Known as a "public Ivy," the University of Virginia offers in-state students a top-notch education at a reasonable price. The icing on the cake? UVA is the only U.S. college where students hang out and study inside a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to a gorgeous campus designed by university founder Thomas Jefferson.
Students seem to thrive: UVA has one of the highest graduation rates of any public university in the country, at 93%. It offers undergraduate programs in subjects like astronomy, environmental thought and practice, medieval studies and architecture, and UVA alumni enjoy higher than typical salaries when compared with graduates from similar colleges. Approximately 80% of its students receive some form of financial aid, including federal and state grants, scholarships, and loans.
The Cavaliers field 25 Division I varsity sports teams, and many are strong: UVA teams have won 35 NCAA national championships. Greek life also plays a major role in the social scene — about 35% of undergraduates take part in a sorority or fraternity — as do a handful of secret societies.
