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Darden School of Business

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VerifiedPublicEstd. 1955
Founded
1955
Type
Public
University Guide

About Darden School of Business

Explore overview, courses, fees, admissions, campus life, scholarships and student accommodation guidance in one premium Admistay guide.

Associated with the University of Virginia, the Darden School of Business is a public graduate business school located at the UVA Darden Goodwin Family Grounds in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1955 and named after the former president of the University of Virginia, the institute is a reputed name in the US Education System with a student enrollment of over 1000 students which comprises nearly 33% of international applicants from across the globe. Darden School of Business (University of Virginia) has been ranked 12th as per LinkedIn Top MBA Colleges 2024. 

It is well known for its Executive Education programs and boasts of having more than 2 million online students. The institute offers some brilliant and unparalleled programs including 4 graduate and 11 dual degree courses with its MBA being the top-most choice among aspirants seeking to study in the USA. The university’s alumni include former CEOs, presidents, and founders of famous companies and organizations. It also provides professors who are experts in their fields and are very patient and responsible.

Darden School of Business admissions are available in several intakes round the year and follow an early decision deadline of September 3. The institute requires a nonrefundable fee of 250 USD from all its applicants. It is regarded as one of the most selective schools in the world that demands excellent academic performance and observes an acceptance rate of around 25%.

Darden School of Business Rankings

The instute is ranked by various organizations and different surveys as follows:

  • Ranked 12th as per LinkedIn Top MBA Colleges 2024.
  • The school ranks 13th best in all the business schools by the survey results of US News 2022.
  • #9 for Masters in Management by QS subject rankings 2022.
  • 9th on 'MBA Education in the US' list by The Economist Rankings 2022.
  • 8th in the 'Global: Overseas Study' list by The Economist 2022.

Highlights

University Type Public University
Establishment Year 1955
Applications Accepted Online
Faculty Members 73
Percentage of International Students 34%
Application Fee 250 USD
Application Season Multiple intakes
Acceptance rate 25%
English language proficiency score TOEFL or equivalent
Financial Aid Available as grants, awards and scholarships
Website www.darden.virginia.edu

Darden School of Business Campust

  • The Darden School of Business’s Campus is located in Charlottesville, Virginia which is around 2 hours from Washington DC. The campus contains a full-service hotel, dining facilities for 400 people, a 450-seat auditorium, a video production unit, and the Camp Library.
  • The instute has 4 campuses in Charlottesville, Washington DC, San Francisco Bay Area and Shanghai. The University of Virginia has been voted to have the 'Most Beautiful College Campus in the USA' by Best College Reviews.
  • The university has around 1000 students that gain practical knowledge through the events it conducts like seminars, webinars, and workshops. The students have free unlimited access to the library and can also consult the alumni in case of doubts.
  • Charlottesville, Virginia is famous for being on number 3rd as USA's Happiest Cities, located east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is also known for the Monticello Home, Ashlawn Highlands, and the historic Downtown Mall.
  • The campuses are known as Grounds and are designed in a neoclassical fashion. They harbor lawn rooms, gardens, the Rotunda Library, Darden UVA Bookstore, Inn at Darden and the Academical Village.
  • Students can participate from more than 40 clubs and organizations, including the Black Executive MBAs, the Network of Executive Women, or the Intramural Sports Club.
  • DSB has a total of 671 students with about 33% international students.

Housing facilities/Residence

UVA Darden School of Business offers limited on-ground housing. More options are available off-campus in apartment complexes on Arlington Boulevard, Ivy Road, Downtown Mall, Belmont etc. The following housing options are offered to the candidates applying to the institute.

