President Profile

The University of Virginia and its Special Committee seek a president who can lead this iconic public university into its third century of excellence during a transformative time.

The University of Virginia, founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, is a unique institution with a rich history and limitless potential. UVA has been one of the top public universities in the United States for generations and earned a distinguished global reputation for impact. It embodies Jefferson’s vision of educating the leadership of civic society and it combines the residential experience and commitment to undergraduate teaching of the best liberal arts colleges with the ambition of an elite research university.

It succeeds admirably. It has a 97% retention rate and the highest four-year graduation rate (92%) of all U.S. public universities. Its success is widely recognized. It attracted 64,000 applicants for the class of 2029. Its law and business schools rank among the very best institutions, public or private, in the country. Its historic Grounds are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, identified by the American Institute of Architects as the greatest achievement of the first 200 years of American architecture, and undeniably one of the most beautiful university campuses in the entire world. Charlottesville is regarded as one of the most appealing college towns in the country. The University has an extraordinarily successful athletics program, winning dozens of national championships (including men’s basketball in 2019 and a running five-peat in women’s swimming and diving) and a medal count in the Paris Olympics that would have placed 16th among participating nations.

At a time of fiscal and other challenges across higher education, UVA is on extremely sound footing. The alumni base is fiercely devoted and generous, making the University one of a small set of institutions capable of generating philanthropy at extraordinary scale. Endowment and related investments currently exceed $16 billion, after a recent capital campaign that raised more than $6 billion and exceeded its goal by more than 20%. UVA is one of a handful of universities nationwide to hold the highest possible AAA credit rating from all three major credit rating agencies. 

 A long history of success has positioned the University with significant opportunities for growth and even greater success. Sponsored research has been growing rapidly but, at approximately $570M last year, it should grow substantially. UVA has impressive financial resources, considerable strength in the biological sciences, a strong and well-positioned health system, and an excellent faculty to build upon. With the right strategy and support it will deliver exceptional results. Exciting new investments, such as the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology, are about to be realized. The University’s academic medical center and health system enjoys an exceptional reputation and excellent positioning in the Commonwealth of Virginia and regionally. It has wide-open growth opportunities and could, with the right investments and strategy, become even more of a national hub for clinical excellence and catalyze the University’s research expansion. 

The University’s unique history, proximity to Washington, and Karsh Institute of Democracy also position it well to play a leading role in our nation’s civic life and the cultivation of a new generation of leaders. The upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence provides a remarkable opportunity to highlight UVA’s special place in American democracy. 

The University also has remained relatively small and extremely selective. There are significant opportunities for strategic growth while safeguarding what has made the student experience so remarkably successful. 

The University’s stated ambitions begin, and always will, with being the finest public university in the United States. There are no structural reasons why that ambition should be unrealistic. UVA also has a strong senior leadership team with a few key vacancies that the president can fill. These are, without question, challenging times for higher education. The University of Virginia was dedicated by its founder to the illimitable freedom of the human mind, and to the proposition that here we are unafraid to tolerate error so long as reason is left free to combat it. The community is strongly committed to institutional neutrality, free expression, and free inquiry and fosters an environment in which all views, beliefs, and perspectives deserve to be articulated and heard free from interference. For a leader who is willing to take appropriate risks and able to build consensus around a bold vision for the next decade, there is an extraordinary opportunity to make a mark not just on the University of Virginia but on the nation, and the world.

The University of Virginia was founded to advance human knowledge, educate leaders, and cultivate an informed citizenry. Today, the University’s students represent virtually every state in the nation and 98 countries. Over a quarter-million alumni around the world actively support UVA's mission to serve the greater good. UVA encompasses twelve schools in Charlottesville as well as the College at Wise, a small, liberal arts college in Southwest Virginia. For 2025, the University was ranked the No. 4 best public university by U.S. News & World Report. With its strong financial position and its reputation for excellence, UVA offers an enviable array of opportunities and possibilities. One of the largest employers in central Virginia, the University employs nearly 34,000 people, including approximately 11,000 faculty and staff, and approximately 10,000 UVA Health employees.

