The University of Virginia is among the most selective public universities in the country. While they take less than 20% of freshman applicants, UVA remains one of the best transfer-friendly institutions you can find. In fact, the accept transfer applicants at close to double the rate of first-years. This blog will share the UVA transfer acceptance rate as well as other essential pieces of information like the UVA transfer deadline, the requirements/checklist for applicants, the UVA transfer decision date, and much more.

UVA Transfer Acceptance Rate

Below we present the most current available UVA transfer acceptance rate as well as historical data.

In the fall of 2022, UVA received 3,385 applications and accepted 31% of that group. This means that the UVA transfer acceptance rate is 31%.

In the fall of 2021, there were 3,364 transfer applicants and 1,208 individuals were accepted (36%). If we break this down by gender, the acceptance rates are as follows:

  • Male transfer applicants: 32%
  • Female transfer applicants: 41%

As with their first-year admissions, UVA favors Virginia residents in the process. In 2022, they accepted 45% of Virginia applicants and just 20% of non-residents.

When trying to get the complete picture on how difficult it is to transfer into a given school, it is important to also look at historical data. Many schools have wild fluctuations in transfer acceptance rate from year to year. Yet this is not the case at UVA which has been remarkably consistent over the last five years.

Historical transfer rates are as follows:

Year Acceptance Rate
2020 40%
2019 37%
2018 37%
2017 40%

 

The transfer rates for the fall of 2022 varied by academic programs. Here is a sampling of acceptance rates by program:

  • Arts & Sciences: 33%
  • Education: 46%
  • Engineering: 25%
  • Commerce: 19%
  • Public Policy: 12%
  • Nursing: 39%

UVA Transfer Deadline

The university offers a fall and spring transfer option. The UVA transfer deadline for fall applicants is March 1. Spring applicants apply by October 1.

UVA Transfer Requirements

The UVA transfer requirements are as follows:

  • UVA uses the Common App for Transfer
  • Final high school transcripts (noting graduation)
  • Official college transcripts
  • SAT/ACT (optional)
  • Recommendation letter (0 required, 1 optional)

Students who have the best chance to gain admission to UVA have done the following:

  • Are in the process of completing at least 24 semester credit hours.
  • Have completed their major’s stated Course Requirements.
  • Earned stellar grades in their first year at a community college or 4-year university.
  • Possess a strong high school record as well.
  • Have strong SAT/ACT and AP/IB results (even though they are test-optional)
  • Some pursue Guaranteed Transfer Admission from a VA community college.

UVA Transfer GPA

According to the university, the average transfer GPA is around 3.5. However, in our experience, a 3.75 or better puts candidates in a much better position. Out-of-state applicants will definitely want to earn as many A’s as possible on their transcripts.

UVA Transfer Writing Supplement

Reasons for Transfer

Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve. You can type directly into the box, or you can paste text from another source. (4,000 character max)

Personal Statement

The personal statement helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want admissions readers to know about you that is not reflected elsewhere in your application? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay using the prompt to inspire and structure your response (1,250 – 3,250 characters, approx. 250 – 650 words).

The prompt choices for this essay are the same as the Common App Essay Prompts.

UVA Transfer Decision Date

UVA transfer decisions are made by May 1 for those joining the university in the fall. Spring hopefuls are notified by November 30.

Final Thoughts – UVA University Transfer Acceptance Rate

If you apply for sophomore transfer, the committee will take a strong look at both your high school and college grades. If you apply for junior transfer, they will place far greater emphasis on your college performance.

UVA states that transfer for spring (fall application) is a bit more competitive than for the fall (spring application). The school states that they “receive over 300 applications for 35 spots in the College of Arts and Sciences” for spring transfer, but admit “35-40% of the transfer applicants who apply to start at UVA in the fall.”

If you are looking for information on how to apply to UVA as a first year student, you may find the following blogs to be of interest:

Those searching for application info on other institutions may wish to visit our Dataverse pages/blogs:

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).