UVA Darden MBA

01 · Class profile

Who is in the UVA Darden MBA class

Class of 2027, the newest class profile we found. Darden's class-profile post of 16th Dec 2025 gives the entering class size as 361 for the 2025 residential MBA class. Darden has not published a Class of 2028 profile on the pages we read.

Darden describes the Full-Time MBA as a full-time, 21-month curriculum. It calls the class you would join the Class of 2029 on its deadlines page, so Darden has not published a profile for it.

Darden also shows 28 countries, 43 languages, 206 undergraduate schools, 300 employers and 33 industries. It lists 21% U.S. racial minority, 13% first-generation college students, 12% military service members, 23% students with partners and 16 combined degrees.

Gender and U.S. race and ethnicity figures follow federal reporting categories. Darden says all percentages shown represent 100% of the student class size. It does not publish a list of nationalities or regions.

Test scores and GPA

Class of 2027. The two GMAT editions are separate rows; do not compare them. Darden prints one 'Average/Median' figure for the GRE and calls the range ends Low and High. It publishes no sectional GRE scores and no share of the class submitting each test.

Work experience

Darden's class profile gives an average of 5.67 years of work experience and no range. Its pages differ: the admissions FAQ says the average candidate has four years. This page uses the class profile for the Class of 2027.

Darden's FAQ says it has no minimum work experience requirements, and that internships and cooperative education are not considered full-time work experience.

Industry before Darden (share of students)

Share of the Class of 2027, industries as Darden lists them. Media/Entertainment is shortened from Communication/Media/Entertainment. Other is Darden's own bucket, placed last here.

Undergraduate major

Darden's admissions FAQ says typically fewer than 50% of its students were undergraduate business or economics majors. It does not publish a full split by major on the pages we read.

02 · Placements

Where UVA Darden MBA graduates go

Class of 2025, from Darden's Class of 2025 Full-Time MBA Employment Outcome Data report. Dollar figures are as the report prints them. We did not find a Class of 2026 report on the pages we read.

Darden counts 352 graduates: 327 seeking employment and 25 not (12 starting a new business, 5 company-sponsored or already employed, 4 continuing education, 4 other reasons). The offer and acceptance shares below are of the 327 seeking employment.

Of those 327, the report shows 79.5% with a first offer by graduation and a further 10.7% within three months after, which add up to 90.2% (our own sum; Darden prints the two bands, not the total).

For accepted offers it shows 76.8% by graduation and a further 12.5%, adding up to 89.3% (also our sum). In the tiles, the first band is by graduation and the second within three months after.

By work authorisation, offers by graduation were 85.4% (permanent) and 70.5% (non-permanent), and accepted offers by graduation 82.3% and 68.2%. Permanent means citizen or permanent resident of the school's country; 198 and 129 were seeking.

Pay is base salary, which the report says excludes any signing or starting bonus. It leaves out entries of $0 and non-responses. 283 of the 292 graduates who accepted a job (96.9%) reported base salary. The low was $66,000 and the high $235,000.

For the non-permanent group the high was $192,000. Darden counts compensation only for jobs accepted within three months of graduation, and outcomes collected within four months of the latest graduation date.

The signing or starting bonus is reported separately: 246 graduates (86.9% of those who reported salary) gave one. The mean was $36,906, the median $30,000, the low $7,500 and the high $110,200. Do not add this to base pay.

Industry of the job (share of accepted jobs)

Share of the 292 Class of 2025 graduates who had accepted a job. Smaller: Manufacturing 2.7%; Energy 2.4%; Transportation and Logistics 2.4%; Other 1.0%; Non-Profit/Education 0.7%; Real Estate 0.7%; Government 0.3%; Media/Entertainment 0.3%.

Function of the job (share of accepted jobs)

Share of the 292 accepted jobs. Smaller: Information Technology 3.1%; Human Resources 1.0%; Other 0.7%.

Median base salary by industry

The report also gives mean base salaries of $184,809 for Consulting, $165,680 for Financial Services and $137,965 for Technology.

Median base salary by function

The report also gives mean base salaries of $182,581 for Consulting and $158,402 for Finance/Accounting. It shows Human Resources and Other as I/D, which we read as insufficient data.

Location of the job

North America took 98.3% of accepted jobs (287, median base $175,000), Latin America and Caribbean 1.0% (3) and Asia 0.7% (2: one Eastern Asia, one Southern Asia). The report shows none in Africa, Europe or Oceania, and none in Canada.

Share of all accepted jobs, by U.S. region as the report groups them.

How graduates found the job

The report shows 70.5% (206) of accepted jobs came through school-facilitated sources, led by internship conversion or school-sourced internship at 48.3% (141). Graduate-facilitated sources gave 29.5% (86), led by personal contacts at 11.3% and online postings at 10.3%.

Employers

The Class of 2025 report we read does not name employers.

03 · Fees and scholarships

What it costs, and how to pay less

These are Darden's 2026-27 figures for one academic year, for the Class of 2028, in US dollars. The $83,000 is for Virginia domicile; the budget is the Virginia-domicile total for the nine enrolled months. The deposit is the total for Rounds 1, 2 and 3.

