What Is UVA’s Acceptance Rate for the Class of 2030?
UVA made 10,287 offers from a record 82,118 applications for the Class of 2030, a 12.5% overall rate by our calculation, up from 64,463 applications the year before (UVA Office of Undergraduate Admission, March 2026). The overall rate hides the residency split: UVA offered admission to 22% of Virginia applicants (4,317 of 19,966) and 10% of out-of-state applicants (5,970 of 62,152). UVA has pledged to maintain a two-thirds majority of Virginia residents, while about three quarters of this year’s applicants came from outside Virginia.
| Round | Applications | Offers | Virginia offer rate | Out-of-state offer rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision | 5,108 | 1,225 | 25% (766 of 3,077) | 23% (459 of 2,031) |
| Early Action | 57,495 | 7,151 | 23% (3,071 of 13,445) | 9% (4,080 of 44,050) |
| Regular Decision | 19,497 new applications, plus deferred applicants | 1,895 (394 to deferred applicants) | 472 offers | 1,423 offers |
| Overall | 82,118 | 10,287 | 22% (4,317 of 19,966) | 10% (5,970 of 62,152) |
Source: UVA Office of Undergraduate Admission, Notes from Peabody (December 2025, January 2026, March 2026). UVA calls these figures unofficial until the fall census and asks that both residency rates be cited rather than an average; the 12.5% overall rate is an Oriel Admissions calculation.
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 62,152). In Regular Decision alone, out-of-state applicants received 1,423 of the round’s 1,895 offers. By contrast, Virginia residents were admitted at 22% overall, and UVA states that it aims for a two thirds Virginian class. UVA explains the gap itself: about two-thirds of its applicants come from out of state, while it maintains a two-thirds majority of Virginia residents, so its offer rate for Virginians tends to be much higher. Virginians, out-of-state students and international applicants are read in separate pools and do not compete with each other (UVA application review process).
| Residency | Overall offer rate | Early Decision | Early Action | Regular Decision offers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia residents | 22% | 25% | 23% | 472 |
| Out-of-state | 10% | 23% | 9% | 1,423 |
Source: UVA Office of Undergraduate Admission, Notes from Peabody, December 2025 to March 2026.
Should You Apply Early Decision or Early Action to UVA?
UVA offers binding Early Decision and non-binding Early Action, both due November 1, and Regular Decision, due January 5 (UVA deadlines and instructions). Early Decision offer rates were 25% for Virginians and 23% for out-of-state applicants, against 23% and 9% in Early Action, but UVA says it maintains a consistent review throughout the process, so no plan carries an advantage on its own; the gap reflects who applies in each round. In the view of Oriel Admissions, Early Decision makes sense only for a student certain that UVA is the first choice, and Early Action is the better early option for everyone else. Regular Decision offers include deferred applicants, so a Regular Decision rate is not comparable with the early rounds. Our UVA Early Decision guide breaks down each round.
How Does UVA Compare to Other Selective Schools?
| School | Admit rate | Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| UVA (out-of-state) | 10% (5,970 of 62,152) | Class of 2030 |
| UVA (Virginia) | 22% (4,317 of 19,966) | Class of 2030 |
| Georgia Tech (non-Georgia) | 9% | Fall 2026 |
| UNC Chapel Hill (nonresident) | 9.6% | Fall 2025 |
| Tufts | 10% of more than 36,000 | Class of 2030 |
| WashU | 12% (4,057 of 33,214) | Class of 2030 |
| USC | 12.6% (10,006 of 79,331) | Fall 2026 |
Sources: each university admissions office (latest published figures, read October 2026).
What GPA and Test Scores Do You Need for UVA?
