Dining, Housing, & Tuition and Fees

Click on a link to be taken to the entry below.

Dining provides students numerous opportunities for meals and snacks from dining rooms, food courts, coffee shops, and convenience stores around Grounds. The residential dining rooms serve three meals on weekdays, as well as brunch and dinner on weekends, while select food court locations are open until late at night to offer a wide variety of dining options. Dining locations are accessible to students with disabilities.

The University student identification card is the student’s entry into the residential dining rooms. It allows students to use the meals and Plus Dollars on their dining plans, and tells them the current balances. If the card is lost or stolen, the card office must be notified immediately at 924-4508 to deactivate the card. A separate card is issued to students in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

Graduate Students have the option of selecting the Graduate Student Semester 50 Meal Plan. A specially-designed plan that includes meals at the Garden Room-an exclusive faculty and staff dining room on the West Range.

For more information, please Visit the Dining website at www.virginia.edu/dining or contact Meal Plan Coordinator, U.Va. Dining, P.O. Box 400312, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4312; (434) 982-5140, Fax: (434) 982-4995; dining@virginia.edu.

Meal plans are purchased for the entire academic year. First year students are required to purchase a meal plan for the entire year. All changes must be made by letter, on the Dining website (www.virginia.edu/dining) by completing the “Dining Plan Change Request” Form, or by filling out an “Intent to Change” Form at the Dining Services Administrative Office at Observatory Hill during a specific time period each semester. Please note that removing your meal plan from your QuickPay system does not cancel your meal plan.

Students may upgrade to a meal plan with more weekly or semester meals at any time during the academic year There is no fee for upgrading meal plans; however a $50 administrative fee is applied to all cancellations except for students graduating in December or studying abroad.Meal plan contracts are annual contracts, 2013-2014 meal plan rates are available on U.Va. Dining website at www.virginia.edu/dining.

Please note that the following descriptions of the meal plans do not include all relevant terms and conditions of the contract. Please refer to.www.virginia.edu/dining for complete terms and conditions. 

All Access Meal Plans lets students enjoy all-you-care-to-eat dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the residential dining rooms. Students receive all access to the dining rooms with these plans. Please visit our website at www.virginia.edu/dining for more information on all of our meal plan options. Plus Dollars All meal plans include Plus Dollars, which can be used in all dining locations. They work like an ATM or debit card, and students can use Plus Dollars for beverages, snacks, or full meals. The total purchase price is subtracted from the Plus Dollar dining plan balance. Students may increase the flexibility of their meal plan by purchasing additional Plus Dollars at any time. All charges are billed by Student Financial Services, and funds are available within one business day of sign-up.

With our new All Access Meal Plans, we are offering you open access to the residential dining locations – O’Hill, Fresh Food Company and Runk. We are excited to share our locations with you, and provide you with a place for nourishment, fellowship and forming connections. Our policies on Meal Exchange and To-Go meals at UVA Dining are changing as a result of the new meal plan structure. A To-Go meal will now count as a “Meal Exchange” swipe, and will be deducted from your account in the same manner. With the Ultimate Access Meal Plan, you will have three swipes per day to use for either Meal Exchange or To-Go meals. With the All Access 7, All Access 5, Semester 100 and Semester 50 Meal Plans, you will have two swipes per day to use for Meal Exchange or To-Go Meals. The hourly limitation remains the same, you will be allowed one swipe per hour whether you use a Meal Exchange or To-Go swipe. We want you to join us for your meals in our locations and share in the experience of dining at The University of Virginia. 

Residential Colleges and Language Houses Students enrolled in either the Hereford, Brown, Shea, French, or Spanish houses must choose a residential dining plan. These plans include banquets and special events which are part of the residential college experience. First-year students must select either the Residential Ultimate Access Meal Plan or the Residential All Access Meal Plan.