  • Copeley Hill Apartments: Single or married students can occupy this apartment which offers single, double and triple bedroom options. The rooms are well furnished and have a wifi connection.
  • Faulkner Drive Rooms: These are seven single occupancy rooms each bedroom having a private bathroom and the rate being 660 USD per month.
  • Piedmont Apartments: This housing option offers furnished single bedrooms at a rate of 900 USD per month and unfurnished double bedrooms at the rate of 1080 USD.
  • The following facilities are available at these-
    • Furnished and unfurnished single and triple bedroom apartments with double bed, six drawer dresser, coffee table, nightstand, etc.
    • Full private baths (Faulkner Drive Rooms)
    • AC 
    • Shared washer and dryer
    • Full shared kitchen with microwave, refrigerator
    • Wood flooring
  • For those who wish to live off-campus, there are a variety of apartment complexes on Arlington Boulevard, Ivy Road, and Old Ivy Road that are within walking distance of the school.
  • Students can check off-grounds Residential options through the Off-Grounds Property Listings and connect with Countess Hughes on this email [email protected] or this phone number- 434.924.3314 for assistance.
  • Students will pay 650 USD-18,176 USD for rooms and about 4,950 USD for meal plans.
  • On-campus residence application for international graduate students is available on the UVA Housing Applications page. Students will have to apply through DVA NetBadge and submit an Application form, Bank statement and a copy of passport.

Darden School of Business Courses

The institute offers a plethora of courses for international students including 4 graduate degree programs and around 11 dual degrees for the students. While its full-time courses include MBA, MSBA, Executive MBA, Global Executive MBA formats, among others, the dual degree programs it offers comprises MBA/MSDS, MBA/JD, MBA/MD, etc.

Some of the popular programs available at the institute are discussed as follows:

  1. Two year MBA program: This is a 21-month full-time program for the students
  2. Executive MBA program: This is a hybrid of the in-person and online program where the student has to come to the university once a month during a weekend
  3. MS in Business Analytics: This is a 12-month graduate program that is delivered both in-person and online methods.
  4. Ph.D. program: This is a multi-year program that covers the study of Ethics, Entrepreneurship and Leadership skills.

The school offers an open program for the people who want to learn at their own pace and as long as they want to. It also provides the people with an experience of 12 years and above in the field of business with an opportunity to learn about strategic leadership.

UVA Darden School of Business has been ranked on top by The Economist, Forbes, Princeton Review and many others for its MBA program and faculty available. The top-ranked Executive MBA program is offered in hybrid mode with online and face-to-face Interactions with its 6 Executive clubs. The core curriculum is taught through the Case Method. 

Darden School of Business Application Process

How to Apply?

Application Portal: The students have to apply online on the official website of the university.
Application Fee: The application fee is 250 USD.
Basic Admission Requirements:

The students have to submit the following documents when applying to the institute.

  • Official Academic transcripts
  • The applicant should have a minimum GPA of 3.5.
  • The students have to submit their GMAT or GRE scores during the application process with minimum scores of GMAT: 713 and GRE: 160 or equivalent.
  • English proficiency scores like TOEFL or IELTS or PTE  score is required for applicants whose first language is other than English. The university doesn't have any minimum scores for the tests.
  • At least two letters of recommendation for the applicants.
  • A one or two pages long resume or CV
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Financial statement to provide evidence of the ability to meet the educational expenses.

Darden School of Business Cost of Attendance

For aspirants of the institute applying in the upcoming session, an estimated budget for international students looking to study in the US has been tabulated below.

Tuition & Fees Amount (in USD)
Tuition 72,800
Health Insurance 2,814
Meals 5,000
Living Expenses 18,214
Darden MBA Case Fee 2,000
Computer 1,500
Transportation 4,000
Books and Supplies 3,000

Darden School of Business Scholarships and Financial Aid

The institute provides financial aid for international students in the form of loans and scholarshipsDarden School of Business to study in the USA. The loans that the school provides include:

  • Custom Graduate Loan: This loan is offered by the Discover bank and the maximum limit for a loan is 98,000 USD and the loan repayment starts 9 months after the graduation.
  • Prodigy Finance Loan: This loan covers up to 80% of the cost of attendance and the repayments begin 6 months after graduation.

The international students have a set of scholarships offered for them and all the applicants are offered merit scholarships.

  • International Business Society scholarships: Available to residents of South America, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia. It is a need-based scholarship. 

