University of Virginia-Main Campus
University of Virginia-Main Campus — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
What we think of University of Virginia-Main Campus
UVA has the highest graduation rate of any large public university in the country — 95.45%. That number is not a rounding difference. It is materially higher than Berkeley, Michigan, UNC, or UCLA, and it changes the effective ROI meaningfully because a school with a lower completion rate delivers a very different actual outcome to students who do not finish.
The value case rests on two pillars. First, in-state tuition is reasonable for VA residents. Second, AccessUVa — the university's financial aid program — covers 100% of demonstrated financial need and caps loan amounts for admitted students. That combination is unusual for a public university, and it materially closes the aid gap with elite private universities for lower and middle-income Virginia residents. Median earnings of $86,863 against a $21,565 average net price produce a 1-year payback and a 96/100 value score.
Program strengths run broad rather than deep in any one direction. The McIntire School of Commerce (undergraduate business) is competitive with Ross and Kenan-Flagler, the College of Arts and Sciences is strong across humanities and social sciences, and the School of Engineering and Applied Science is solid without being top-5. Cross-admit patterns with Duke, UNC, and William & Mary are common; the net price gap in UVA's favor versus Duke can exceed $30,000 over four years.
Bottom line: Virginia residents should treat UVA as a top choice for any major — the completion rate alone changes the risk math versus other publics. Out-of-state applicants pay closer to $40k net and should compare against in-state alternatives and elite privates with strong aid before deciding.
University of Virginia-Main Campus at a Glance
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville City and Albemarle County in Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson and contains his Academical Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its original governing Board of Visitors included three U.S. presidents: Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe, the latter as sitting president of the United States at the time of its foundation. As its first two rectors, presidents Jefferson an…
1819
207 years old
$11.1B
$11.1 billion ( FY 2025)
26,685
17,848 undergrad · 8,837 grad
3,265
1,135 acres
Identity
Is University of Virginia-Main Campus Worth It?
University of Virginia-Main Campus is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $21,565/year net price and $86,863 median earnings, graduates earn 4.0× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 1 year — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 95% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
Admission is competitive with a 17% acceptance rate, so applicants should have strong academic credentials.
Median student debt of $17,500 is manageable at just 20% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: University of Virginia-Main Campus delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of Virginia-Main Campus compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #5 of 5 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 100 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| #2 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #3 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | 100 | $12,116 | $102,772 |
| #4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 100 | $11,655 | $72,200 |
| #5 | University of Virginia-Main Campus | 96 | $21,565 | $86,863 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Virginia-Main Campus's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at University of Virginia-Main Campus
The highest-earning program at University of Virginia-Main Campus is Computer and Information Sciences, General at $85,800/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Biology, General at $27,400/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer and Information Sciences, General graduate from University of Virginia-Main Campus earns $85,800, while a Biology, General graduate earns $27,400. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates carry $16,500 in median debt vs. $19,500 for Biology, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $21,565/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $85,800 | $85,800 | $16,500 |
| Computer Engineering | $83,200 | $83,200 | $19,247 |
| Systems Engineering | $78,900 | $78,900 | $18,800 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $75,600 | $75,600 | $15,872 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $69,300 | $69,300 | $26,375 |
| Chemical Engineering | $68,000 | $68,000 | $18,723 |
| Civil Engineering | $66,500 | $66,500 | $16,925 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $63,400 | $63,400 | $16,222 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $61,300 | $61,300 | $12,000 |
| Mathematics | $60,700 | $60,700 | $20,250 |
| Economics | $59,700 | $59,700 | $18,968 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $58,900 | $58,900 | $19,000 |
| Statistics | $56,400 | $56,400 | $15,000 |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other | $54,400 | $54,400 | $20,184 |
| Engineering, General | $52,400 | $52,400 | $18,250 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $49,500 | $49,500 | $22,099 |
| Architecture | $45,600 | $45,600 | $18,096 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $44,700 | $44,700 | $16,750 |
| Political Science and Government | $42,400 | $42,400 | $15,751 |
| Area Studies | $40,000 | $40,000 | $20,500 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $39,300 | $39,300 | $19,234 |
| History | $38,900 | $38,900 | $19,741 |
| Chemistry | $37,800 | $37,800 | $15,593 |
| Psychology, General | $35,700 | $35,700 | $16,915 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $35,000 | $35,000 | $18,029 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $34,700 | $34,700 | $15,000 |
| Cognitive Science | $32,900 | $32,900 | $19,250 |
| Anthropology | $32,500 | $32,500 | $20,000 |
| Sociology | $32,400 | $32,400 | $13,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $31,400 | $31,400 | $14,750 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $31,100 | $31,100 | $17,997 |
| Biology, General | $27,400 | $27,400 | $19,500 |
Similar Colleges in VA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Charlottesville, VA
- Student Body
- 17,597 students
- Admission Rate
- 17%
- Graduation Rate
- 95%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $21,565
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $86,863
- Median Student Debt
- $17,500