Brown College requires that all residents purchase a residential meal plan and it is expected that residents will eat in the College dining hall at the Fresh Food Company in Newcomb Hall. Hereford College requires that all residents purchase a residential dining plan and it is expected that residents will eat at Runk Dining for Sunday brunch or dinner and two additional dinners between Monday and Thursday evening.

Language Houses The French and Spanish language houses require that all residents participate in a Language House Dining Plan. Students are required to eat dinner Monday through Thursday at their respective language house.

Athletic Dining Plans Varsity student athletes are required to participate in an Athletic dining plan. These plans include dinners at the John Paul Jones athletic dining room, featuring recipes designed to meet the special nutritional needs of student-athletes. Only students athletes on varsity NCAA competing sports teams are eligible to participate in Athletic Dining plans.

Housing and Residence Life works collaboratively to create inclusive, welcoming communities where residents are empowered and encouraged to develop as scholars and leaders thorough self-governance and engagement in their residential community. Housing and Residence Life’s primary focus is to provide services and programmatic direction for all On-Grounds residential students (undergraduate and graduate), faculty, staff, and conference guests. With over 2 million square feet of residential building space, Housing and Residence Life (HRL) strives to create environments that support the academic, cultural and social goals of the University. Residential environments encompass a diverse array of building styles including apartment complexes, townhouses and single family homes. Graduate student housing is available in the historic Range, Copeley 1 & 2, and University Gardens.

On-Grounds housing applications for graduate students can be found online at www.virginia.edu/housing/applications. Applications are available from April 1through June 30 with leasing starting on July1. Room rent is due on the 1st of each month and can be paid directly to Housing and Residence Life using online credit card payments or payroll deduction. All Housing and Residence Life charges are subject to change. 

University Gardens This eight-building apartment complex north of Central Grounds on Emmet Street (U.S. Route 29) contains 41 one-bedroom apartments and 28 two-bedroom apartments. Furnished and unfurnished apartments are available.

Copeley Hill Apartments These accommodations of masonry construction, located northwest of Central Grounds, consist of 112 one-bedroom apartments, 112 two-bedroom apartments, and 30 three-bedroom apartments. Furnished and unfurnished apartments are available.

The Range and Crackerbox Consists of rooms located on the flanks of the Lawn. Each room is a single bedroom equipped with single bed, wardrobe, desk, and chair, and is wired for voice, data, and cable television. There is a special application process for the Range and Crackerbox that can be found at www.student.virginia.edu/range. All rooms have wireless internet access.

The Graduate/Family Housing Association The association is governed by a council elected by residents from the various neighborhoods of the graduate housing communities. The GFHA coordinates programmatic functions for the residents and serves as residents’ liaison with Housing and Residence LIfe and other agencies.

Requests for information regarding graduate housing should be addressed to Graduate Housing, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 400735, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4735; (434) 924-7030, Fax: (434) 924-3758: housing@virginia.edu.

Graduate students may live in On Grounds accommodations, in fraternity or sorority houses, or in Off-Grounds accommodations.

All rooms in University facilities are subject to the Housing and Residence Life Terms and Conditions of Residence. This includes billing students for facility damages. When specific responsibility for damage cannot be determined, all costs are divided equally among the residents of that unit.

Students are strongly encouraged to obtain personal property insurance as the University is not responsible for damage to residents’ property.

Students wishing to obtain housing Off-Grounds should consult: offgroundshousing.student@virginia.edu.

The following University housing rental charges are for the 2013-2014 session and are subject to change. For current rate information, go to www.virginia.edu/housing.

Single Student Rental Rates (Per Occupant for Nine Month Session)

Graduate Housing Rental Rates (Per Month): Including utilities, except telephone.

University tuition and fees consist of tuition and required fees, as well as a student activities fee. Students enrolled for three or fewer credits, or research credits are assessed a special session fee and do not have student access to fitness centers or athletic events. The University Board of Visitors sets tuition and fees annually. University tuition and fees are subject to change.

Eligibility for in-state educational privileges, including in-state tuition rates, is governed by Section 23-7.4 et. seq. of the Code of Virginia.

