UVA SAT & ACT Score Requirements: What You Need to Get In (2026)

Last Updated: May 6, 2026

Key Takeaways

• UVA's admitted-student SAT middle 50 is 1410 to 1520 and ACT middle 50 is 32 to 34. Roughly 90 percent of enrolled freshmen carry a 4.0 GPA or higher.
• UVA is test-optional through the Fall 2026 cycle. Applicants without scores are not disadvantaged in the review.
• UVA super-scores both the SAT and the ACT and considers the best combination of section scores across all dates without recalculation.
• The Class of 2029 overall admit rate was approximately 15.7 percent (10,086 admits from 64,457 applications), but the residency split is sharp: about 23 percent for Virginia residents and 12.5 percent for out-of-state.
• AccessUVA meets 100 percent of demonstrated need for both Virginia and out-of-state students. Virginia families earning under $100,000 with assets under $100,000 receive grants and scholarships covering at least full tuition and fees; families under $50,000 receive aid covering tuition, fees, room, and board.

What SAT or ACT Score Do You Need for UVA?

UVA does not publish a competitive minimum and uses a holistic review. What it does publish, through its admission statistics, are middle 50 percent ranges for the most recent admitted submitter pool:

Half of UVA's admitted submitters scored inside 1410 to 1520 on the SAT and 32 to 34 on the ACT. Practical target: aim for a 1465 SAT or a 33 ACT to land in the middle of the admitted pool. A 1410 or 32 keeps you competitive at the 25th percentile. A 1520 or 34 puts you above three-quarters of admits and into Echols Scholar territory for College admits.

One important caveat: these middle 50 ranges include only students who chose to submit SAT or ACT scores. UVA was test-optional for the Class of 2029, and a meaningful share of admits applied without scores. Test-optional applicants are not disadvantaged.

UVA Is Test-Optional Through Fall 2026

UVA continues its test-optional policy for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. From the UVA Office of Undergraduate Admission:

"You'll have the choice of sharing or not sharing results from the SAT and ACT. Whichever path you choose, your application will be considered with care and respect, and you won't be disadvantaged because of the choice you've made."

• You choose whether to submit scores. Test-optional applies to all first-year applicants for the Fall 2026 cycle.
• Self-reporting is required. Applicants must self-report scores on the application; UVA does not require official score reports during the application phase.
• You can change your decision. The deadline to switch from "with scores" to "without scores" or vice versa is 5 PM Eastern on November 22 for ED and EA, or January 15 for RD. Contact admissions by email to make the switch.
• No SAT or ACT preference. If you submit both, UVA will consider whichever super-score is most competitive in your file.

If your scores are at or above the admitted middle 50 (1410+ SAT or 32+ ACT), submit. If your scores are between roughly 1320 and 1400 SAT (or 29 and 31 ACT), the call is closer; weigh the rest of your file. Below roughly a 1320 SAT or 29 ACT, go test-optional.

UVA Super-Scores Both the SAT and the ACT

UVA uses a generous, applicant-friendly super-scoring policy. From the official policy:

"Super-scoring has been a long-held practice at UVA. For applicants submitting test scores, we consider the best combination of section scores without recalculation."

• SAT super-score: Highest Reading and Writing across dates plus highest Math across dates form a new total.
• ACT super-score: Highest section scores across dates form a new composite, including English, Math, Reading, and Science.
• Submit all sittings. UVA encourages submitting all scores knowing that sections will be recombined for the best possible result. There is no penalty for sending lower individual sittings.
• You can submit both tests. UVA will use whichever super-score is most competitive.

Because super-scoring is automatic and there is no penalty for multiple sittings, the standard two- or three-test strategy (junior spring, senior fall, optional September retake) works well at UVA.

