UVA SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 13, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
1410 to 1540
Half of enrolled students at UVA scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1540, and one quarter below 1410.
- Acceptance rate
- 16.8%
- ACT range
- 32 to 35
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Charlottesville, VA
- Undergraduates
- 17,395
- School type
- Public university
UVA SAT Scores and Admissions
UVA admitted about 17 percent of applicants and enrolled students whose SAT scores ran 1410 to 1540 in the middle 50 percent. Like several top public flagships, UVA admits a larger share of in state students, so Virginia residents face better odds than the 17 percent overall rate while out of state admission is more competitive. Your residency shapes how you should read the numbers on this page.
UVA is a public university in Charlottesville with about 17,000 undergraduates and a strong academic reputation across the liberal arts, business, and engineering, paired with one of the best graduation and outcome records among public universities. It was test optional in the most recent federal data, so its enrolled scores reflect submitters. The 130 point band leaves room for a score in the low 1400s to be competitive, particularly in state. Out of state applicants should aim toward the top of the band. Our score plans can help you target a score that fits your residency.
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UVA SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at UVA, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 700 | 760 |
| Math | 710 | 780 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 1410 | 1540 |
Where this sits on the 400 to 1600 scale
1410 to 1540
UVA Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into UVA, measured against real enrolled student data instead of a made up percentage.
No SAT score yet? Take the diagnostic and get a real number in about 25 minutes.
How this calculator works: your SAT is compared with UVA's reported middle 50 percent range from the federal College Scorecard, your GPA is compared with the range admitted students at similarly selective schools typically present, and both are weighed against the school's real acceptance rate. We do not print a made up percent chance. No calculator can see your essays, your course rigor, or your recommendations, and at selective schools those decide close calls. Treat this as an honest read of your academic position, not a prediction.
Chances of Getting Into UVA by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at UVA, based on its reported 1410 to 1540 middle 50 percent range. Find the row closest to your score, or use the calculator above for a read on your exact numbers. No made up percentages: each verdict is your real position in the enrolled class.
| SAT score | Where it lands | The honest read |
|---|---|---|
| 1260 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 1260 is well below the 1410 to 1540 range at UVA. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 1360 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 1360 falls just short of UVA's 25th percentile of 1410. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1480 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1480 sits inside the 1410 to 1540 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1540 | At the 75th percentile | A 1540 matches the 75th percentile at UVA, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1570 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1570 beats the 75th percentile at UVA. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to UVA's Range
The two targets that matter here are 1410, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1540, the score that puts you in the top quarter. Here is the size of the jump from common starting points, with the step by step plan for each one.
| Starting score | To reach 1410 | To reach 1540 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | +410 points | +540 points | All score plans |
| 1100 | +310 points | +440 points | All score plans |
| 1200 | +210 points | +340 points | All score plans |
| 1300 | +110 points | +240 points | 1300 to 1600 plan |
| 1400 | +10 points | +140 points | 1400 to 1600 plan |
| 1500 | Already there | +40 points | 1500 to 1600 plan |
Not sure where you stand today? The diagnostic gives you a real starting score and a section breakdown in one sitting, so the gap you plan around is your actual gap.
What SAT Score Do You Need for UVA?
How you read UVA's 1410 to 1540 band depends on residency. Below 1410 you are under the enrolled 25th percentile, which is workable for a strong in state file but a real disadvantage out of state. From 1410 to 1540 you are inside the enrolled range. Above 1540 your score is a genuine strength, which matters most for the competitive out of state pool.
Enrolled ACT scores ran 32 to 35. Keep two things in mind. First, these are enrolled submitters, so the admitted range runs lower, especially among test optional applicants. Second, the in state tilt means out of state admission is tougher than 17 percent, so non residents should treat the upper half of the band as their real target. In state applicants have more flexibility, but a score in range still strengthens the file at a school this selective.