Applicants for admission apply for in-state status by completing the Application for Virginia In-State Educational Privileges, available as part of the Application for Admission.

Currently enrolled students apply for changes in residency status through the Committee on Virginia Status, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 400160, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4203. You can also contact the Virginia Status office at 434-982-3391 or by email at virginiastatus@virginia.edu. Applications must be received prior to the first day of class of the semester for which in-state privileges are sought.

Students classified as non-Virginia residents in current degree programs should contact the Office of Virginia Status if they are considering applying for admission to other degree programs.

Instate Surcharge

Students with an initial entry date of Fall 2006 or later may not exceed attempted hours that total 125% of the credit hours needed for a specific degree program and retain in-state tuition eligibility. The Code of Virginia states that if a student who is classified as in-state exceeds 125% of the required credit hours to complete their degree, they will be subject to a surcharge each semester thereafter. This surcharge will appear on the student account, typically at the end of the add/drop period each term.

The following courses and credit hours shall be excluded:  remedial courses; transfer credits from another college or university that do not meet degree requirements for general education courses or the student’s chosen program of study; advanced placement or international baccalaureate credits that were obtained while in high school or another secondary school program; and dual enrollment, college-level credits obtained by the student prior to receiving a high school diploma.

The Code of Virginia establishes rules for eligibility for in-state tuition for all students enrolled at public institutions in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Section 23-7.4:F of the Code of Virginia further requires undergraduate students to maintain progress toward the degree to comply with continued eligibility for in-state tuition.

Inquiries about the surcharge and about specific conditions for appeal of the surcharge can be made to Student Financial Services at studentaccounts@virginia.edu, or in person at our offices in Carruthers Hall, at 1001 Emmet Street. Appeals of the surcharge will be reviewed by Student Financial Services and your School of enrollment.

J.D.-M.B.A. Program

Tuition and Fees
During the first three years of the program, students will pay one full year of Darden School tuition (when enrolled in the full-time first year curriculum at the Darden School) and two full years of Law School tuition. During the fourth and final year of the program, students will pay one semester of tuition to the Law School and one semester of tuition to the Darden School.

Financial Aid
Financial aid will be provided by the school to which the student is paying tuition during each semester. Financial aid is not guaranteed and is subject to individual school and University availability and regulations.

J.D.-M.A. Program During enrollment in this program, the student is treated as regularly matriculated at the school in which the student is in residence. The student thus pays the School of Law tuition and fees while in residence at the School of Law, and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences tuition and fees while in residence at that school.

University students enrolled in fixed-charge graduate schools are assessed tuition and fees based on their residency status and school of enrollment.

Payment by the Billing Due Date Students are expected to satisfy all outstanding obligations to the University before they are permitted to attend classes for a given term. If outstanding obligations are not satisfied, courses are dropped after 5 p.m. of the Friday of the first week of classes.

Failure to Pay University Financial Obligations Enrolled students may be suspended from the University for past due financial obligations. Suspension includes dropping of courses and prevention from course enrollment for future terms. Current students have their debts offset against any credit balances and other proceeds, such as loan checks. Current and former students will have a financial hold placed on their student account, preventing them from adding classes or obtaining an academic transcript. Past due obligations are reported to the state for offset against state income tax refunds, state vendor payments, and lottery winnings, and may be reported to credit bureaus, referred to third-party collection agencies or the State Attorney General, or litigated. Debtors may be assessed collection costs up to fifty percent of their debt.

Federal Loans The University participates in the Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. Further information on federal loans is available in the Financial Aid section of this Record.

University Awarded Loans Proceeds from University awarded loans (e.g., health professions, nursing, or institutional loans) are not distributed by check but are applied directly to the student’s University account. Graduates must be registered for the number of credits specified on the loan application, to be eligible to receive credit from these loan proceeds.