The In-State vs Out-of-State Split

UVA is the public flagship of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and state residency is one of the most consequential factors in the admission decision. The Class of 2029 numbers tell the story:

UVA targets a class composition of roughly two-thirds Virginia residents and one-third out-of-state, similar to the structure at North Carolina and Michigan. The residency split shows up in admit rates by round:

• Early Decision in-state: approximately 29.5 percent admit rate (~825 admits from ~2,795 applicants).
• Early Decision out-of-state: approximately 21 percent admit rate (~457 admits from ~2,176 applicants).
• Regular Decision overall: approximately 11.7 percent admit rate (~2,058 admits from ~17,601 applicants).

For Virginia residents, ED is the strongest single lever. For out-of-state applicants, both ED and Early Action carry real advantages but the absolute admit rate stays meaningfully below the in-state figure.

UVA Application Deadlines: ED, EA, and RD

UVA offers three first-year application timelines: binding Early Decision, non-binding Early Action, and Regular Decision.

Two strategic notes:

• ED is binding. Admitted ED applicants must withdraw all other college applications and enroll. ED carries the highest admit rate at UVA and is the strongest single move for applicants who have UVA as a clear first choice.
• EA is non-binding and non-restrictive. You can apply EA to UVA and Early Decision elsewhere. EA is required for Jefferson Scholars Foundation full-tuition merit consideration, which is one of the most prestigious public-university scholarships in the country.

UVA Schools and the Major Choice

UVA admits to one of seven undergraduate schools or programs, with most first-year applicants going to the College of Arts and Sciences. The application asks you to choose at submission, and admission is to that specific school:

• College of Arts and Sciences: Largest school. Broad liberal arts and sciences foundation.
• School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS): Strong on math and science rigor; tighter math sub-score expectations.
• McIntire School of Commerce: Direct admit pathway available for some applicants; many enter via internal transfer from the College after sophomore year.
• School of Architecture: Architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture, and architectural history. Portfolio reviewed.
• School of Education and Human Development (Curry): Education-focused tracks plus kinesiology and human development.
• School of Nursing: Direct-admit BSN with clinical pathway.
• Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy: Direct-admit Bachelor of Public Policy track for first-year admits with strong policy or civic engagement.

For applicants targeting McIntire (Commerce), the most common path is to apply to the College and transfer to McIntire internally during sophomore year. Direct McIntire admission for first-years is selective and limited; most applicants enter Commerce via internal transfer.

Echols, Rodman, and Jefferson Scholars

UVA offers several distinctive academic and merit programs:

• Echols Scholars Program: Selected at the time of admission for the top 7 to 8 percent of College of Arts and Sciences admits. Echols Scholars receive academic flexibility (no general education requirements), priority registration, and access to specialized courses. No separate application.
• Rodman Scholars Program: The Engineering equivalent of Echols. Selected for top SEAS admits; offers research opportunities, priority registration, and specialized academic advising.
• Jefferson Scholars Foundation: The most prestigious merit award at UVA. Covers full tuition, fees, room, board, and a stipend, plus enrichment funding for travel and research. Approximately 30 to 40 awarded annually. Competitive nomination process; applicants must apply through their high school by the November 1 EA deadline.
• College Science Scholars and other named programs: Smaller selective tracks within specific disciplines, with their own selection criteria and application timelines.

For applicants in the upper end of the admit pool (1500+ SAT or 34+ ACT, near-perfect GPA, strong leadership), Echols and Rodman invitations are common. Jefferson Scholar nomination is meaningfully harder and depends in part on high school nomination practices.

AccessUVA: Need-Based Aid for Virginia Families

UVA's financial aid program (AccessUVA) is unusually generous, especially for Virginia residents:

• Virginia families with annual income under $50,000: Grants and scholarships cover full tuition, fees, housing, and dining.
• Virginia families with income under $100,000 (with assets under $100,000): Grants and scholarships cover at least full tuition and required fees.
• Virginia families with income under $150,000: At least $2,000 in need-based grants.
• All Virginia and out-of-state students: UVA meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need (must apply by the March 1 financial aid deadline).
• No-loan or low-loan packaging. Loans are minimized and replaced with grant aid where demonstrated need exceeds typical thresholds.

