Our Financial Aid Commitment to You

You'll get grants and scholarships to cover the amount of full on-Grounds tuition as well as comprehensive, University, and school fees for up to eight semesters for undergraduate students:

• who are eligible for in-state tuition privileges
• who are eligible to apply for federal and institutional financial aid
• who have total family income less than $100,000 and have other assets less than $100,000
• who are attempting their first bachelor’s degree (no second degree, Graduate students, Post-Bac Pre-Med, or certificate programs)

You'll get grants and scholarships to cover the amount of full on-Grounds tuition, housing, and food, as well as comprehensive, University, and school fees for up to eight semesters for undergraduate students:

• who are eligible for in-state tuition
• who are eligible to apply for federal and institutional financial aid
• who have total family income less than $50,000 and have other assets less than $100,000
• who are attempting their first bachelor’s degree (no second degree, Graduate students, Post-Bac Pre-Med, or certificate programs)

The University will provide a $2000 Cornerstone need-based grant for up to eight semesters for UVA undergraduate students: 

• who are eligible for in-state tuition privileges
• who are eligible to apply for federal and institutional financial aid 
• who have not received at least $2000 in need-based grants
• who are enrolled full-time
• who have total family income less than $150,000 and have other assets less than $150,000
• who are attempting their first bachelor’s degree (no second degree, Graduate students, Post-Bac Pre-Med, or certificate programs)

Tuition and fees are determined by the Board of Visitors and are based on the student’s school of enrollment and year in school. Fees are typically comprised of the comprehensive fee, the University Activity fee, and the student’s school fee. The housing amount is based on a weighted average of housing costs at the University for the specific offer year; depending on where a student chooses to live, their actual costs may be greater or less than the Housing amount listed on the cost of attendance webpage. The food amount is based on the All Access & Annual Plan from UVA Dining, whether or not the student is taking a meal plan for the year. All specific amounts are available in the student’s cost of attendance.

We consider all sources of funding available to the student to determine eligibility. For example, if you have a Federal Pell Grant, a Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program Grant, a scholarship from the University, etc., these resources are totaled and applied toward the portion of your grant that would meet the new commitment to tuition and fees (or tuition, fees, housing, and food) for in-state undergraduate students. If there is a gap, then we'll cover the gap as part of the AccessUVA program.

You must complete the Free Application of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile. You must meet all eligibility requirements for need-based financial aid including satisfactory academic progress for returning students.

You are eligible for eight semesters of enrollment. If you attend beyond eight semesters, we'll consider you for other types of aid at the University, but not for the $50K/$100K commitment.

If you are considered out-of-state for tuition purposes when you enter UVA and later become eligible for in-state tuition privileges, your semesters when you were out-of-state are counted as part of your eight semesters.

We revies information from the FAFSA and the CSS Profile in addition to income tax forms and other documents we might require. We consider all sources of taxable and untaxable income from the parents. We determine assets by total net worth including cash, savings/checking, investments, real estate and business net worth, but not any equity in or market value of the primary home or qualified retirement accounts.

Yes, it's possible. We determine eligibility on a year-by-year basis, and your eligibility can change depending on your family’s financial circumstances. For instance, if your income is too high to qualify in Year Two but is in the eligible range in Year Three, then you would not be eligible for Year Two but would be eligible for Year Three. It’s extremely important to note that if you become ineligible for the full cost of tuition and fees (or tuition, fees, housing, and food), you will be still considered for all other types of aid at the University, including state and institutional grants.

Also, you must apply by the March 1st deadline each year to be eligible for this commitment. This piece is really important, and we'll send out reminders to all undergraduate students, starting in late November or early December, reminding you to complete your financial aid application by March 1st.

Each year, we'll determine your eligibility and the funding you qualify for under the AccessUVA program. If there is a gap and you are eligible for additional funds, you'll see either “AccessUVA 3” or “AccessUVA 4” on the offer letter. If there isn’t a gap, then you are already receiving an amount equal to or greater than the promised covered costs.

Yes, it might. We determine your offer based on information we have at the time of the offering. If your status changes or if you receive additional resources, such as outside scholarships, at any time, we'll review your eligibility and make any necessary changes.

Any benefit you receive that is specifically designated for tuition, fees, housing, or food will reduce the University’s commitment to the full on-Grounds tuition, fees, housing, and food total.

If your status for tuition purposes changes from in-state to out-of-state, you may no longer be eligible for the full amount of tuition and fees. In such cases, because you will be charged out-of-state tuition, which is substantially higher than in-state tuition, SFS will still review your application to determine your eligibility under the AccessUVA program and will meet that full eligibility.

Yes. As long as you are enrolled in at least 6 hours for both the fall and spring terms, you will be eligible.

Your eligibility will be reviewed each academic year in which you enroll. If you take a semester or a year away, we'll determine your eligibility again upon your return to the University.

Importantly, any semester in which you enjoyed the benefits of these changes but withdrew before the semester was completed will count towards your 8 semesters of benefits.

Yes, fall or spring semester study abroad counts toward the 8 semester limit for these benefits, as the academic work you do during such a term counts toward fulfilment of degree requirements. Summer Session and January Term study abroad do not count against the limit.

If you study abroad, the AccessUVA commitment to cover full on-Grounds tuition, fees, housing, and food does not apply during your semester abroad. However, we'll still evaluate and determine your financial aid eligibility according to the standard AccessUVA policies. See our main study abroad page for financial aid examples for students studying abroad.