The Princeton Review consistently ranks UVA among the top public schools for financial aid. UVA also this year secured the No. 2 spot as the best value public university, No. 5 for career placement, and No. 1 for student health. Recognized for providing exceptional financial aid, health services, and strong alumni networks, UVA continues to deliver outstanding value and support to students. UVA remains one of the few public universities to meet 100% of every undergraduate student’s demonstrated financial need and offers admission to students with no consideration of a family’s income. Several schools are among the highest ranked in their fields, and some, including the Darden School of Business and School of Law, have received No. 1 rankings.

In 2019, the University created the 2030 Strategic Plan, "A Great and Good University,” which continues to guide its direction. The plan articulates four central goals: strengthening the University’s foundation, cultivating a vibrant and inclusive academic community, driving research and discovery that improves lives, and making service a defining feature of the institution. These goals are supported by ten key initiatives, including expanding financial aid and advising under the SuccessUVA program; fostering public service to create citizen-leaders for the 21st century; and deepening community partnerships through the Good Neighbor Program, which addresses local challenges like affordable housing, wages, and public health. UVA also launched bold new academic expansions, such as the establishment of the School of Data Science and the development of the Emmet-Ivy corridor, a 14.5-acre gateway to the University that houses the Center for the Arts, a new hotel and conference center, and other academic buildings that make up a thriving academic and cultural center supporting interdisciplinary collaboration on democracy, creativity, and innovation. 

The University of Virginia Health System is transforming patient care, research, education, and engagement with the communities it serves. With total revenues well over $3 billion, it is an expansive network comprising the UVA Medical Center, Novant Health/UVA Health System, UVA Transitional Care Hospital, University of Virginia Physicians Group, UVA School of Medicine, UVA School of Nursing, Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, and several other strategic partnerships and alliances. The University of Virginia Cancer Center was awarded a “Comprehensive Cancer Center” designation by the National Cancer Institute in 2021, making it the only Comprehensive Cancer Center in Virginia. 

The medical center grows organically, without mergers or acquisitions, at 3% to 4% each year. It maintains consistently high utilization (~98%) and is constructing a 120-bed tower to expand access. UVA Health generates a positive margin, at a level rare for most medical centers, which provides a strong funds flow to the medical school and the University as well as funds for facility and faculty investment.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has focused on pharmaceutical and biotechnology economic development, and UVA and UVA Health are playing an important role in this effort. Currently, AstraZeneca has committed several billion dollars to developing manufacturing and research facilities in the area. At the same time, UVA, with considerable philanthropic support, has invested $350 million in the Manning Institute of Biotechnology. 

Lead with integrity, build trust, and actively engage the full range of UVA’s constituencies

The president will lead a well-respected public university with historic strengths. The University has thrived in recent years, building on its impressive legacy. It has exceptional educational offerings and premier student experiences. UVA is also a leader in offering an affordable education, consistently investing in substantial student aid at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The University has a distinguished and ambitious scholarly and academic profile that requires continual care and investment. The president will need to build trust with a wide range of constituents and rally the community around these fundamentals, leading with compassion and integrity and prioritizing transparent and proactive communication about the issues that unite UVA’s stakeholders.

Advance collaborative strategies that enhance the whole University

UVA operates in a decentralized, responsibility-centered management (RCM) system. Its schools have outstanding individual reputations for impact and success, but each has its own strategies and policies that are reflected in admissions, curriculum, and faculty affairs, among other areas. The president must ensure that the University leverages the excellence of the schools while simultaneously achieving synergy across academic units. In the contemporary scholarly and research world that often defines scholarship by problem areas, and in an educational domain that must prepare students for an equally complex world, the president must inspire dexterity and nimbleness to pursue ever more ambitious research and educational programs that transcend school, department, and disciplinary boundaries.

Invest in the continued strength of UVA Health

The University possesses an internationally acclaimed medical school, allied to the Commonwealth’s most prominent academic medical center. The fundamental economics of health care in the state are strong and provide a solid foundation for a successful academic health enterprise. A sharp focus on the success of the clinical mission has led to strong revenue streams and has produced an impressive reputation. The medical center is a major asset to the University and is well-positioned to continue as a leading provider of access to world-class care and treatment, as well as generating strong margins for investments in breakthrough research and education. The health sciences schools, including medicine, provide just over $300 million in sponsored research, and serve as a critical engine for innovation, especially as Virginia expands economic development efforts in the biomedical sector jointly with the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. The next president will engage as a key partner with the health system to plan its ongoing growth and success as well as to strengthen its ties and connections across the University.