    Batten Scholars Programs: It is a merit scholarship offered for all the applicants who have taken the 2 year MBA program at the university. This scholarship requires students to have entrepreneurial and leadership skills.
  • Utt Family Scholarship: It is a merit-based scholarship for the Darden students who exhibit leadership skills in the field of military and athletic service.

The other kinds of awards that students can avail at the school are as follows:

  • Darden Jefferson Fellowships are awarded to students who show exceptional skills of diplomatic decisiveness, ethical leadership, etc.
  • Madison & Monroe Scholarship is available for all the Darden students.
  • Franklin family fellowship is the scholarship that is awarded to a student from the Asia Pacific region who shows great academic potential.

Darden School of Business Placements

  • Around 94% of the students are placed within 3 months of their graduation with a starting salary of 127,767 USD.
  • The school conducts workshops and mock interviews for the students to be well versed in the placement process.
  • International Students get recruited by companies like Deutsche Bank, Fortive, McKinsey, Microsoft, BlackRock, Barclays, etc.
  • Candidates are prepared for internships from the first year onwards in industries like consulting, technology, retail and energy. All students get summer internships.
  • Students must consult with Career Advisor Denise Karaoli at Career Development Center. After which students can even start a business through the Darden i.Lab funding of 13,000 USD. More details are available here- https://ilab.virginia.edu/

Darden School of Business Alumni Network

The following mentioned names are the notable alumni of the university

  • Veneka Chagwedera: Founder of Nouri Inc
  • Katie Bisbee: CEO of DonorsChoose.org
  • Mark Sanford: former Governor of South Carolina

The alumni are offered lifetime services after their graduation such as unlimited access to all the cases in Darden, support from the Alumni Career services and access to the library databases.

Courses & Fees

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Courses

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Exams

TOEFL · IELTS

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Admission Guide

Admission Process

The Darden School of Business is a prestigious business school of the University of Virginia. With an acceptance rate of 36.5%, the school is considered to be one of the most reputed schools in the U.S. The UVA Darden School of Business offers some exceptional programs including degree programs such as full-time MBA program which include 11 dual degrees and 4 graduate programs with MBA being the top choice of aspirants seeking to pursue their MBA in the U.S.

  • There is a student enrollment of 1000+ on-campus students along with over 2 million online learners.
  • Currently, 3,000 executive education learners are enrolled at Darden School of Business.
  • According to US News and World Report UVA Darden School of Business ranks #11 in Best Business Schools in USA.
  • University and college degree equivalent to a 4-year American undergraduate degree.
  • One page resume, 2 letters of recommendation and official transcripts are mandatory admission requirements for Indian Students
  • Scholarships to first-year international students are granted through endowments and are continued in the second year as long as they maintain a GPA of 3.

Highlights

Application Portal Official course website
Application Fees 250 USD
Acceptance Rate 33.6%
Average GMAT 713
Average GRE Verbal & GRE Quantitative 161 | 160
Mode of Payment Online
Academic Calendar Semester based
Intake Sessions Fall
Work Experience 4 years
Financial Aid Scholarships and grants

Darden School of Business Admission Deadline

The UVA Darden School of Business offers multiple deadlines to students. The deadlines for academic session 2022 are

Category Deadline Decision
Early Action September 9, 2021 (closed) October 20, 2021 
Round 1 October 6, 2021 (closed) December 8, 2021
Round 2 January 10, 2022 (closed) March 16, 2022
Round 3 April 6, 2022  May 4, 2022

Darden offers multiple deadlines to students so that they can create a strong application as the selection process is very competitive. With each round of deadlines, they have limited seats to offer, and therefore they have very few scholarship opportunities to offer to our candidates.

For applicants who submitted their applications on Round 1, Round 2 and Round 3, we have several interview slots to choose from. For all other rounds, interviews are conducted on an invitation basis. If an applicant is offered admission to any of our prestigious programs, you have nine days to confirm your seat to accept the offer.

Darden School of Business International Admissions

International students should have to fulfill the following requirements to take admission to UVA Darden School of Business:

Academic Documents and Qualifications: All international students are required to hold a degree which is equivalent to a four-year American undergraduate degree. Darden also accepts degrees that were earned in three years of study.

