND the acceptance rate is above 40%. UVA meets neither criterion for most competitive applicants. Treat it as a reach (OOS) or strong match (in-state for top-credential students).
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.
