University of Virginia
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
University of Central Florida
ORLANDO, FL
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Virginia vs Central florida — US university comparison

University of Virginia
VIRGINIA
Charlottesville, Virginia
World rank · ARWU#201-300
Acceptance16.8%
Median SAT1480
Graduation rate95.6%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$87K
University of Central Florida
CENTRAL FLORIDA
Orlando, FL
World rank · ARWU#401-500
Acceptance40.1%
Median SAT1269
Graduation rate78%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$58K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

University of Virginia University of Central Florida
#201-300 World rank · ARWU #401-500
— Rank · THE —
16.8% Acceptance rate 40.1%
1480 Median SAT 1269
95.6% Graduation rate 78%
26,470 Enrollment 69,338

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

16.8% Acceptance rate 40.1%
40% Yield rate 33.5%
1480 Median SAT 1269
— Avg. GPA 4.20
58,951 Number of applications 55,135
12% Int'l students 5%
$87K Median earnings · 10 yrs $58K
$79K Avg. earnings · 10 yrs $51K
$130K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $86K
95.6% Graduation rate 78%
97.9% Retention rate 92.3%
$17,500 Median debt $18,190
$59,512 Tuition · year $22,467
$37,123 Avg. aid package $11,814
100% % of need met 65%
$25,137 Avg. graduate debt $20,529
$75 Application fee $30
— Avg. int'l aid —
At a glance
Virginia leads in 9 of 11 measured metrics
Aid$37,123 vs $11,814
Tuition$59,512 vs $22,467
Acceptance16.8% vs 40.1%

EXPERT TAKE

Virginia is the more selective of the two (16.8% vs 40.1% acceptance). Virginia ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#201-300 vs #401-500). Virginia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($87K vs $58K). Central florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,467 vs $59,512 per year).

Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical — the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.

Choose Virginia for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

Choose Central florida for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Virginia is more selective (16.8% vs 40.1% acceptance); Virginia has a higher median SAT (1480 vs 1269).

Graduate outcomes

Virginia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($87K vs $58K); Virginia has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.6% vs 78%).

Cost and aid

Central florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($22,467 vs $59,512); Virginia offers a larger average aid package ($37,123 vs $11,814).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$34k$57k$80kVirginiaCentral florida TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Virginia and Central florida highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Virginia Central florida
World rank · ARWU#201-300#401-500
Rank · THE——
Acceptance rate16.8%40.1%
Yield rate40%33.5%
Median SAT14801269
Avg. GPA—4.20
Number of applications58,95155,135
International students12%5%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$87K$58K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs$79K$51K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$130K$86K
Graduation rate95.6%78%
Retention rate97.9%92.3%
Median debt$17,500$18,190
Tuition · year$59,512$22,467
Avg. aid package$37,123$11,814
% of need met100%65%
Avg. graduate debt$25,137$20,529
Application fee$75$30
Enrollment26,47069,338

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Virginia or Central florida?

It's harder to get into Virginia. Virginia accepts 16.8% of applicants, while Central florida accepts 40.1%.

Do Virginia or Central florida graduates earn more?

Virginia graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $87K vs $58K.

How much is tuition at Virginia vs Central florida?

Sticker-price tuition is $59,512 per year at Virginia and $22,467 per year at Central florida.

What SAT score do you need for Virginia or Central florida?

The median admitted SAT score is 1480 at Virginia and 1269 at Central florida; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Virginia or Central florida?

Virginia ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #201-300 for Virginia vs #401-500 for Central florida.

Which university offers more financial aid — Virginia or Central florida?

The average aid package is $37,123 at Virginia and $11,814 at Central florida.

Compare Virginia with
Harvard Stanford Massachusetts institute of technology Princeton Yale Cornell Penn Johns hopkins Washington university Northwestern
Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).
All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) — admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "—" = not yet in canonical.