Darden says the 2027-28 cost of attendance for the Class of 2029 will be available in late March 2027. It publishes no two-year total on the pages we read.

The $4,000 deposit tile is the total for Rounds 1, 2 and 3. Early Action is $6,000 (see the deposit table below).

Non-Virginia domicile: tuition and fees $88,000, the other lines as above, total $123,196. International students: tuition and fees $88,240, transportation $4,000 and no federal loan fees, total $125,420.

Only students enrolled in the UVA Student Health Insurance plan are billed for it. Federal loan fees are included only for federal borrowers. Room, board and personal living costs cover only the nine months you are enrolled in classes.

Darden says financial aid cannot cover expenses before the programme starts or in the summer months, and that you must apply for financial aid every year. International students should allow $7,000 more for a spouse and $4,000 for each additional dependent on the I-20.

Admission deposits

Darden says deposits are non-refundable but are applied to your tuition account as credit when you enrol, and that scholarship recipients may be given an earlier deadline.

Application fee

The fee is $250 and non-refundable. For 2026-27, a $100 reduction (fee $150) applies if you attend in-person partner events, off-site Darden-hosted events or Darden webinars. A $150 reduction (fee $100) applies to in-person events at UVA Darden DC Metro or Charlottesville.

Events attended from 1st May 2026 to 1st May 2027 qualify, and reductions cannot be combined.

Darden lists full application fee waivers for 2025-26 reapplicants, U.S. military veterans and active-duty service members, current and recently separated government employees, national service alumni, first-generation college students, UVA alumni and current UVA graduate students, and alumni of Virginia colleges and universities.

Scholarships

Darden's admissions FAQ says scholarships are available to international students. On the pages we read, Darden does not publish the share of students receiving scholarships, an average award, or score or GPA thresholds for merit awards.

04 · Rounds and deadlines

Which round, and by when

Darden's 2026-27 deadlines are for the Full-Time MBA Class of 2029. Darden says each round admits students to the class matriculating in August 2027. Round 1 has closed. Round 3 has three deadlines, in March, April and May.

Early Action, binding or non-binding, had a deadline of 9th Sep 2026 and a scheduled decision date of 28th Oct 2026. Darden lists limited open interviews for it. This page gives only the scheduled date, not whether results were released then.

Darden says that for 2026-27 it is layering in spring application deadlines in March, April and May.

Darden says historically most applicants apply in Round 2, and that with each passing deadline fewer seats and less scholarship money remain.

Interview invitations are sent on a rolling basis up to and including each round's decision release date.

Darden publishes interview windows only for Early Action (open interviews 24th Aug to 8th Sep 2026, invite-only interviews expected 17th Sep to 28th Oct 2026); for Rounds 1 to 3 it does not publish them on the pages we read.

Darden's FAQ strongly encourages international applicants to apply in Early Action or Round 1, though offers are still made in Round 2 and Round 3. International applicants interested in Round 3 should plan to apply by 1st April.

Darden's deadlines page also lists its Future Year Scholars Program, a deferred pathway primarily for college seniors, with 2026 deadlines of 22nd Apr and 15th Jul 2026, both passed. This page covers the Full-Time MBA only.

05 · Clubs and activities

Life outside class

Activities are as described on each club's own page on Darden's site; the club names in the table link to those pages. Only clubs whose own page we read are listed.

What some clubs do

A typical first-year day

Darden's FAQ gives a typical first-year day: first class 8:00 a.m. to 9:25 a.m., with Learning Team typically 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. It says students are not able to work while enrolled in the Full-Time MBA.

06 · Process

From application to decision

1. Choose your roundBefore you start

   Pick Early Action, Round 1, Round 2 or Round 3 (March, April or May). Darden says early action is recommended for candidates who know Darden is at the top of their list, and offers a binding and a non-binding option.

   Early Action has already closed for this cycle.

2. Gather your documentsBefore you submit

   Unofficial transcripts for all degree-related coursework, a test score or an approved test waiver, a one-page resume for most applicants and a recommendation. Darden must receive a verified test score within one week of the deadline.

   Darden says recommendations are typically the slowest part, so line up your recommender well in advance.

3. Write the short answers and the videoBefore you submit

   Two 200-word short answers, then one video essay with 90 seconds to respond to a randomly generated question.

   Darden says to be specific, reflective and authentic.

4. Submit the application

   Complete the application and pay the $250 fee, less any event reduction or waiver. Darden says your application must be submitted and the fee paid by the deadline to be considered.

   After you submit, you cannot edit the application or add recommenders.

5. InterviewBy invitation

   Interviews are required before admission. For Rounds 1, 2 and 3 the interview is invitation-only, after your application has been reviewed. Early Action also has limited open interviews. They last up to 45 minutes.

   Darden says an invitation should be seen as a positive indicator no matter when it is received.

6. Decision

   Darden releases decisions by round. Admitted candidates then pay one or two admission deposits, which are non-refundable but credited to tuition (see section 03).