Credit Balances Credit balances resulting from a scholarship, fellowship, or University awarded grant or loan are refunded by U.S. mail to arrive on or about September 1 in the fall and February 1 in the spring, unless direct deposit is in effect. Credit balances resulting from the installment payment plan are refunded in mid-November for the fall semester and mid-April for the spring semester.

Credit balances resulting from overpayment may first be used to offset any other past due amounts owed to the University. Credit balances of less than $5 are not refunded unless requested.

Direct Deposit Student can enroll in direct deposit by signing into your sis account and clicking on the tab direct deposit and following the instructions. Students not enrolled in direct deposit will have checks sent via U.S. mail, a process that can take an additional 10 days. Direct deposit of credit balances is strongly encouraged, though not required. If not chosen, checks are still issued; however, creation of checks is a slower process than direct deposit.

Home and Mailing Addresses Student Financial Services uses the home and mailing addresses that are recorded in SIS. It is the student’s responsibility to maintain current addresses in the SIS. Failure to update addresses on a timely basis may result in misdirected refund checks.  Because the Mailing address is used for refunds sent by check, please ensure your Mailing address is always up to date in the SIS.

Taxability of Scholarships and Fellowships The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax code permits the exclusion of scholarships or fellowships from income up to the amount used for the payment of course-related expenses (i.e., tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment). The IRS does not consider the cost of room and board to be course-related. Stipends or living allowances paid as part of a scholarship or fellowship are considered taxable income. The University is required to withhold taxes on such payments only to nonresident alien recipients not claiming treaty benefits. However, all recipients are required to report their scholarships and fellowships to the IRS by filing a yearly tax return and to pay the requisite taxes. These provisions apply to all scholarship and fellowship recipients of domestic source grants, regardless of whether the recipient is an undergraduate, graduate student, citizen, or nonresident alien. Students should retain receipts for tax deductible items. The University cannot provide tax counsel.

Auditing Courses Students currently enrolled for regular or non-topical research courses are charged the regular graduate per hour rate for audited courses. Individuals not currently enrolled who wish to audit courses at the University must do so through the School of Continuing and Professional Studies and are subject to their rate schedule.

Senior Citizens In compliance with the Senior Citizens Higher Education Act, the University waives tuition and required fees for courses on a space-available basis. To be eligible, a person must be at least 60 years old, have been legally domiciled in Virginia at least one year before the semester begins, and must gain admission to the University. Eligible persons should contact Student Financial Services to request the waiver.

To qualify as a full-time or part-time student for credit, the senior citizen’s taxable income (for federal income tax purposes) the year prior to enrollment must not have exceeded $15,000.

There is no income requirement if the senior citizen wants to audit a course offered for credit or to enroll in a non-credit course. No more than three courses per semester may be taken on this basis, but there is no limit to the number of semesters a senior citizen may be enrolled. Instructors have the option of determining whether students may or may not take their courses on an audit basis. Those who have completed 75 percent of their degree requirements may enroll for courses at the same time as tuition-paying students, rather than waiting until regular registration is completed.

Veterans’ Benefits UREG (Office of the University Registrar) is the University liaison with the Veterans Administration in matters concerning educational benefits available to veterans under the provisions of Chapters 30, 31, 32, 34, 35 and 1606. (War Orphans’ benefits are handled through the scholarships/fellowships office in Student Financial Services, P.O. Box 400204, Charlottesville VA, 22904-4204; (434) 982-6000 or visit http://www.virginia.edu/registrar/vabenefits.html.)

Benefit information and application forms can be found on the VA Website: www.gibill.va.gov. Inquiries regarding how to start up VA benefits during enrollment at the University and certification procedures should be directed to: UREG (Office of the University Registrar), P.O. Box 400203, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4203; (434) 924-4122; or e-mail certify@virginia.edu.

Damage to University Property The student or students responsible are charged at the cost of repair or replacement.

I.D. Replacement Fee A fee of $15 is charged to replace a lost, stolen, or damaged student I.D. card. Payment must be made at the time of replacement.

