Admit rate has ranged 59%–94% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Tucked in the Appalachian foothills, UVA Wise is a small public liberal arts college with an outsized commitment to affordability and hands-on learning. With a 28-94% acceptance rate (sources vary wildly), it serves as both a gateway for first-gen students and a transfer pipeline to UVA—offering intimate classes, NCAA Division II athletics, and guaranteed tuition coverage for qualifying Virginians.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,101
In-state tuition
$11,780
Out-of-state tuition
$28,010
Majors
34 across 3 bachelor's degrees
Location
Wise, VA
Acceptance Rate
28-94% (varies by source)
4-Year Grad Rate
32%
On-Campus Housing
58% of students
Freshman Retention
72%
6-Year Median Earnings
$39,725
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$45,325
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
4.9×
Median debt at graduation
$16,750
Graduation rate
47%
First-year retention
72%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
56%
Pell (lower-income) share
71%
First-generation share
37%
Endowment / student
$150,455
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$55,512
Education, General$35,060
Criminal Justice and Corrections$34,171
Business Administration, Management and Operations$30,616
Accounting and Related Services$30,409
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
118
Summer high
79°F
Winter low
30°F
Annual rain
47.4"
Annual snow
14"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
42
Scholarly works
944
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
2.5%
Bottom → top quintile
19%
From bottom quintile
13%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at University of Virginia's College at Wise?
University of Virginia's College at Wise's acceptance rate is approximately 29% (Wise, VA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for University of Virginia's College at Wise?
Admitted students at University of Virginia's College at Wise typically score 945–1120 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does University of Virginia's College at Wise cost?
At University of Virginia's College at Wise, the average net price (after aid) is about $9,210 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend University of Virginia's College at Wise?
University of Virginia's College at Wise enrolls approximately 1,101 undergraduate students.
Where is University of Virginia's College at Wise located?
University of Virginia's College at Wise is located in Wise, VA.
Admissions
UVA Wise's admissions landscape is puzzling—reported Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. range from 28.53% (College Board) to 94% (MeetYourClass), likely reflecting different applicant pools. The middle ground comes from SCHEV data showing a 59.4% acceptance rate in Fall 2020. Test scores hover around 940-1105 SAT or 18-22 ACT, with 50.6% of admitted students boasting GPAs of 3.75+. Notably, the college offers an early action plan but doesn't require admission applications for certain participation opportunities—a rare flexibility.
This liberal arts college punches above its weight with 34 majors across three bachelor's degrees, from Biochemistry to Business Administration. The curriculum mandates cultural engagement—four events each in freshman and junior years—while emphasizing hands-on research. Small classes are the norm, with popular majors clustering in business, psychology, and health professions. A Reddit thread reveals its role as a UVA transfer pathway, particularly for in-state Arts & Sciences applicants.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$30,228
Communication and Media Studies$26,896
Psychology, General$22,087
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Life here balances Appalachian warmth with collegiate energy—58% of students live on campus, creating a tight-knit community. A UVA Today photographer documented 'a welcoming, vibrant' culture where diversity spans geography, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation. The calendar bursts with daily events, from DII athletics (Go Highland Cavaliers!) to Greek life. Students praise the ease of involvement, with one noting: 'You can be a big fish in a small pond here.'
Graduation rates tell a story of transformation—32% graduate in four years, climbing to 44% by year six (US News). Alumni earnings show steady growth: $39,725 at six years post-graduation, reaching $58,323 for the Class of 2002. Nearly half of graduates report wages within Virginia's tracking system. The 72% freshman retention rate suggests students who persist find value, though the college clearly serves many who benefit from extended timelines.
UVA Wise is a rarity—a public college with essentially free tuition for qualifying Virginians. Families earning ≤$80,000 receive scholarships covering full tuition and fees. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator underscores its affordability mission, though exact figures vary by household. This commitment likely explains why 94% of students receive financial aid, blending grants, loans, and work-study opportunities.
This college defies expectations—it's a public liberal arts school with Division II athletics, UVA affiliation, and near-guaranteed affordability for locals. Where else can a First-generation (first-gen)A student who would be the first in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Many colleges consider this in context. student from rural Virginia take neuroscience seminars with 15 classmates, cheer at midnight basketball games, and graduate debt-free? The cultural event requirements and underrated research opportunities create what one alum called 'Appalachian Swarthmore with football.'
University of Virginia's College at Wise logo · sourceVisit | UVA Wise · sourceCampus | UVA Wise · sourceUniversity of Virginia's College at Wise - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges · source
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