For Virginia residents in the under-$100K income band, UVA combined with state aid (Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant) plus federal Pell Grant produces one of the strongest in-state value plays at any flagship public. The combination of need-blind admission for U.S. applicants and 100 percent need met makes UVA financially safe for ED applicants from qualifying families.

UVA GPA Requirements and Course Rigor

UVA does not publish an absolute GPA minimum. The admit pool is academically dense:

• About 90 percent of enrolled freshmen carry a 4.0 GPA or higher (most reported on a weighted scale).
• About 7 percent are between 3.75 and 3.99.
• Less than 3 percent of enrolled freshmen have a GPA below 3.74.

UVA expects four years of English, four years of math (through pre-calculus minimum, calculus strongly preferred for SEAS and McIntire applicants), three to four years of laboratory science (biology, chemistry, physics), three to four years of social science, and two to three years of foreign language. AP, IB, dual enrollment, or honors coursework at the maximum level your school offers is essentially universal among admits.

What UVA Weighs Beyond Test Scores

UVA's holistic review reads the full file. In rough order of weight:

1. Academic record. Course rigor, GPA, and trajectory. UVA places unusual weight on the strength of curriculum relative to what your school offers.
2. Standardized test scores (when submitted). Used to corroborate the academic file. Test-optional applicants are not disadvantaged.
3. Personal statement and supplemental essays. UVA's school-specific supplements ask why this UVA school and what intellectual interests fit. Specific responses outperform generic ones.
4. Recommendations. UVA requires a counselor letter and one or two teacher letters depending on the school.
5. Activities, leadership, and impact. UVA looks for genuine engagement, depth, and clear narrative coherence.
6. State residency. Heavily weighted because of UVA's public mission. Virginia residents face a meaningfully more accessible review.

UVA does not require interviews. Demonstrated interest is not separately weighted, but applying ED or EA, attending information sessions, and writing strong school-specific responses register implicitly.

A Realistic Prep Plan for UVA-Level Scores

If UVA is your target and your current practice SAT is 1320 or ACT is 29, here is a workable pathway to the admit middle 50:

1. Sophomore spring to junior summer. Take one timed official Bluebook SAT and one ACT. Pick whichever scores higher in percentile, not raw points.
2. Junior fall. Begin structured prep, three to four hours per week, with full timed tests every two weeks. UVA super-scores, so identify your weakest section and concentrate prep there. Math is the priority for SEAS, McIntire, and competitive STEM applicants.
3. Junior spring. First official sitting. Lock in your strongest section. Aim for at least the 25th percentile of admits (1410 SAT or 32 ACT) by this point.
4. Summer before senior year. Heavy prep window. Push toward the median (1465 SAT or 33 ACT). Out-of-state and SEAS applicants should target 1500+ SAT or 34 ACT for stronger fit.
5. September of senior year. Second sitting. Scores from August or October administrations arrive in time for the November 1 ED or EA deadline.

Score targets to anchor on: 1410 SAT or 32 ACT for the admitted 25th percentile, 1465 SAT or 33 ACT for the all-university admitted middle, 1480+ SAT or 33+ ACT for competitive out-of-state admission, and 1520+ SAT or 34+ ACT for Echols Scholar and Jefferson Scholar consideration.

For adaptive practice, try the Larry Learns SAT platform or the Larry Learns ACT platform. If you are still deciding which test fits you, see our SAT vs ACT guide, and use the SAT score calculator to convert raw practice scores. For section-specific prep, our SAT math topics and ACT math topics guides break down what each test covers.

Frequently Asked Questions About UVA SAT and ACT Scores

What is the average SAT score for UVA?

Approximately 1465 (super-scored), based on a published admitted middle 50 of 1410 to 1520. The 25th percentile is 1410 and the 75th percentile is 1520. SEAS and McIntire admits trend toward the upper end of the range.

What is the average ACT score for UVA?

Approximately 33 composite (super-scored), with a published admitted middle 50 of 32 to 34. UVA super-scores the ACT, including the Science section.

What are UVA's SAT requirements?

UVA is test-optional through the Fall 2026 admissions cycle, so there are no SAT requirements. Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50 SAT range is 1410 to 1520. UVA super-scores the SAT and accepts self-reported scores at the application stage.

