University of Virginia
PA-8: Affordability and Access

AccessUVa is the financial aid program for the University of Virginia. It guarantees 100 percent of the demonstrated need of students admitted to the University. This important program allows U.Va. to operate with a “need-blind” admission policy that bolsters efforts to attract the best students here and achieve socioeconomic diversity in the student population. AccessUVa, recently modified as the Affordable Excellence program, offers caps on need-based loans for all other students, and a commitment to meet 100 percent of demonstrated need for every student. The Affordable Excellence program reduces need-based indebtedness – low-income Virginians who earn a degree from the University would accrue a maximum of $4,000 in need-based student loans over a four-year period. With the changes to AccessUVA approved in 2013, low-income students would accrue a maximum of $14,000 in need-based debt over four years. Under the new plan, this total will decrease need-based debt by $10,000. Additionally, under the new program, middle-income Virginians would accrue a maximum of $18,000 in need-based student loans over a four-year period, down from $28,000. AccessUVA not only keeps a U.Va. education affordable for the lowest income students, but also addresses the concerns of middle-income families who are squeezed by the rising cost of tuition. By limiting debt — or eliminating it altogether, in the case of students with the most need — AccessUVa offers assurance to prospective students that if they make the grade, they can afford to attend the University. http://www.virginia.edu/financialaid/access.php

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The newly formed Blue Ridge Scholars Program offers programming for low-income students in addition to financial aid.

The University offers a number of privately endowed need-based scholarship and grant funds administered by Student Financial Services. Most of these awards were established by individuals or foundations and are intended for students who meet specific criteria. The University of Virgina offers the following scholarship programs to non-traditional students: Blue Ridge Scholars, Holland Blackburn Scholarship, Questbridge, Walter N. Ridley Scholarship, ROTC Scholarships, and the University Achievement Award, among others. To qualify for any University endowed or restricted scholarships, students must demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, have financial need, and meet all federal and University eligibility requirements. In most instances, students do not need to complete a separate application form but are considered automatically. Many scholarship awards offered to students are funded by the generous gifts of University benefactors. In addition to financial need and/or academic achievement, a number of scholarships have specific donor requirements that are not easily identifiable. Students awarded a named scholarship will receive written notification of their selection. http://www.virginia.edu/financialaid/scholarships.php#Need

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The Outreach Office in the Office of Undergraduate Admission continues its extensive efforts to attract underrepresented students by developing important partnerships with national and regional college access organizations and establishing recruitment programs. In addition, the Office of Undergraduate Admission works with the Virginia College Advising Corps to strengthen relationships with under-served high schools in the state. http://www.admission.virginia.edu/outreach

Please see admissions outreach information above. The percentage of students who graduate without any need-based debt is 71.5%. 28.5% graduate with some need-based debt, on average $12,841. While 35.8% graduate with some total student debt, averaging $22,933. These figures are based on 2013-14.

There are a number of outside scholarship and aid opportunities available to low income and/or minority students. A list of opportunities is available at http://www.admission.virginia.edu/outreach/financial and includes such programs as Ron Brown Scholar Program, Gates Millennium Program, Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), DC Tuition Assistance Grant Program and American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES)

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The University of Virginia Academic Division operates two child care centers to address the needs of University faculty, staff, and students as well as the employees of the hospital, University-affiliated foundations and contractors. In addition, the Office of the Dean of Students assigned an Associate Dean to students with children and lists the following resources on its website: the childcare centers, UBabysitters (which match undergraduate sitters with students needing a few hours a week of free childcare), community childcare options, recreational opportunities in the area, and useful links.

The University of Virginia offers the following in support of non-traditional students: the Center for Alcohol and Substance Education, the International Center, the LGBT Resource Center, the Office for Diversity and Equity, the Office of African American Affairs, the Student Disability Access Center, and the Women's Center. The Office of Admissions assigns one dean to support transfer students and the Office of the Dean of Students assigns deans and program coordinators to support students with children and other specific populations populations. The University's Office of Equal Opportunity Programs is a service and resource organization that supports and advances the University's commitment to inclusion and equity by providing advice and leadership to administrators, faculty, and staff in their efforts to recruit and retain a diverse workforce and to ensure a learning community free from discrimination and harassment. In addition, the University maintains a bias reporting website.