UVA is test optional for fall 2027 entry: applicants choose whether to share scores, and UVA superscores the scores it receives, using the best combination of sections and recalculating the ACT composite (UVA deadlines and instructions). UVA does not offer interviews and does not use previous contact as a factor in its review (UVA FAQs). Applicants to different UVA schools, such as Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Architecture and Nursing, are read in separate pools; UVA set 2024 first-year enrollment targets of 3,015 in Arts and Sciences, 725 in Engineering, 95 in Architecture, 75 in Nursing and 60 in Kinesiology. 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 2030, UVA offered 8,624 students a place on the waiting list, then made 328 offers from it by our calculation, 19 in Architecture on May 1, 260 in Arts and Sciences and Engineering on May 5, 14 on May 11 and 35 more announced on May 12, before closing the list on June 12 (UVA waiting list page; Notes from Peabody, May 2026 and June 2026). The high ED and EA fill rate leaves very few spots for the waitlist. UVA directs waitlisted students to upload updates in the applicant portal rather than emailing admission officers, so the general letter of continued interest playbook applies only where a school invites one. For complete data, see our waitlist rates comparison.
What Do the Class of 2030 Numbers Mean for Applicants?
The 82,118 applications were 27.4% more than the year before, by our calculation. For out-of-state families, a 10% offer rate places UVA in reach territory rather than match territory. In our experience, the choice of round matters less than the strength and fit of the file, because UVA reviews every plan the same way. On cost, UVA says it meets 100% of demonstrated need for all domestic students; for Virginians it covers at least tuition, fees, housing and food for families earning $50,000 or less, and at least tuition and fees for families earning $50,000 to $100,000 (UVA Student Financial Services).
For the full application strategy, including the out-of-state picture, see how to get into UVA.
Frequently Asked Questions
UVA made 10,287 offers from 82,118 applications, a 12.5% overall rate by our calculation. It offered admission to 22% of Virginia applicants and 10% of out-of-state applicants (UVA Office of Undergraduate Admission, March 2026).
10% for the Class of 2030: 5,970 offers from 62,152 out-of-state applications. Out-of-state applicants also received 1,423 of the 1,895 Regular Decision offers.
UVA says no plan carries an advantage, because it maintains a consistent review throughout the process. Early Decision offer rates were 25% for Virginians and 23% for out-of-state applicants, against 23% and 9% in Early Action, a gap that reflects who applies in each round. Early Decision is binding, so Oriel Admissions recommends it only for a student certain that UVA is the first choice.
For fall 2027 entry, Early Decision and Early Action are due November 1, 2026, with decisions by December 15 and February 15. Regular Decision is due January 5, 2027, with decisions by April 1. Teacher and counselor materials are due November 8 for the early rounds and January 10 for Regular Decision.
Yes, for fall 2027 entry. Applicants decide whether to share SAT or ACT scores, and UVA superscores the scores it receives, using the best combination of sections and recalculating the ACT composite.
No to both. UVA says it does not use previous contact as a factor in its review, and it does not offer interviews, although prospective students are welcome to attend an information session and tour.
Low. For the Class of 2030, UVA offered 8,624 students a place on the waiting list and made 328 offers from it by our calculation, 19 in Architecture on May 1, 260 in Arts and Sciences and Engineering on May 5, 14 on May 11 and 35 more announced on May 12, before closing the list on June 12.
Yes for domestic students. UVA says it meets 100% of demonstrated need for all domestic students. For Virginians, it covers at least tuition, fees, housing and food for families earning $50,000 or less, and at least tuition and fees for families earning $50,000 to $100,000.
Sources: UVA Office of Undergraduate Admission: 2025-2026 admission statistics (March 2026); Early Decision (December 2025); Early Action (January 2026); waiting list activity (May 2026); waiting list update (June 2026); UVA waiting list page; UVA deadlines and instructions; UVA FAQs; UVA application review process; UVA Student Financial Services.
About Oriel Admissions
Oriel Admissions is a Princeton-based college admissions consulting firm advising families nationwide on elite university admissions strategy. Our team pairs deep admissions expertise with a distinctive 360 approach spanning academic planning, extracurricular strategy, essays and application execution. To discuss your strategy, schedule a consultation.