Continue to enhance UVA’s distinctive student experience and respond to the evolving needs of students

UVA is regularly ranked as among the best public universities in the country, a reputation built in large part on excellent student experiences. The University was founded by Thomas Jefferson as a residential college, in the spirit of enlightenment, to educate civic citizens and leaders for Virginia, the nation, and the world. It has never deviated from its founding mission. Student self-governance and the Honor System are direct expressions of the University’s vision, and each president must understand and embrace its ethos. The University’s retention and graduation results are testimony to its success as well as the enduring commitment of its alumni, who remember their education fondly and who contribute generously. The University has committed to making its student experience and education ever stronger, especially as the workforce changes in response to technological advances. UVA is one of only two public universities that offer need-blind admissions and meet full financial need. The University covers tuition and fees for undergraduate students with family incomes of less than $100,000, and covers tuition, fees, room, and board for undergraduate students with family incomes of less than $50,000. UVA recently raised $750 million to enhance affordability and access, with plans to guarantee on-campus housing for both first- and second-year students. The University aims to fully fund student commitments and ensure affordability for all qualified Virginians. The next president will lead efforts to identify funding opportunities and secure the capital needed to achieve these goals. 

Build on UVA’s preeminent level of academic distinction and continue its research trajectory

UVA is exceptionally well ranked nationally, but it does not yet possess the range of research, especially sponsored research, of its most eminent peers, who will often have research budgets well in excess of $1 billion. In part, the difference is a function of scale. UVA has the size and excellence of an eminent private university, compared to some of the largest public institutions. Still, to retain and enhance its position, locally and nationally, the University will need to recruit, invest, and sustain an ever more competitive and eminent scholarly faculty with the facilities and personnel commensurate with a leading university. These endeavors are already well underway and must never detract from the teaching and service missions. The next president will advance new strategies and new fundraising priorities that will greatly affect the University’s reputation and impact.

Continue and extend engagement with the greater Charlottesville community

Over recent years, the University has made great strides to strengthen relationships with the broader Charlottesville and Albemarle County communities. The next president should continue to engage the University’s neighbors and carefully consider the important role the University plays in the community. UVA is the largest employer and the largest health care provider in the area. The University has a responsibility not only to its students, staff, and faculty, but also to the citizens of the broader region.

Represent UVA to the public and secure its leadership position in higher education

The Board of Visitors has charted a course of institutional “neutrality” in public, political controversies, while simultaneously preserving and defending academic freedom. More than ever, university presidents must engage their state leadership, both in the legislature and the executive branches. While the Commonwealth of Virginia only contributes a modest portion of the University’s budget, the public mission and identity are central to the institution’s core. The University must regularly and publicly engage on issues of great concern to Virginia, the nation, and the world. UVA has also become a flagship for access and opportunity, a source of economic development, and a historic provider of civic leadership, educating the leaders of the future. Since its founding, UVA has remained a proud public institution. The president will serve as an ambassador for UVA within the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world, and in doing so, serve as a spokesperson for the transformative power of American public higher education.

Continue to strengthen the University’s financial position through fundraising

The University recently concluded a highly successful capital campaign that raised more than $6 billion. After the campaign, UVA continues to raise $600-700 million annually. Few universities achieve philanthropic success at this level, but there is no other mid-sized, public university with the loyalty and history of fundraising found at UVA. Like their predecessors, the next president of UVA will spend considerable energy and effort connecting to UVA alumni, encouraging their volunteer commitments, and leading critical fundraising efforts. The president also sets the tone for fiscal responsibility and prudent and efficient use of institutional resources overall to best advance its education and research missions.