All applicants are required to submit complete applications including official transcripts, letters of recommendation, essay, test scores (GMAT/GRE), and English proficiency score (TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE).

It is recommended for international students to submit their applications in initial rounds so that they have sufficient time to obtain a visa and make arrangements for their stay in the U.S.

Supporting Documents: Transcripts, offer letter copy of applicants’ passport, a letter of sponsor, visa-related documents, documents of financial support, a personal statement,

These documents are to be sent at the following address

Darden School Admissions
University of Virginia
100 Darden Boulevard
Charlottesville, Virginia 22903

Remote Interviews: UVA Darden School of Business conducts interviews for all the programs offered by them. Interview for international students are conducted via skype by some of our noted alumni and international admissions team

English Language Proficiency Requirement

Candidates whose first language is other than English are required to take either TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. The requirements for taking the test varies for each candidate. If an applicant has received an undergraduate degree from a university where the medium of study was in English they are not required to take the test whereas if the medium of language is other than English the candidate is required to take the test.

Although, Darden does not have a minimum score requirement for the test, except if the candidate is giving TOEFL their average score must be not less than 106.

Visa Requirement for International Students

Once international students are admitted they are required to submit a request for form I-20. The Form I-20 is required to be submitted by international students along with proof of financial statements for their years of study.

The form I-20 indicates that the applicant has sufficient funds to pay their tuition and living expenses. The candidate must apply on time so that the I-20 certificate of eligibility for the F-1 student visa can be issued by the international admissions team.

The I-20 form allows you to apply for the F-1 student visa which legally entitles you to study and stay in the U.S.

UVA Darden School of Business Graduate Admissions

The UVA Darden School of Business offers 11 dual degrees and 4 graduate programs. Each program has set criteria and eligibility which is to be met by the applicant

Program offered Application form Application fees (USD) Academic requirements Supporting documents English language proficiency accepted
Full-Time MBA Full-Time MBA 250 GMAT/GRE, official transcripts, 2 LOR, GPA 3.6 Essay, resume IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE
Executive MBA Executive MBA 250 GMAT/GRE, official transcripts, 2 LOR, GPA 3.6 Essay, resume IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE
Masters of Science in Business Analytics Masters of Science in Business Analytics 250 GMAT/GRE, official transcripts, 2 LOR, GPA 3.6 Essay, resume IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE

The USA has been considered to be one of the most preferred places to study by international students. And studying at a business school like Darden is a matter of great pride for its students.

The UVA Darden School of Business is considered to be one of the most reputed universities in the U.S. The MBA experience at Darden can be life-changing for any aspiring MBA professional who wants to study in the U.S. as they are a close-knit community with an exceptional faculty which combines classroom learning with experiential learning. Studying at Darden can give you a major boost to your career as some of the best companies hire our graduates which will help you advance your career with great opportunities

FAQs

Ques.  How can I learn about application information specific to international applicants?

Ans. Visit International Applicant Information on the school’s website. 

Ques.  Why is English proficiency required for applicants?

Ans. Darden’s MBA format is built upon an immersive learning experience that requires public speaking, group discussion and active class participation. To succeed, students must possess a highly developed proficiency in written and oral English.

Ques.  How are English abilities accessed?

Ans. Written and oral communication, as well as one of the following tests:

  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test)
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
  • PTE (Pearson Test of English)

Ques.  Are International applicants required to take one of the approved English assessment tests listed above (even if I attended a school where the medium of instruction was English)?

Ans. Not Required: Candidates who received their bachelor's degree from a university where the medium of instruction was English are not required to take an English language assessment test (i.e., they are exempt).

Required: Candidates who received their bachelor's degree from a university where the medium of instruction was not English are required to take an English language assessment test.

Strongly Recommended: Candidates who received their bachelor's degree from a university where the medium of instruction was not English, but received a master's or PhD degree from a university where the medium of instruction was English are strongly encouraged to take an English language assessment test.

Ques.  What is the minimum accepted TOEFL Score? Do you keep scores submitted in prior years?

