About UVA
The University of Virginia is a proudly public institution, consistently ranked among the best universities in the United States for excellence and value. UVA serves the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation and the world by advancing knowledge and preparing students to be citizen leaders who are guided by empathy, integrity and truth.
The Bold Experiment Continues
The University of Virginia, founded in 1819, was the first of its kind. Many colleges speak of innovation, but how many can say their very founding was an innovation that became the model for modern universities around the world?
Thomas Jefferson’s revolutionary idea for higher education created, in his words, “something new under the sun,” designed to educate citizen leaders for a fledgling democracy.
Much like our nation, the University is a bold experiment that continues to evolve, challenging us to realize the best version of ourselves and contribute to the progress of society.
The Academical Village
At the heart of the University is the Academical Village, where students today still live in single rooms between the pavilions that Jefferson designed to be professors’ homes, all sharing the Lawn that is crowned at its end by the University’s first library – also known as The Rotunda.
The Academical Village was a purposeful design that brought physical shape to Jefferson’s ideal of an environment in which students and faculty could live and learn from one another.
Today, the spirit of collaboration and cross-disciplinary exchange remains fundamental to this place of constant inquiry where differing perspectives not only coexist, they co-create.
Excellence and Opportunity
As a public institution, the University of Virginia is responsible for delivering excellence and opportunity. UVA is committed to helping talented students pursue their dreams, regardless of their financial situations.
“Hoos First” is a University initiative that offers resources and support for students who are the first generation in their families to attend college. The cohort of first-generation students at UVA has more than doubled since 2015, growing from 9% to 19% in 2024.
We have expanded our AccessUVA financial aid program to increase the number of Virginia families eligible for significant need-based aid. The University will cover tuition and fees of students from Virginia families with household incomes of less than $100,000; for students from Virginia families with household incomes of less than $50,000, the University will cover tuition, fees, room and board.
We meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all in-state and out-of-state students who apply by the annual March 1 deadline. Financial assistance is provided through a combination of scholarships, grants, work-study and need-based loans; student loans are capped to minimize student debt. Two-thirds of Hoos graduate with no college debt.
Between our financial aid packages and world-class education with an industry-leading graduation rate, it’s no surprise UVA is ranked as a “best value” among our nation’s public universities and colleges.