The University of Virginia seeks a bold and resilient president who demonstrates the intellect, empathy, and administrative savvy to lead one of the nation’s finest institutions. The Special Committee recognizes that no single candidate will bear all the ideal qualifications, but it seeks candidates with many of the following qualities and characteristics:

• Unimpeachable ethics and integrity, with a demonstrated commitment to leading responsibly and fairly; deep respect for the University’s culture of honor, faculty shared governance, and student self-governance, strong alignment with University’s (and its founder’s) particular commitment to freedom of speech and expression;
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and a high emotional intelligence; humility and eagerness to listen and to engage fluently with students, staff, and faculty as with business, government, and labor leaders;
• An exemplary communicator; ability to serve as an inspirational representative for the University;
• The ability to cultivate trust and build relationships that will energize and mobilize constituents around a collective vision and facilitate actions with notable impact;
• A proven and tested administrative leader with demonstrated experience in financial, operational, and strategic administration;
• Experience with strategic planning, and the ability to engage stakeholders in projects and proposals;
• Experience navigating and successfully responding to crises as well as celebrating success and merit;
• Considerable experience fundraising and the capacity to cultivate and steward donors, foundations, and other supporters of the University;
• An understanding and appreciation for the history, mission, and value of public research universities, including vibrant academic health care operations;
• Demonstrated commitment to, and effective engagement in, shared governance with faculty partners, including a commitment to govern equitably across different campuses, units, and divisions of a complex and decentralized organization;
• Track record of courageous leadership and a willingness to make difficult decisions and communicate the rationale for those decisions; and
• Distinguished intellectual credentials, including teaching and scholarly achievement commensurate with appointment as a full professor at the University of Virginia; an earned terminal degree or equivalent is required.

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent in confidence to Isaacson, Miller:

https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/university-virginia/president
John Isaacson, Chair
Keight Tucker Kennedy, Managing Partner
John Muckle, Partner
Kelly McLaughlin, Managing Associate
Kristen Andersen, Senior Associate
Mindy Cimini, Senior Search Coordinator
Isaacson, Miller

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer.

This document has been prepared based on the information provided by the University of Virginia. The material presented in this leadership profile should be relied on for informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, the original source documents and information provided by the University of Virginia would supersede any conflicting information in this document.

Mission Statement

The University of Virginia is a public institution of higher learning guided by a founding vision of discovery, innovation, and development of the full potential of talented students from all walks of life. It serves the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world by developing responsible citizen leaders and professionals; advancing, preserving, and disseminating knowledge; and providing world-class patient care.

We are defined by:

• Our enduring commitment to a vibrant and unique residential learning environment marked by the free and collegial exchange of ideas;
• Our unwavering support of a collaborative, diverse community bound together by distinctive foundational values of honor, integrity, trust, and respect;
• Our universal dedication to excellence and affordable access.

Strategic Planning: “A Great and Good University”

Progress on the University strategic plan as of 2025 has been significant. UVA has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for scholarships and faculty support, admitted students across every corner of Virginia and every background, launched new residential colleges, and opened a new Student Health and Wellness Center. The University is also addressing broader societal needs by constructing over 1,500 affordable housing units, implementing mobile medical clinics, and launching educational programs for working adults and local youth. Sustainability is another major theme, with UVA targeting carbon neutrality by 2030 and fossil-fuel freedom by 2050. Throughout the plan, a strong emphasis is placed on inclusion, innovation, and service—positioning UVA not just as a leading academic institution, but as a model for how public universities can serve both their students and society at large.

Research

A Carnegie Research 1 university, UVA has strong partnerships with leading federal and state agencies and some of the world’s largest companies across a wide range of industries. Sponsored research awards in 2024-2025 total $570 million (excluding any potential adjustments) from all sources, including federal and state agencies, industry, and private foundations. UVA has $829 million in R&D expenditures in the NSF Herd report, ranking UVA at No. 48 in the USA in the last cycle. UVA researchers have made hundreds of invention disclosures and patents issued in recent years. UVA’s Licensing and Ventures Group helps bring innovative companies and products to the market, making Charlottesville one of the most vibrant venture capital markets in the country. UVA has large research parks located near Grounds and near the Charlottesville airport.

Faculty and Staff

The University of Virginia employs a dedicated and dynamic workforce of more than 28,000 individuals across its academic division, UVA Health, and College at Wise, with 3,210 being salaried academic faculty. Faculty and staff are essential to the University’s continued excellence, and UVA is consistently recognized as one of the best places to work in higher education, earning national distinction in workplace satisfaction, leadership support, and work-life balance.

UVA faculty are recognized leaders in their fields, with many earning prestigious fellowships and awards, including Fulbright and Guggenheim fellowships, National Science Foundation CAREER awards, National Endowment for the Humanities grants, and election to esteemed societies such as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academies, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Their contributions span everything from biomedical breakthroughs and policy innovation to landmark legal scholarship and influential works in literature, art, and history.