Ans. We do not have a minimum requirement, but the average TOEFL is 106. TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date. 

Ques.  If I am an international candidate, when should I apply?

Ans. All applicants to Darden should apply in one of our four rounds. International applicants are encouraged to apply in earlier rounds such as Early Action, Round 1 or Round 2 but offers are still made to qualified international applicants in Round 3.

Ques.  How can I contact students of my country/region of the world, and how can I learn more about the International Community at Darden?

Ans. Contact the Student Ambassadors, several international student ambassadors are listed on this page.

  • Learn about the International MBA Community.
  • Visit Global MBA Opportunities.
  • Discover international Student Organizations.

Ques.  I am an international student, and need an F-1 visa. Am I eligible for UVA’s M.S. in Business Analytics Program?

Ans. The M.S. in Business Analytics is a non-residential program. I-20 forms (student visas) cannot be provided for study.

Ques.  What jobs does the M.S. in Business Analytics prepare me for?

Ans. Upon completing the M.S. in Business Analytics Program, candidates will be well-prepared for a variety of analytics roles, be they embedded within an organization’s product, marketing, strategy, finance, or sales team, or external consultants, tasked with delivering on an outsourced need. Employers are recognizing the value of candidates who possess strong analytical skills as well as broad business perspectives.

Examples of positions and career opportunities for business analytics professionals include, but are not limited to:

  • Big data analytics specialist
  • Business analytics consultant
  • Business analytics manager
  • Business intelligence analyst
  • Data analyst
  • Marketing analytics lead/manager
  • Sales analytics lead/manager
  • Strategy and operations lead/manager
  • Web analytics lead/manager

Ques. Who are the major employers for Darden Business School?

Ans. The major employers for Darden Business School are top consulting, banking, and investment firms. Some of the firms which hire Darden graduates are Deloitte, PwC, JP Morgan Chase, Citi Group, Google and Amazon

Ques. What is the average salary of a Darden graduate?

Ans. 60,000 USD is the average salary of a Darden graduate.

Ques. Does Darden offer Undergraduate programs?

Ans. No, Darden School of Business exclusively offers 4 graduate degree and 11 dual degree programs

Ques. What MBA programs does Darden School of Business offer?

Ans. Full-Time MBA, Executive MBA, and Global Executive MBA

Ques. Does Darden offer admission in the spring semester?

Ans. Darden offers admissions in just the fall semester

Ques. What is the minimum accepted TOEFL score by Darden?

Ans. The minimum accepted TOEFL score is 106, provided it is valid for two years from the test date

Placements & Recruiters

Darden School of Business Placement Details

Darden School of Business in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States placement details include salary insights, top recruiters, and hiring trends to help students understand career outcomes and campus opportunities.

Students usually compare highest package, average package, and recruiter profile before applying. This section gives a compact overview of career outcomes and placement visibility in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States.

Recruiters
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Placement Metric

Highest Package

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Represents the top salary package reported in the available placement information.

Placement Metric

Average Package

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Shows the typical package range students may expect based on the available average salary data.

Placement information is currently limited.

More salary or recruiter data may be updated later for this college.

Rankings over the years

Year-wise highlights from global and country rankings available for this university.

2022

Highlights
2022
  • Business: #8 in country
  • Top source: Bloomberg
  • 1 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Business
  • 3 ranking records in 2022

2023

Highlights
2023
  • Business: #9 in country
  • Top source: US News
  • 1 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Business
  • 3 ranking records in 2023

2024

Highlights
2024
  • Business: #3 in country
  • Top source: Bloomberg
  • 1 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Business
  • 4 ranking records in 2024

2025

Highlights
2025
  • Best overall country rank: #10
  • Overall: #10 in country
  • Top source: Financial Times
  • 2 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Business, Overall
  • 2 ranking records in 2025

2026

Highlights
2026
  • Business: #24 in country
  • Top source: QS
  • 1 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Business
  • 1 ranking record in 2026

Contact Information

100 Darden Blvd, Charlottesville, VA 22903

+1-434-924-3900