We have prepared an FAQ to address the most common questions associated with comments from President Ryan's inaugural address.
The University will provide the amount of full on-Grounds tuition as well as comprehensive, University, and school fees 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 total family income less than $80,000 and have other assets less than $75,000
- who are attempting their first bachelor’s degree (NO second degree, Graduate students, Post Bac Pre Med, or certificate programs)
The University will provide the amount of full on-Grounds tuition as well as comprehensive, University, and school fees, housing, and dining for up to eight semesters for UVA 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 $30,000 and have other assets less than $75,000
- 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. Tuition and Fees 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 room 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 Room amount listed on the Cost of Attendance webpage. The Dining 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, or in the student’s financial aid information in SIS.
The University will consider all sources of funding available to the student when determining eligibility. For example, if you have a Federal Pell Grant, a Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program Grant, a scholarship from the University, etc. these resources will be totaled and applied toward the portion of your grant that would meet the new commitment to tuition and fees (or tuition, fees, room, and board) for in-state undergraduate students. If there is a gap, then the University will cover the gap as part of the AccessUVA program.
You must complete the Free Application of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile by the March 1 deadline date. Applications completed after the deadline will not be considered for these new commitments, but will be considered for need-based aid depending on the availability of funds. You must meet all eligibility requirements for need-based financial aid including satisfactory academic progress for returning students.
These additions to the AccessUVA program begin with the Fall Semester, 2019 and are only applicable for the fall and spring terms each year. The changes do not apply to January Term or Summer Session.
Consideration for eligibility is available for eight semesters of enrollment. If you attend beyond this time period, you will be considered for other types of aid at the University but not these new commitments for families with incomes less than $80,000 and $30,000.
If you are previously considered out-of-state for tuition purposes and are later in your career determined to be eligible for in-state tuition privileges, we will count your semesters when you were out-of-state as part of your eight semesters.
Income is determined by reviewing information supplied by the parents on the FAFSA and CSS/Profile in addition to income tax forms and other documents requested by Student Financial Services. All sources of taxable and untaxable income from the parents will be considered. Assets will be determined by total net worth including cash, savings/checking, investments, real estate and business net worth, but not the primary home or retirement accounts.
Yes. Eligibility is determined for each individual year, and 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 be ineligible for Year Two but 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, room, and board), you will be still considered for all other types of aid at the University, including state and institutional grants.
Student Financial Services determines the eligibility of a student and the amount the student qualifies for under the changes to AccessUVA. If there is a gap and the student is eligible for the additional funds, it will be reflected as either “AccessUVA 3” or “AccessUVA 4” on the offer letter. If there isn’t a gap, then the student is already receiving an amount equal to or greater than the amount of the new commitment.
Yes. Student Financial Services will determine a student’s initial offer based on information known at the time of offering. If a student’s status changes or if additional resources, such as outside scholarships, are offered at any time, Student Financial Services will revisit the initial determination of eligibility and make a new evaluation.
Any benefit received that is specifically designated for tuition, fees, housing, or dining will reduce the University’s commitment to the full on-Grounds tuition, fees, housing, and dining 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 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, your eligibility will be determined again upon your return to the University. 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 study abroad counts against your 8 semester limit for these benefits. 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 dining does not apply. However, your financial aid eligibility will still be evaluated and determined according to the standard AccessUVA policies.