UVA staff members are equally critical to the institution’s operations and success. From administrative professionals and information technology experts to facilities teams and health care providers, staff at UVA exemplify dedication and professionalism. The University offers comprehensive professional development programs, leadership training, and competitive benefits to support career growth and employee well-being.

The University’s commitment to excellence, equity, and opportunity extends across every role and division. As a result, UVA continues to attract faculty and staff who are not only leaders in their fields, but also passionate educators, collaborators, and community members.

Students and Enrollment

The UVA student experience is unique. That experience is punctuated by many distinct aspects of University life: the elegance of the architecture; the Honor System and the resulting community of trust; the Lawn and its residential community for faculty and students; the primacy of student self-governance; the diversity of the student body; the emphasis on service; and the beauty and history of the surrounding area. Founded on long-held values of academic excellence, this experience is also marked by retention (98% for first years) and on-time graduation (92%) rates, which are among the highest in the country. It is a warm, welcoming community, with generous and kind community members. These dimensions of the student experience—along with many others—shape UVA graduates to be driven, intellectually curious, and community-minded citizens of integrity and purpose. The current student body is made up of approximately 18,000 undergraduate and 9,000 graduate and professional students.

The University attracts a highly accomplished applicant pool from all 50 states and over 100 countries, without consideration of their financial situation. The University offers robust student scholarship support to attract the best and brightest students from all backgrounds, while protecting against excessive student debt.

The University is a top producer of Rhodes and Marshall Scholars and provides extensive support through the Office of Citizen Scholar Development for students applying for these prestigious postgraduate awards. Success in these prestigious international fellowships flows directly from UVA’s enduring commitment to personal and academic excellence that infuses undergraduate life and beyond. 

Admission to UVA is highly competitive, with a record number of over 64,000 first-year applications in 2025 with a 15% admit rate. This steady rise in applicants over the past decade reflects the University's growing national and global reputation. UVA also maintains a vibrant transfer student pipeline, particularly from UVA Wise and the Virginia Community College System. 

The student experience at UVA is enriched by more than 750 student organizations, extensive leadership opportunities, and a robust NCAA Division I athletics program featuring 27 varsity teams. UVA’s status as a leading research university is also evident in its support for undergraduate research and faculty mentorship. Programs such as the Undergraduate Research Network (URN) and Double Hoo Research Grants allow students to engage directly with groundbreaking research across disciplines.

Global Engagement

UVA welcomes students and faculty from all walks of life and from around the world. It has a strategic focus on enhancing the Commonwealth’s global stature and preparing its students to become globally engaged citizen leaders after graduation and supporting its faculty as they discover solutions to leading global challenges, ranging from mitigating climate change to managing migration through combating infectious diseases to supporting democracy around the world. The University aims to support at least one global experience for every undergraduate student before graduation, with rapidly expanding study abroad opportunities and increasingly globally oriented curriculum, internships, and programming, even as resources grow for faculty pursuing global objectives.

Athletics

UVA has a strong history of athletic success and is committed to developing Cavaliers both academically and athletically. For the academic year that ended in 2023, Virginia posted a top five finish in the Directors’ Cup all-sports rankings for more than 300 NCAA Division I programs, the highest in the ACC. In 2024 and 2025, UVA was 12th overall (4th in the ACC).

During its storied athletics history (through the summer of 2025) Virginia has won 35 NCAA team national championships, 155 Atlantic Coast Conference championships, and produced multiple NCAA and ACC individual champions. Most recently, the Cavalier women’s swimming and diving program won its fifth consecutive national championship and sent six swimmers to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Head coach Todd DeSorbo was Team USA’s women’s head coach at the Games.

A total of 13 Virginia athletics programs have been ranked No. 1 in their respective sports at some point in their history. UVA student-athletes have gone on to win Super Bowls, World Cups, NBA Championships, and baseball World Series, and they have been inducted into multiple national Halls of Fame. 

Academically, UVA ranks among the nation’s leaders in the NCAA Graduation Success Rate and Academic Progress rate reports, well above the national averages. Virginia is also one of the top schools in the country for student-athlete graduation rates for minority students.

