Is UVA or the University of Washington more affordable for a Virginia resident?

Question

I’m a Virginia high school junior comparing UVA with the University of Washington. Since I would receive in-state tuition at UVA but pay out-of-state tuition at UW, I’m trying to understand which school would likely have the lower total cost after financial aid.

Accepted Answer

The biggest practical difference is that UVA charges you Virginia resident tuition and has a substantial need-based aid program for eligible Virginians, while the University of Washington would bill you at its much higher nonresident rate and offers relatively limited institutional need-based aid to out-of-state students. Federal Pell Grants, federal loans, and outside scholarships can be used at either school, but they rarely erase the full nonresident price difference at UW. Virginia is also not part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange, so that reduced regional tuition program would not lower UW’s cost.

For a Virginia resident, UVA will very likely have the lower net price, especially if your family qualifies for need-based assistance. Compare each school’s official net price calculator using the same parent income, assets, household size, and number of siblings in college. Barring a major renewable UW scholarship, UVA is the more affordable option.

For a Virginia resident, UVA will very likely have the lower net price, especially if your family qualifies for need-based assistance. Compare each school’s official net price calculator using the same parent income, assets, household size, and number of siblings in college. Barring a major renewable UW scholarship, UVA is the more affordable option.

Is UVA or the University of Washington more affordable for a Virginia resident?

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