UVA GPA Requirements
UVA expects a strong academic record in rigorous courses, and for a selective public flagship, GPA and course rigor carry real weight, particularly for the competitive out of state pool. There is no fixed cutoff, but competitive applicants typically present mostly A grades in a demanding schedule of honors, AP, or IB courses. In state applicants have somewhat more room given the residency tilt, but strong academics remain essential.
In concrete terms, that usually means an unweighted GPA in the 3.8 to 4.0 range, earned across a demanding schedule. Because UVA is test optional, a strong GPA can carry meaningful weight, and a solid score paired with a rigorous transcript is a realistic competitive profile, especially in state. The diagnostic shows you where your score really stands, section by section, before you plan your prep.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at UVA typically present a GPA in the 3.8 to 4.0 range on an unweighted 4.0 scale. A mostly A record across a demanding schedule is the baseline that keeps an application in the running.
If your GPA sits at or below this range, a strong SAT score is the fastest way to stay competitive, since grades are hard to move late in high school. See where your SAT score really stands and build the plan around the gap.
These are unweighted grades on a 4.0 scale. A school that weights GPA or reports a different scale will show a higher number.
UVA SAT Testing Policy
UVA considered scores without requiring them (test optional) in the most recent federal data. Testing policies change year to year, so confirm the current 2026-2027policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit scores.
Should you submit your score?
Submit your score when it is at or above 1475, the middle of UVA's range. If you are below 1410, the 25th percentile, consider holding your score and letting your grades, essays, and activities carry the application.
Last verified July 13, 2026
Should You Submit Your SAT Score to UVA?
UVA was test optional in the most recent federal data, which turns your score into a strategic choice. The folk theory that applying without scores signals weakness is overstated, but the math of what helps is simple: a score that lands inside or above the admitted range works for you, and a score well below it does not.
1480+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
1410 to 1480
Lean submit
Inside the range, most counselors say send it: you are within the profile of enrolled students, and holding it back leaves the reader guessing.
Below 1410
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at UVA. Apply without it, or better, close the gap first. Scores can still matter for merit scholarships elsewhere on your list.
Policy as reported for the 2024-2025 cycle. We verified it against UVA's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
UVA ACT Scores: Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
The middle 50 percent of enrolled students at UVA scored between 32 and 35 on the ACT, alongside the 1410 to 1540 SAT range. Like nearly every US college, UVA states no preference between the two tests. The right move is to take whichever test converts higher for you, using the official concordance below, and send that one.
| ACT composite | SAT equivalent |
|---|---|
| 35 | 1530 to 1560 |
| 34 | 1490 to 1520 |
| 33 | 1450 to 1480 |
| 32 | 1420 to 1440 |
| 31 | 1390 to 1410 |
SAT equivalents from the official College Board and ACT concordance tables. Highlighted rows fall inside UVA's ACT middle 50 percent.
How UVA Reviews SAT Scores
UVA reviews applications with real attention to academic rigor, essays, character, and residency. At a 17 percent overall admit rate, in state applicants face better odds and out of state applicants face a tougher bar. The SAT is one meaningful factor whose weight depends on where you live and how the rest of your file looks.
The practical approach is to understand your residency situation, then target a score that fits it: solidly in range for in state applicants, toward the top of the band for the competitive out of state pool. Pair your score with a rigorous transcript and essays that show a genuine reason for choosing UVA, and use the test optional policy to your advantage if your score does not support your file.
How to Get Into UVA
Aim for 1540 or higher if you want your SAT to clear UVA's 75th percentile, which matters most for out of state applicants facing tougher odds. If you are starting in the high 1300s, the gap is reachable with focused work on your weaker section. Our 1350 to 1550 score plan targets this band with a week by week structure. The diagnostic gives you a real score and a section breakdown in one sitting. Because UVA's out of state pool is competitive, non residents should aim toward the top of the band, while in state applicants can treat a score in the middle as solid support for a strong overall file. Point your prep at the section costing you the most points, and give math extra attention if you are targeting engineering or a quantitative program.
How Hard Is It to Get Into UVA?
