Is UVA test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1470 and hold it if it's under.

What is UVA's acceptance rate?

17% of applicants were admitted in 2024–25, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 9,909 of 58,951 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 91%, from 30,840 in 2015 to 58,951 in 2024, and UVA's admit rate went from 30% to 17%.

What ACT score do you need for UVA?

First-year students who sent an ACT scored 32–35, with a median of 33. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1410–1520 works out to about 31–34.

Why might UVA's SAT range look high?

Only 46% of enrolled students sent an SAT. The range counts only those who did, and students with lower scores tend to hold theirs back.

Does applying early decision help at UVA?

28% of early decision applicants were admitted (1,245 of 4,461), against 17% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at UVA?

242 of the 6,759 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 3.6%, per the Common Data Set 2024–25.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for UVA? (Middle 50%: 1410–1520)

First-year students at UVA who sent an SAT scored 1410–1520, with a median of 1470 (Common Data Set 2024–25). UVA admits 17% of applicants and is test optional.

University of Virginia-Main Campus · Charlottesville, VA

Where your score lands at UVA

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1410–1520, median 1470

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median Fewer than half sent a score, so the range runs high

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier UVA is for you and whether to send your score.

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UVA by the numbers

Admit rate: 17%
Middle 50% SAT: 1410–1520
Median SAT: 1470
About on the ACT: 31–34
Sent an SAT: 46%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · UVA admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2024–25; admit rate from it or IPEDS

UVA admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 91%, from 30,840 in 2015 to 58,951 in 2024, and UVA's admit rate went from 30% to 17%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	58,951	9,909	17%
2023	56,528	9,533	17%
2022	50,926	9,503	19%
2021	47,971	9,951	21%
2020	40,879	9,230	23%
2019	40,839	9,778	24%
2018	37,182	9,828	26%
2017	36,779	10,058	27%
2016	32,377	9,668	30%
2015	30,840	9,186	30%

In fall 2024, 3,961 of the 9,909 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at UVA

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1360Far reachHold
1360–1460ReachHold
1470 and upReachSend

1250135014501550

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

UVA SAT sections, ACT and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	710	750	780
SAT Reading and Writing	700	730	760
SAT total	1410	1470	1520
ACT composite	32	33	35

Of enrolled first-year students, 46% sent an SAT. Common Data Set 2024–25.

Top 10% of their class: 84%; of new students who reported a rank

UVA early decision and waitlist

Early decision

1,245 of 4,461 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision28%
All applicants17%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

10,470 applicants were offered a spot, 6,759 took it, and 242 were admitted from it.

3.6%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2024–25.

UVA cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $21,565; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 96%
Median earnings: $86,863; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 19,242

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like UVA

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

More colleges in Virginia

Every college for an SAT of1410 1470 1520

Sources

UVA Common Data Set 2024–25
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
UVA admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
UVA website
University of Virginia-Main Campus

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1410–1520, and the median was 1470. At 1470 or higher you're above half of them. UVA admits 17% of applicants, so a top score keeps you in the running but doesn't decide it.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$