The University of Virginia’s College at Wise
Wise, Virginia
The University of Virginia’s College at Wise is one of the top public liberal arts colleges in the nation. A division of the University of Virginia, UVa-Wise is home to innovative majors like Virginia’s only undergraduate degree program in software engineering. The College is recognized by US News and World Report for having graduates with one of the lowest average debt loads of any public liberal arts college in the nation (currently ranked #2). UVa-Wise is a member of the Council for Public Liberal Arts (COPLAC). The College offers accredited programs in nursing, education, computer science, management information systems, and software engineering.
Get to know The University of Virginia’s College at Wise
Benefits
College Highlights
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Undergraduate research opportunities are abundant at UVa-Wise. Students work side by side with faculty members in a laboratory or field based research project. Student research at UVa-Wise has been published in The New York Times and presented at national conferences. Other opportunities for research include Healthy Appalachia, a unique partnership between the University of Virginia and UVa-Wise that looks at improving the quality of life and health care in southwest Virginia.
STUDY ABROAD
Students have an array of possibilities to study abroad because of UVa-Wise’s relationship with sister-schools in Europe, Chile, and the United Kingdom. Other partnerships open up possibilities to study at more than 400 universities in 65 countries ranging from Bulgaria to Uruguay. UVa-Wise also sponsors week-long trips to locales such as India, Ecuador, China, and Belize during fall and spring break weeks. Professors lead these trips that are designed to spark students’ interest in travel.
The Peake Honors Program offers high achieving students special seminars that emphasize rigorous thinking and discussion.
SERVICE
Three national fraternities and four national sororities on campus are service based. They focus on beautification projects, constructing play units for the severely handicapped, and other environmental projects.
CLASS SIZE
The number of sections of each class size.
2-9: 130 | 10-19: 162 | 20-29: 67
30-39: 7 | 40-49: 6 | 50-99: 2 | 100+: 0
ENROLLMENT BY ETHNICITY
Nonresident aliens: 0%
Hispanic/Latino: 1%
Black or African American, non-Hispanic: 10%
White, non-Hispanic: 78%
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: 0%
Asian, non-Hispanic: 1%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: 0%
Two or more races, non-Hispanic: 0%
Race and/or ethnicity unknown: 9%
ENGAGED FACULTY
UVa-Wise professors love to teach; several members of the faculty have been honored with statewide awards for outstanding classroom teaching.
The most popular majors based on the number of graduates in 2015 at UVa-Wise are psychology, administration of justice, business administration, and education.
Classes at UVa-Wise are small, averaging 17 students per class. Classes are taught by faculty members at UVa-Wise not graduate students, so students have the opportunity to develop relationships with faculty members beginning with the very first day of class!
Faculty members sponsor clubs, coach athletic teams, and work side by side with students doing undergraduate research. At the end of four years, faculty members know students well and can help direct them to graduate and professional school opportunities as well as help them to make employment connections.
SPECIAL STUDY OPTIONS
Programs available at this institution.
Accelerated program
Cooperative education program
Distance learning
Double major
Dual enrollment
Independent study
Internships
Liberal arts/career combination
Student-designed major
Study abroad
Teacher certification program
LIFE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
Southwest Virginia is home to the State Theater of Virginia and great local music but it’s the natural beauty that truly defines the area. In this scenic area, students can enjoy the outdoors by bicycling, hiking, fishing, skiing, and horseback riding. There are plenty of areas to explore including – High Knob, the Guest River Gorge, the Breaks Interstate Park, and Cumberland Falls.
The Outdoor Recreation program organizes activities throughout the year that include: jumping out of an airplane at 12,000 feet, caving, and trips to professional sports team events.
Intramural sports are incredibly popular; and the majority of students are involved. Activities include flag football, volleyball, dodgeball, ultimate Frisbee, water polo, and wiffleball just to name a few.
