Public
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Wise, Virginia
93.9% Acceptance Rate
University of Virginia's College at Wise — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
93.9%Acceptance Rate
3.57Avg GPA
1104Avg SAT
23Avg ACT
$24,315Annual Cost
$45,325Grad Salary
33%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
93.9%
Avg GPA
3.57
Avg SAT
1104
Avg ACT
23
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
935–1175
ACT Middle 50%
20–25
Avg Net Price
$11,180
Need-Based Aid
33% receive Pell
University of Virginia's College at Wise is a public liberal arts college that serves as the westernmost division of the University of Virginia. Admissions are selective, evaluating students on their academic record, leadership, and their readiness for a rigorous, student-centered academic experience. The college seeks individuals who are ready to participate in a supportive environment that prioritizes faculty-student mentorship and community involvement in the Appalachian region.
Successful applicants often emphasize their participation in community service, athletics, or student leadership roles. A strong personal statement should discuss how the student??s personal and professional goals align with the college's commitment to academic excellence and regional service. The admissions committee values applicants who show maturity and a clear, thoughtful approach to their future career and academic development within a high-value, tradition-centered institution.
University of Virginia's College at Wise Acceptance Rate
University of Virginia's College at Wise (UVA Wise) runs an open-access admission policy. With a 93.9% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 93.9% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.57 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.37 – 3.56
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.12
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
University of Virginia's College at Wise Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
University of Virginia's College at Wise follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of December 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
UVA Wise reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Early Action
December 1
Decision by: January 15
💡 The scholarship deadline (Priority: 2026/02/01) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
UVA Wise GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at UVA Wise is 3.57. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.27 and 3.57? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.77–3.97.UVA Wise GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.57 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.37 – 3.56
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.17 – 3.36
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.16
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No personal essay or letter of recommendation required for first-year applicants; test-optional/flexible policy
- $25 application fee, waived for GAP-eligible community college transfers
- Year in Wise requires 30 in-residence UVA Wise credit hours (AP/dual-enrollment excluded) + 3.0 GPA, no grade below C-, within one academic year
- Rolling deadlines for winter/spring/summer; fall freshman deadline is August 15
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at UVA Wise
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on University of Virginia's College at Wise's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
University of Virginia's College at Wise (UVA Wise) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if UVA Wise is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into UVA Wise Without SAT or ACT?
UVA Wise considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
University of Virginia's College at Wise Average SAT Score: 1104
The average SAT score of admitted students at University of Virginia's College at Wise is 1104 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1104 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1175 SAT or 25 ACT) to stand out. Below average? University of Virginia's College at Wise allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 935, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at UVA Wise. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 513 | 465 | 560 |
| SAT Reading | 543 | 470 | 615 |
| SAT Composite | 1104 | 935 | 1175 |
Below 935, you're behind most admitted students; at 1175 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1100
Can I get into University of Virginia's College at Wise (UVA Wise) with a 1200 SAT?
A 1200 SAT puts you ahead of most of UVA Wise's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
University of Virginia's College at Wise (UVA Wise) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at UVA Wise is 23.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 23 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average ACT score.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 22 | 19 | 25 |
| ACT English | 22 | 19 | 25 |
| ACT Composite | 23 | 20 | 25 |
Can I get into University of Virginia's College at Wise with a 25 ACT?
A 25 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of UVA Wise's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at UVA Wise.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for UVA Wise
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
UVA Wise's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
Position it as a UVA back door, not a fallback
UVA Wise runs a "Year in Wise" deferred-admission agreement: students who just miss direct admission to UVA Charlottesville can enroll at Wise, complete 30 in-residence credit hours in one year with a 3.0 GPA and no grade below a C-, and are then GUARANTEED transfer into UVA's College of Arts & Sciences - no reapplication, no committee re-review. For any student borderline for Charlottesville, this is the single highest-leverage piece of information a counselor can give them, and it's barely known outside the region (roughly 100 students/year use it).
Front-load transcript rigor - there's no essay to lean on
First-year applicants to UVA Wise submit no personal essay and no letter of recommendation at all; admission is decided almost entirely on transcript and (optional) test scores. Coach students to maximize dual enrollment/AP coursework and GPA rigor now, since there's no supplemental narrative later to offset a thin academic record.
Route Virginia community college transfers through GAP, not general transfer
The Guaranteed Admissions Program (GAP) lets students at Mountain Empire, Southwest Virginia, or Virginia Highlands Community College declare intent early in their CC career; completing an AA/AS/AAS baccalaureate-oriented degree then guarantees junior-standing admission with preference in the process. Kentucky and Tennessee CC students in GAP get an added bonus: their $25 application fee is waived outright.
Check the border-county tuition discount before assuming out-of-state pricing
UVA Wise offers discounted out-of-state tuition to students from specific counties in neighboring states (parts of KY, TN, NC, WV) - a lesser-known regional pricing lever that can make this a genuinely cheap option for students just across the Virginia line, not just in-state Virginians.
Expert Insight:
Students and families treat "Year in Wise" as an automatic bridge to UVA Charlottesville without reading the fine print: AP credit and dual-enrollment credit do NOT count toward the required 30 in-residence hours. A student who arrives with 20+ AP credits and under-enrolls assuming they're "ahead" can easily fail to hit the 30-hour threshold in a single year and lose the guaranteed transfer.
UVA Wise Profile
Full Name
University of Virginia's College at Wise (UVA Wise)
City
Wise
State
Virginia
ZIP Code
24293-4400
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a UVA Wise Degree Worth It?
UVA Wise offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes. The figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $48,800, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3%.
How much does a degree from UVA Wise Cost?
The sticker price is $24,315/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $11,180.
33% of students receive a Pell Grant and 21.5% take federal loans at UVA Wise. File your FAFSA early and list UVA Wise as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a UVA Wise Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $45,325. That's about 12% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than University of Virginia's College at Wise. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| University of the Ozarks | Clarksville, AR | 1088 | 21 |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin, CA | 1093 | 22 |
| Fort Lewis College | Durango, CO | 1084 | 20 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | 1077 | 22 |
| Central Connecticut State University | New Britain, CT | 1091 | 24 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as University of Virginia's College at Wise. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
| University of Saint Joseph | West Hartford, CT | 1100 | NA |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | Tallahassee, FL | 1100 | 22 |
| Flagler College | Saint Augustine, FL | 1099 | 22 |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University | West Palm Beach, FL | 1101 | 23 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than University of Virginia's College at Wise. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | 1136 | 25 |
Degree Programs at UVA Wise
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About UVA Wise Admissions
Median earnings for University of Virginia's College at Wise graduates sit around $45,325 a year.
At about $24,315 a year, University of Virginia's College at Wise is on the more affordable end.
About 33.0% receive a Pell Grant at University of Virginia's College at Wise. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 93.9%, University of Virginia's College at Wise's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at University of Virginia's College at Wise average a 3.57 GPA.
University of Virginia's College at Wise doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.27 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.17, University of Virginia's College at Wise becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at University of Virginia's College at Wise — aim above 1104, ideally within the 935–1175 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for University of Virginia's College at Wise is December 1. Admission decisions are released by January 15. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Priority: 2026/02/01. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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