Alumni

The University of Virginia boasts a vast and influential alumni network of over 265,000 living graduates worldwide. UVA alumni have made significant impacts across diverse fields, including literature, law, journalism, and international diplomacy, to name a few. This global community is spread across more than 100 countries. Beyond professional achievements, UVA alumni remain deeply engaged with their alma mater, supporting scholarships, organizing events, and funding innovative projects, reflecting a strong commitment to both the University and broader society. A testament to UVA’s alumni engagement is the 28 foundations UVA has developed as a means for alumni to participate and contribute to the University. UVA alumni played a pivotal role in the success of the Honor the Future campaign.

University Advancement and the Honor the Future Campaign

University Advancement is the primary driver of constituent engagement and fundraising efforts for UVA. It includes the Health System Development Office and comprises approximately 270 team members. University Advancement is charged with securing philanthropic support for pan-University priorities and strategic initiatives, and several UVA schools and units have established management partnerships with University Advancement for their development efforts. They work in close partnership with the independent foundations and fundraising offices associated with other UVA schools and units to form a holistic enterprise supporting shared strategic goals.

In support of its aspirations to be the best public university in the nation and among the best in the world, the University launched the Honor the Future capital campaign with a quiet phase beginning in the summer of 2017, followed by a public launch in October of 2019. UVA set an ambitious goal of $5 billion with a target completion date of June 30, 2025, which was surpassed 18 months ahead of the target due to the enormous generosity of alumni, parents, and friends. The campaign surpassed its goal, raising a total of $6.1 billion from more than 250,000 donors.

The Board of Visitors

The University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors is the governing body responsible for overseeing the University’s strategic direction, policies, and overall management. The Board is composed of 17 voting members, 12 of whom must be Virginia residents and alumni. They are on a four-year term, appointed by the Governor of Virginia, and subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. The Board also includes two non-voting representatives, a full-time student and a faculty member, each serving one-year terms. Boad of Visitor members bring expertise from various sectors and play a crucial role in shaping UVA’s academic priorities, financial health, and campus development. They work closely with University leadership to ensure that UVA maintains its commitment to excellence, supports initiatives that enhance student experience, and upholds the University’s mission as a leading public institution. Through their guidance and stewardship, the Board of Visitors helps secure UVA’s continued growth and prominence both nationally and globally.

Shared Governance

Shared governance at UVA is critically important. The Faculty Senate is a representative body composed of approximately 82 elected faculty members from all schools of the University. It guides academic policy and advises the president and the rector and Board of Visitors concerning educational and related matters affecting the welfare of the University. 

The General Faculty Council consists of about 22 elected members and represents non-tenure-track faculty. Close to 50% of the UVA faculty are not on the tenure track. Senior professional research staff are also represented on the General Faculty Council, an additional 400+ employees.

The UVA Student Council serves as a representative body for the student community. Student self-governance at UVA is deeply rooted in tradition. Students have historically held significant roles in University life and decision-making, including bodies like the Honor Committee and University Judiciary Committee.

Financial Stewardship

The University has developed an exceptionally strong financial foundation as exhibited by a $15.5 billion long-term assets under management net position on June 30, 2025, and a consensus triple-A bond rating. The three major rating agencies have noted the University’s excellent reputation; student demand, highly selective admissions, and broad geographic reach; sponsored research prowess; superior wealth and liquidity management; exceptional strategic positioning supported by strong planning, risk management, and ongoing prospects to support programmatic investments; the medical center’s prominent clinical reputation and ability to compete for patient care revenue; and remarkable donor support, among other factors. The recently completed capital campaign raised $6.1 billion.

The $6.4 billion FY2026 annual budget encompasses the medical center ($3.8 billion), the academic division ($2.5 billion), and the College at Wise ($78 million). Significant revenue sources for the academic division include tuition and fees (34%), externally sponsored programs (22%), endowment distribution (13%), state appropriations (12%), expendable gifts (9%), and sales and services (9%). The University and its associated organization have approximately $15.5 billion invested in the University of Virginia Investment Management Company’s (UVIMCO) long-term pool as of June 30, 2025, boosted by the long-term performance of UVIMCO, which has achieved a 9.6% return over the past 20 years, compared to a benchmark of 7.5%. In recent years, UVA has transformed significant parts of its operations (human resources and finance) and implemented new cloud-based systems that will enable best-in-class analysis, services, and support in a rapidly changing environment.

