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University of Virginia - Diversity - Diversity - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.46

Diversity

B
Where does this grade come from?View all Diversity rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Diversity Grades:

Quick Stats

African American 8%
Asian American 10%
Hispanic 4%
International 5%
Native American 0%
White 63%
Unknown 10%
Historically Black College/University? No
Tribal College? No
Out-of-State Students 33%
Common States of Residence
  • Foreign countries
  • Maryland
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
Student Age Breakdown Under 18: 1%
18-19: 29%
20-21: 34%
22-24: 15%
25+: 21%
Female Faculty 32%
Male Faculty 68%
Faculty Diversity African American: 4%
Asian American: 8%
Hispanic: 2%
International: 3%
Native American: 0%
White: 83%
Unknown: 0%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Student opinion varies a great deal on diversity issues. Some believe that diversity at UVA is good and getting better, while others see the University as primarily a school for rich white kids. Much of this depends on personal experience. Many students have encountered self-segregation among the various campus groups and feel this is one of the biggest barriers to a functioning diversity. The best way to experience diversity at Virginia is to seek it out for yourself—there are many different people at the school, once you get past social cliques. Now that the old stereotypes of first year dorms have been eradicated, there is really a chance for all students to intermingle successfully.

Overall, UVA could do better with diversity, but at least the administration recognizes this and is trying to promote a new look for the school. Tolerance and political involvement are getting better, and despite the self-segregation, there are still days when you’ll be surprised at how many languages you hear spoken or the mix of different students you see studying together in the library or partying on the Corner at Baja Bean or No. 3. Online organizations like Sustained Dialogue are taking steps to promote a more fully united campus community with parties like "Mix It Up" and open forums for discussion of issues of diversity on campus.

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Virginia Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Diversity at University of Virginia

kdunne

Education '15

4.6
A

Dive Into the Diversity

UVA is proud to promote its diverse community. Everywhere you turn there are people from different cultures and backgrounds than your own. If you want, you can learn about dozens of other cultures just by meeting new people who live in your dorm building.

Mar 24, 2012

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Diversity at University of Virginia

Caitlin132

Chemical Engineering '15

4.6
A

A Wonderful Mix

There are a lot of different races and genders at University of Virginia, but there definitely seems to be more guys than girls, which if you are a girl is not a bad thing. If you sit on a bench and just watch the student body go by you will feel like there is someone from every walk of life attending the University, it's a great feeling to see so many different kind of people come together for the same goal in life - a higher better education.

Feb 17, 2012

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Diversity at University of Virginia

cavgirl

History '13

3.8
B+

Ethnic and Racial Diversity

This university is really diverse. Although the majority or 60% of students are white, there are many international students or those that come from diverse ethnic backgrounds. While this diversity is great, many times students between the different races and ethnicities do not interact that much.

Feb 05, 2012

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Page 1 of 10
User rating for University of Virginia - Diversity is 3.5 out of 5 based on 30 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

How diverse is the student body in the following areas?

How diverse is your personal circle of friends in the following areas?

How accepting is the campus community as a whole toward someone who falls into the minority (ethnic, sexual, or religious)?

How would you best describe your personal political beliefs?

How would you best describe the political beliefs of campus as a whole?

Facts

Gay Pride

UVA is becoming increasingly more accepting of its gay and lesbian population. There are various active organizations at the University promoting gay awareness (Gay and Lesbian Christian Students Association, the Missionary, Out on Rugby, and the Queer Student Union). It took a while for UVA to get to this stage, though, and there is still evidence of intolerance in many places.

Political Activity

Charlottesville, while being a wonderful place to spend your four-year college experience, can be too sheltered from what’s going on in the world. Obviously some events (like the war in Iraq) bring out a lot of passion in the student population, and there are plenty of active organizations that feed this political passion among those students (Critical Mass, Take Back the Night, Amnesty International, Children of War, European Society, The Declaration, and Republican and Democrat Organizations). The level of political investment on campus showed during the 2008 presidential election campaign.

Economic Status

UVA students come off as pretty wealthy—with their cars, clothes, and drinking habits, it would seem they would have to be. However, there are plenty of students on financial aid, student loans, and scholarships. While many are from the upper/middle-class, there is a bit of diversity in economic backgrounds.

Most Common Religions

There are a few prominent Christian groups within the University that regularly hold meetings. Some religious groups include: the Baptist Student Union, Buddhist Meditation Society, Campus Crusade for Christ, Chabad Jewish Heritage Student Association, Korean Catholic Student Ministry, Muslim Students Association, Quaker Worship Group, and many more. However, keeping true to Jefferson’s ideal of the separation of church and state, there is no one religious affiliation associated with the University. Students tend to respect each other's beliefs.

Minority Clubs on Campus

There are many minority clubs at UVA, including the Black Student Union, Afghan Student Organization, Arab Student Organization, Asian Student Union, Black Student Alliance, Graduate Women in Business, Latin American Students Association, National Organization for Women at UVA, Society of the Virginia Irish, Society of Women Engineers, Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Among Youth (SPIC-MACAY), Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Union. Some of these groups have a much bigger presence on grounds than others—e.g., the Black Student Union and the National Organization for Women at UVA.

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Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Haley Bryant
Hometown
London, UK
Major
Media Studies

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
For additional information we encourage you to visit school websites or contact the schools directly.