Nearly 200 years ago, we were founded on a powerful idea: that the next great leaders, thinkers and innovators could come from all walks of life. We remain committed to this ideal, with a financial aid model that makes a top education affordable to all eligible students:
- We admit you based on your achievements and potential, not your ability to pay.
- We meet 100% of your financial need. Apply by the annual March 1st deadline, and we will meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need through scholarships, grants, work-study and need-based loans.
- We limit your debt. We limit need-based loans to an average of $4,500 per year for in-state students and $7,000 per year for out-of-state students.
Financial aid packages are made up of:
- Grants or scholarships that do not need to be paid back
- Work-study employment that provides a part-time job with the University
- Need-based loans that we limit to keep debt as low as possible
We customize your financial aid offer to reflect your family's financial situation. However, the following examples illustrate generally how the main components work together for in-state and out-of-state students at different income levels.
In the first example below, a hypothetical in-state student with $25,000 in household income receives $32,528 in grants, $3,000 from work-study employment, and $1,000 in low-interest loans. In the second example, an in-state student with $100,000 in household income receives $18,128 in grant money and $4,500 in loans. In both cases their total needs are met by these sources.
IN-STATE: AWARD YEAR 2023-2024
| TOTAL NEED | GRANTS (ALL SOURCES) | WORK-STUDY | LOANS (NEED-BASED) | UNMET NEED | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXAMPLE, $25,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME | $36,528 | $32,528 | $3,000 | $1,000 | $0 |
| EXAMPLE, $100,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME | $22,628 | $18,128 | $0 | $4,500 | $0 |
*Assumptions: Family of four, typical assets, one child in college, entering Arts and Sciences
As shown below, the program works similarly for out-of-state students, covering their higher tuition costs with a personalized mix of grants, work-study employment, and loans.
OUT-OF-STATE: AWARD YEAR 2023-2024
| TOTAL NEED | GRANTS (ALL SOURCES) | WORK-STUDY | LOANS (NEED-BASED) | UNMET NEED | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXAMPLE, $25,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME | $75,220 | $64.220 | $4,000 | $7,000 | $0 |
| EXAMPLE, $100,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME | $61,320 | $50,320 | $4,000 | $7,000 | $0 |
*Assumptions: Family of four, typical assets, one in college, entering Arts and Sciences, California resident
Please note that many factors can impact your financial aid eligibility. UVA also offers a limited variety of scholarships that are not based on financial need.
To get a more personalized sense for how much you might qualify for, use the MyinTuition college cost estimator.
In order to be considered for all forms of need-based aid, complete the following steps no later than March 1st. (Note that for Early Decision Applicants, we recommend completion by December 1st; and for Early Action Applicants, complete these steps by November 15th):
- Complete the CSS/PROFILE, available starting October 1st, at https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org, using school code 5820.
- Fill out your FAFSA available starting October 1st (starting in late December for the 2024-2025 academic year) at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid, using school code 003745. A Spanish-language version is available, as well.
- Access your Student Information System (SIS) account. Directions for accessing your SIS account will arrive by e-mail soon after you submit your application for admission.
- Watch for (and respond promptly to) emails from both The College Board's iDoc service and from Student Financial Services requesting additional information required to complete your financial aid offer.
- Check your SIS “To Do List” regularly and submit requested items promptly to avoid delays in processing your application.
- For more information and to apply for financial aid, visit Student Financial Services.
All eligible applicants who demonstrate financial need are eligible during all eight semesters (four years) of their undergraduate studies. Students who are awarded this aid may be first-years, returning students or transfer students. Get more details on eligibility.