   Darden publishes no waitlist process on the pages we read.

07 · What you need

What goes into the application

1. Eligibility

A college or university degree equivalent to a four-year American bachelor's degree. Darden's FAQ says a candidate whose degree took only three years of study is eligible if it is equivalent to a four-year American bachelor's. Darden has no specific prerequisites, but recommends accounting and statistics before you start. Its FAQ says it has no minimum requirements for work experience. Admission is for the fall only, and Darden does not admit anyone who already holds an MBA from an AACSB-accredited school.

2. Test score

Darden accepts the GMAT (Previous and Current editions), GRE, Executive Assessment, MCAT and LSAT, and its admissions committee views them equivalently. It sets no minimum GMAT, GRE or GPA. A verified score, sent directly by the testing agency, is needed for the application to be complete unless you receive a waiver. Darden must receive it within one week of the deadline, and scores must be valid on the deadline date. Darden suggests starting verification two weeks before. School codes: GMAC KC7-0X-86, ETS 4629, TOEFL 5820.

Darden's pages differ on repeat attempts. One FAQ answer says it accepts the GMAT Superscore and looks at all valid attempts. Another says it considers your highest total score and does not combine scores. This page does not choose between them.

Darden decides test waivers case by case. Factors include an undergraduate GPA above its recent class average (around 3.5 in past years), an advanced degree in an analytical field, and at least three years of professional experience, especially quantitative.

Waiver decisions average 10 to 14 business days, and a waiver is valid for the cycle in which it is granted only.

3. English test

Required if your bachelor's degree came from a university where the medium of instruction was not English. Darden accepts TOEFL, IELTS, PTE and Duolingo English Test. It sets no minimum score and gives the average TOEFL as 106. TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date. A test is strongly recommended if your bachelor's was not in English but your master's or PhD was.

4. Essays

These are Darden's two short-answer prompts and word limits for the 2026-27 cycle, as printed on its application update. Earlier cycles had three short answers.

Essay 1: Relationships Matter Here (200 words)

Essay 2: Careers With Purpose (200 words)

Darden's guidelines describe the Additional Comments section as not an additional essay. It is for connecting the dots, such as explaining a gap, and Darden advises keeping it brief.

5. Video essay

New this cycle. The video essay is in addition to the two short answers. You have 90 seconds to respond to a randomly generated question, pulled from a pool of questions written by the Admissions Committee. Darden says it is not looking for perfection and asks you to lead with authenticity. Darden does not publish the pool of questions on the pages we read.

6. Recommendation

One recommendation is required. You may include a second, but it should offer new insight into you and your candidacy. Choose someone who knows you well, has supervised you in a professional setting and directly observed your work, typically within the last few years. Darden says strictly academic recommendations are typically less helpful.

The process is completely electronic. Your recommender fills out a ratings grid across a set of competencies and answers three short questions: a brief description of their interaction with you and your role in their organisation; how your performance compares to other well-qualified people in similar roles; and the most important piece of constructive feedback they have given you, the circumstances and your response.

Darden publishes no separate recommendation deadline or recommender word limits on the pages we read. It says recommendations are typically the slowest part, so identify recommenders well in advance of your deadline.

7. Other documents

A resume: Darden says a one-page resume is sufficient for most applicants with under ten years of professional work experience, and welcomes personal details such as hobbies, books, podcasts and countries visited. Unofficial transcripts for all degree-related coursework, with translations if the institution is non-English-speaking; official transcripts are needed before the start if you enrol. The $250 application fee (see section 03).

08 · What Darden wants

How Darden reads your file

Darden says its admissions process is comprehensive and asks you to treat the application as a storytelling exercise. Here is what it describes, and what each means for your application.

Darden says at least two members of the Admissions Committee review each application. A balance in the three areas is valued, but it says there is no formula that ensures admission. It publishes no weights on the pages we read.

09 · Interview questions

What candidates say Darden interviewers ask

Five types of question that candidates describe, based on candidates' own accounts of their Darden interviews from 2021 to 2026. The tag says how likely that type of question is: high means it comes up in close to half of candidate accounts or more, medium in roughly a quarter to just under half, and low in fewer than a quarter.

The long life story, the three whys (why an MBA, why now, why Darden) and the closing chance to add anything or ask your own questions come up in most accounts.

Candidates also describe questions on short- and long-term goals, follow-ups on your career and studies, hobbies and life outside work, and how you would contribute to the community and clubs. Few accounts are from 2025 and 2026, so treat recent changes as signals.

Darden's own pages are the authority for the current format. No account describes a case exercise, a guesstimate, a written task or a group exercise. Candidates say the standard prep questions are enough.

10 · Interview experience

What the interview is actually like

What Darden says

What candidates report

Based on candidates' own accounts from 2021 to 2026, with few from 2025 and 2026. They are self-reported and recalled, and candidates who felt it went well post more often. Check Darden's pages for the current format.

11 · FAQs

Questions students ask about UVA Darden MBA