UVA Health

UVA Health’s vision is to be the nation’s leading public academic health system and a best place to work, while transforming patient care, research, education, and engagement with the diverse communities it serves. UVA Health is an expansive network comprised of the UVA Medical Center, UVA Community Health (including hospitals in Culpeper, Prince William, Haymarket, and a community medical practice), UVA School of Nursing, UVA School of Medicine, University of Virginia Physicians Group, Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, and other strategic partnerships and alliances.

UVA Health has a long and storied history beginning almost two centuries ago. The School of Medicine was founded in 1825, six short years after Thomas Jefferson founded UVA, becoming the 10th medical school in the nation. UVA Health continues to expand at an incredibly rapid rate and to invest significant resources across all missions. Just over the past four years, UVA Health has opened a new 84 bed tower, acquired a free-standing ambulatory surgery center, opened a 200,000 square foot orthopedic center, acquired three community hospitals as well as a physician’s organization in Northern Virginia, and was ranked the No. 1 children’s hospital in the state for the fourth consecutive year. Forbes ranked UVA Health the No. 1 hospital in Viriginia in 2025 and successfully achieved comprehensive status for its National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center.

Charlottesville

Located in Central Virginia just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and 100 miles south of Washington, D.C., Charlottesville offers stunning natural beauty; thriving art, music, and food culture; and an ever-growing list of things to do. In the span of a single day, you can hike part of the Appalachian trail, attend a concert, enjoy a memorable meal at one of Charlottesville’s many celebrated restaurants (Charlottesville ranks among the nation’s top 15 locations for restaurants per capita), stroll the historic Downtown Mall, and explore Monticello, tour the Fralin Museum, visit the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, or enjoy world-class wineries in some of the most beautiful landscapes on the East Coast. 

Charlottesville brings together the best of many worlds, offering the livability and community of a small city (MSA of 230,000 people) with the amenities and cultural attractions of a metropolis. For more information, visit https://www.visitcharlottesville.org/. 

UVA Northern Virginia

Launched as part of UVA’s 2030 Great and Good Strategic Plan, the mission of UVA Northern Virginia is to connect Grounds in Charlottesville with Northern Virginia and vice versa. UVA Northern Virginia is the center point of UVA’s efforts to better serve the Commonwealth by bringing new and existing academic programs across disciplines and modalities – in-person, online, and hybrid – to Northern Virginia. UVA reimagined how the academic rigor of Charlottesville could be channeled north to create a knowledge taps of educational programs, research, mentorship, and events to support Northern Virginia working professionals in parallel with their careers.

UVA Northern Virginia works across UVA units to promote over 35 degree and non-degree programs. Offerings include programs from the Darden School of Business, McIntire School of Commerce, School of Medicine, School of Engineering and Applied Science, School of Architecture, School of Continuing and Professional Studies, School of Data Science, School of Education and Human Development, and the School of Nursing. In addition, UVA Northern Virginia continues to develop non-degree educational programs with governmental and corporate partners, with highlights including a custom executive education program with Amazon and an open enrollment program for the Department of Defense. The UVA Northern Virginia Inspire Summer Program, offering in-person and online courses across disciplines such as programming and forensic science, serves local high school students in the Northern Virginia region. 

UVA College at Wise

UVA Wise is a public, four-year residential liberal arts college located on 396 acres in the Appalachian Mountains of Southwest Virginia, with a mission to build a diverse community of learners who have the drive to serve and lead in their communities, the nation and the world.

Before the University of Virginia founded UVA Wise in 1954 with the support of the Virginia legislature, there were no public colleges serving Virginia’s mountainous western and southwestern regions, putting postsecondary and higher education out of reach for many individuals and families living there.

Today, UVA Wise has an enrollment of nearly 2,000 students taught by 102 full-time faculty. The college has a student-faculty ratio of 13:1 and consistently ranks as one of the best nationally for students graduating with little to no debt.

UVA Wise offers 34 majors, 43 minors, and 24 teaching licensures. Undergraduate degree programs include Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). UVA Wise began offering graduate programs in Fall 2023 with a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

The Year in Wise program allows students to enroll in UVA Wise for a year, complete 30 credits and maintain a ‘B’ average, then receive a guaranteed transfer into UVA’s College of Arts & Sciences in Charlottesville.