What are UVA's ACT requirements?

UVA is test-optional. Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50 ACT composite is 32 to 34. UVA super-scores the ACT and uses the best section scores across all dates without recalculation.

Is UVA test-optional?

Yes, through the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. UVA explicitly states that applicants without scores will not be disadvantaged. Self-reported scores are accepted; the deadline to switch your test-optional decision is 5 PM Eastern on November 22 for ED/EA or January 15 for RD.

Does UVA super-score the SAT and ACT?

Yes, both. Super-scoring has been a long-held practice at UVA. The university uses the best combination of section scores across all your test dates, without recalculation. Multiple sittings strictly help, and there is no penalty for sending all sittings.

What GPA do I need for UVA?

UVA does not publish a strict GPA minimum. About 90 percent of enrolled freshmen carry a 4.0 GPA or higher (most weighted), 7 percent are between 3.75 and 3.99, and less than 3 percent have a GPA below 3.74. Course rigor (AP, IB, honors) at the maximum level your school offers is essentially universal among admits.

What is UVA's acceptance rate?

The Class of 2029 acceptance rate was approximately 15.7 percent (10,086 admits from 64,457 applications). The residency split is sharp: about 23 percent for Virginia residents and 12.5 percent for out-of-state applicants. Early Decision admit rates run higher (29.5 percent in-state, 21 percent out-of-state).

Is it easier to get into UVA as a Virginia resident?

Yes, materially. UVA is the public flagship of Virginia and targets approximately two-thirds in-state enrollment. Virginia residents are admitted at roughly 23 percent versus 12.5 percent for out-of-state applicants. Virginia residents also stack AccessUVA need-based aid with the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant and federal Pell, producing one of the best in-state value plays nationally.

What are the UVA application deadlines?

Early Decision (binding) is November 1 with decisions in mid-December. Early Action (non-binding) is November 1 with decisions in mid-February. Regular Decision is January 5 with decisions in late March. Financial aid priority deadline is March 1 for both Virginia and out-of-state applicants.

Does UVA offer Early Decision?

Yes. UVA offers binding Early Decision (November 1, mid-December decisions) alongside non-binding Early Action (November 1, mid-February decisions). ED admits at the highest rate of any UVA round and is the strongest single lever for applicants who have UVA as a clear first choice.

What is AccessUVA?

UVA's need-based financial aid program. Virginia families earning under $50,000 receive full grant coverage of tuition, fees, room, and board. Families earning under $100,000 (with assets under $100,000) receive grants and scholarships covering at least full tuition and fees. Families under $150,000 receive at least $2,000 in need-based aid. UVA meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need for all in-state and out-of-state students who apply by the March 1 deadline.

What are the Echols and Jefferson Scholars programs?

The Echols Scholars Program selects approximately 7 to 8 percent of College of Arts and Sciences admits at the time of admission. Echols Scholars receive academic flexibility (no general education requirements), priority registration, and specialized programming. The Rodman Scholars Program is the SEAS equivalent. The Jefferson Scholars Foundation is UVA's most prestigious merit award, covering full cost of attendance plus enrichment funding; approximately 30 to 40 awarded per year, with a competitive nomination process gated by the November 1 EA deadline.

Does UVA admit by school?

Yes. UVA admits to one of seven undergraduate schools or programs: the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the McIntire School of Commerce (limited direct first-year admission), the School of Architecture, the School of Education and Human Development, the School of Nursing, and the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. The application asks you to choose at submission. Most first-year applicants enter the College and can transfer internally to other schools after sophomore year.

How does UVA compare to other public Ivies?

UVA's admitted SAT range (1410 to 1520) sits roughly in line with UNC Chapel Hill and slightly above William & Mary among Virginia and Carolina publics. UVA is meaningfully more accessible than UCLA (8 to 9 percent admit) and on par with Michigan in selectivity. Among Public Ivies, UVA pairs strong academics with one of the most generous in-state aid packages, anchored by AccessUVA.