The College provides a number of activities including movies, lectures, and events. The Colgate Darden Lecture Serieshas funded nationally known speakers that include: Temple Grandin, Martha Nussbaum, Irshad Manji, Steven Pinker, and Br. Guy Consolmagno.
The Pro-Art Association brings a variety of performances to campus and to the surrounding each year. Past events have included the Joffrey Ballet and the Vienna Boys Choir.
SCHOOL LOCATION
Wise, VA amid the scenic Appalachian Mountains in southwest Virginia. A 400 acre campus located 60 minutes from Tri-Cities, Tennessee and Virginia.
ATHLETICS
NCAA Division II, Appalachian Athletic Conference and the Mountain East Conference.
6 Men’s sports: Basketball, Baseball, Football, Cross-Country Golf, Tennis
6 Women’s sports: Basketball, Volleyball, Softball, Cross-Country, Tennis, Lacrosse
RESIDENCE LIFE
Percent of students living on campus.
First-time, first-year (freshman) students: 69%
Undergraduates: 38%
Campus housing options.
Coed dorms
Men’s dorms
Women’s dorms
Apartments for single students
Special housing for disabled students
GUARANTEED ACHIEVERS
- 100% of software engineering graduates are employed upon graduation
- 95% of education graduates are employed in their education field or are pursuing an advanced degree.
- 90% of natural science graduates are admitted to graduate or professional school upon first application.
PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
UVa-Wise is the only school in Virginia with an undergraduate software engineering major. Companies such as Norththrop Grumman and CGI are closely affiliated with this program. Through partnerships with these companies, students have a wide variety of opportunities for internships, financial assistance, and future employment opportunities. Sykes, Inc has partnered with UVa-Wise and the Department of Business and Economics to offer UVa-Wise students a unique opportunity for student internships and job opportunities with the international technical support company.
INTERNSHIPS, GRADUATE SCHOOLS, AND EMPLOYERS
UVa-Wise students have recently completed internships with: Carolina Panthers, Disney, Henrico County Police, Northrup Grumman, U. S. Forest Service, Virginia Port Authority, Virginia’s Attorney General’s office.
Recent graduates have attended the following graduate/professional schools: Appalachia College of Pharmacy, Carnegie Mellon University, East Tennessee University – Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, University of Dayton, Purdue University, Duke University, and University of Virginia.
Employers of recent graduates include: Eastman Chemical Company, Northrop-Grumman, Wellmont Health Systems, Tampa Bay Buccaneer, ESPN, University of Virginia Health System, HBO, United States Geological Survey – National Fish Health Lab
ALUMNI
Notable alumni include: Frank Taylor, actor; Ron Short, playwright, actor, musician; Jerry Kilgore former Attorney General of Virginia; Hollie Kiser, the first winner of “Make Me a Supermodel”, Randy Hippeard, quarterback for the Orlando Predators, and Brent Kennedy, author.
Admission
ADMISSIONS FACTORS
Very important
Rigor of secondary school record | Class rank
Important
Standardized test scores | Talent/ability
Considered
Application Essay | Recommendation(s)
Interview | Extracurricular activities
Character/personal qualities | First generation
Racial/ethnic status | Volunteer work
Work experience
FRESHMAN PROFILE
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th Percentile: 490 | 75th Percentile: 580
SAT Math
25th Percentile: 460 | 75th Percentile: 550
ACT Composite
25th Percentile: 17 | 75th Percentile: 24
ACT Math
25th Percentile: 17 | 75th Percentile: 24
ACT English
25th Percentile: 17 | 75th Percentile: 25
Tuition & Cost
Tuition (in-state): $5,527
Tuition (out-of-state): $23,262
Fees: $4,725
Room & Board: $10,751
Room: $6,388
Board: $4,363
What Others are Saying
Contact The University of Virginia’s College at Wise
Contact Admissions
www.uvawise.edu/admissions/incoming-freshman
(276) 328-0102
info@uvawise.edu
Campus Location
1 College Avenue
Wise, VA 24293
(276) 328-0102