UVA admits about 168 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 17,395. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 832 of every 1,000 people who apply, the students who get in cluster at the top of every measurable scale.
For perspective against the country as a whole: UVA's 25th percentile score of 1410 already beats roughly 94% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1540 sits around the 99th percentile. A score that feels middling on this page is an excellent score almost anywhere else, which is worth remembering when you build the rest of your list.
Colleges Similar to UVA: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside UVA, ordered by acceptance rate. Odds are compared on acceptance rate first, because a school with a lower SAT average can still be far harder to get into.
| School | SAT middle 50 percent | Acceptance rate | Odds vs UVA |
|---|---|---|---|
| UVA | 1410 to 1540 | 16.8% | This page |
| Duke | 1500 to 1570 | 5.7% | Harder to get into than UVASAT about 60 higher |
| Vanderbilt | 1500 to 1570 | 5.9% | Harder to get into than UVASAT about 60 higher |
| Cornell | 1500 to 1570 | 8.8% | Harder to get into than UVASAT about 60 higher |
| Boston University | 1420 to 1530 | 11.1% | Harder to get into than UVAsimilar SAT range |
| Washington University in St Louis | 1500 to 1570 | 12.1% | Harder to get into than UVASAT about 60 higher |
| Georgetown (DC) | 1390 to 1550 | 12.9% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
How Recent Are These UVA SAT Scores?
Every score, rate, and enrollment figure on this page comes from the US Department of Education College Scorecard, 2024-2025 release, the same federal dataset colleges report into. Testing policy reflects the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. This page was last reviewed July 13, 2026.
Score ranges quoted around the web for UVA disagree with each other more than you would expect, usually because a site is quoting an older class or an unlabeled estimate. We publish the reported number, label the vintage, and update when the source updates. We also cross checked UVA's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
UVA SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into UVA?
UVA's middle 50 percent SAT range is 1410 to 1540. Aim for at least 1410 to be competitive, and 1540 or higher to be a strong applicant. There is no hard cutoff, but a score in or above this range keeps your application in contention.
Is a 1410 a good SAT score for UVA?
A 1410 sits at UVA's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 1410 to 1540. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1540 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at UVA?
UVA does not report a single composite average in the federal data, so the middle 50 percent range is the most precise figure available: enrolled students scored between 1410 and 1540.
Does UVA require SAT scores?
No. UVA was test optional in the most recent federal data, so you can apply without SAT scores. Confirm the current 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit.
Is UVA test optional for 2026-2027?
UVA was test optional in the most recent federal data, meaning you could apply without scores. Policies change year to year, so verify the 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site.
What ACT score do you need for UVA?
UVA's middle 50 percent ACT range is 32 to 35. Aim for at least 32 to be competitive and 35 or higher to be a strong applicant. A strong ACT can stand in for the SAT at UVA.
What GPA do you need to get into UVA?
Admitted students at UVA typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.8 to 4.0 range on the 4.0 scale, based on schools with a comparable acceptance rate. Grades earned in rigorous courses matter as much as the number itself, and a strong SAT score is the fastest way to offset a GPA at the lower edge of that range.
What is UVA's acceptance rate?
UVA admits about 16.8% of applicants, which makes it highly selective. A strong SAT score helps your application stand out in a pool this competitive.
What are my chances of getting into UVA?
UVA admits about 16.8% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 1410 to 1540 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.8 to 4.0. A score above 1540 puts you in the strongest quarter of the class on testing. Use the admissions calculator on this page to check your own SAT and GPA against UVA's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for UVA?
Focus your prep on the section costing you the most points, then follow a study plan built for your target score range. Cheetah Prep has step by step score plans for specific point jumps and unlimited practice questions with worked solutions.
Does UVA superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and UVA does not report this in the federal data. Check the school's admissions site for its current superscore policy, which tells you whether it combines your best section scores across test dates.
About this page: written and reviewed by the Cheetah Prep team. Last reviewed July 13, 2026.
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