Facts

Who We Are

A public, four-year residential college located in the lush mountains of southwestern Virginia, The University of Virginia's College at Wise is recognized as one of the top public liberal arts colleges in the nation. The only branch campus of the University of Virginia, UVa-Wise was founded in 1954 and currently enrolls 1,900 students.

UVa-Wise is home to Virginia’s only undergraduate degree program in software engineering. UVa-Wise offers 29 majors, 29 minors, seven pre-professional programs and 23 teaching licensures.

For five consecutive years, students at UVa-Wise have graduated with the lowest debt load of any public liberal arts college in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report.

UVa-Wise has been selected for inclusion in “Colleges of Distinction,” which recognizes institutions for engaged students, great teaching, vibrant communities and successful outcomes.

Enrollment
1,911; male-to-female ratio is 1:1.2.

Location
Wise, amid the scenic Appalachian Mountains in Southwest Virginia. A 396-acre campus located 60 minutes from Tri-Cities, Tennessee and Virginia.

Academic Structure
A public liberal arts college offering 29 majors, 29 minors, and 24 teaching licensures. Degrees include Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Pre-professional Programs
Dentistry, engineering, forestry, law, medicine, physical therapy, and veterinary medicine.

Faculty
The student-faculty ratio is 17 to 1. Average class size is 17, with fewer than 2 percent of classes having more than 40 students. UVa-Wise has a faculty of about 140; 71 percent of full-time faculty hold the terminal degree in their area of instruction.

Founded
1954. Public liberal arts college. The only branch college of the University of Virginia.

Career Services
A four-year program to develop professional goals, job-seeking skills, and graduate and professional school preparation. Includes JobTrak access, workshops, individual counseling, experiential learning, on-campus interviews, access to services/programs of the University of Virginia, part-time jobs while in college and alumni mentorships.

Placement Record
Typically, 97 percent of the graduating class is employed or seeking a graduate or professional degree.

Campus Life
More than 50 student organizations including fraternities and sororities.

Athletics
Member of the Appalachian Athletic Conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Mid-South Conference (football only). About 200 students participate in six men's and five women's programs.

Admission
Moderately selective and offered on a rolling basis. Freshmen will demonstrate average SAT scores of 500 verbal and 490 math. High school grade point average is 3.34.

Financial Aid

Eighty percent of UVa-Wise students receive some form of financial assistance, including federal and state grants, scholarships, student loans and college employment.

Distinctions
Ranked among the nation's top 10 public liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report. Selected for inclusion in "Colleges of Distinction."