Return Check Service Fee The University assesses a $50 service fee for all checks returned by the bank as non-negotiable. Checks are automatically redeposited by the bank once they are returned to the University.

Diploma Fees Replacement and duplicate diplomas may be obtained upon payment of a $50 fee plus a mailing fee.

Late Registration Fee Students who register for the term after the end of the first week of classes are assessed a $25 late registration fee. Students who register more than two weeks after the end of the first week of classes are assessed a $50 fee.

International Services Fee All students attending the University under the F-1 or J-1 non-immigrant visa status are required to enroll for full time study in both the fall and spring semesters (12 or more credits for graduate students). Any change in visa or citizenship status must be submitted with original documentation to the International Student and Scholar Programs Office in Minor Hall. You are also required to obtain a Social Security Number if you will be receiving University-awarded financial support.

International Students will be charged a $50 International Services Fee. The revenue offsets costs associated with the operation of the federally mandated Student and Exchange Visitor Program and the associated Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Further, the fees will ensure that the University is in compliance with federal mandates, as well as supporting the International Studies Office to have an adequate number of highly-skilled professionals who can address all student legal status issues.

Continuous Enrollment Fee Students are charged a fee of $206 for each semester they are on an approved leave of absence or each semester they are not enrolled for courses in a resident school but wish to maintain their matriculated status in the school. Graduate students enrolled in a doctoral degree program who are completing their dissertation away from the University may petition their dean to be approved for continuous enrollment status. Students who enroll on continuous status pay the associated continuous enrollment fee rather than tuition or comprehensive fees.  They may not utilize faculty time or the facilities of the University of Virginia except as non-students. Students must enroll as a full-time research student for any semester in which they take comprehensive examinations or defend their dissertation or thesis. 

Fall and Spring Semester Registration Registration is conducted through the SIS each semester. Instructions for registering are available on-line at www.virginia.edu/registrar. Upon completion of the registration process, an individual is classified as a registered student. Not attending classes does not alter the registration status or the assessment of tuition and fees. Once registered for a semester, a student may terminate registration only through official withdrawal from the University.

Payment and Late Payment The final date for payment of student account balances for University charges is included in the account statement on-line for students. The payment due date for most graduate programs for the Fall 2013 semester is August 21, 2013; for the Spring 2014 semester, it is January 7, 2014. However, some programs with unique start dates will have different billing and due dates. Check QuikPay@UVA for the most current billing and due date information. Bills are available on-line through QuikPay@UVA only. Therefore, failure to receive a bill by mail is not a legitimate reason for late payment. Any student who fails to pay the amount due by the specified payment due date is subject to a 1.5% late fee assessed on the amount past due.

The late fee carries a due date separate from the original charge. Requests for waivers of late fees due to extenuating circumstances must be made in writing to studentaccounts@virginia.edu and must be received by Student Financial Services by the late fee due date.

Checks returned for insufficient or uncollected funds are immediately redeposited by our bank. Payment of tuition and fees by a check that is returned from the bank will incur a late fee if the repayment is not received by the due date for the charge(s) in question. A $50 service charge will also be assessed. Postdated checks should not be submitted; each check is immediately processed for payment regardless of its date. Students who have three returned checks will be denied the ability to pay via personal checks or through the electronic check function in QuikPay.

The University accepts, on-line only, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit card payments for tuition, fees, housing, or dining charges. There is a 2.75% convenience fee charged by the payment processor if payment is made by credit card or debit card. VISA has chosen not to participate in our on-line payment program.

E-checks can be submitted through QuikPay@UVA only.  There is no service fee for paying by e-check.

Dropping Courses - Deadline for Financial Credit For students enrolled in variable charge graduate schools to receive full financial credit for dropped courses, the course must be dropped by the end of the sixth week of the school term and the student must remain enrolled in at least one course at the University. The definition of the sixth school week corresponds to the definition set forth in the withdrawal refund schedule. This drop date is used only for determining financial credit and does not bear any correlation to the dates set forth by the schools for dropping courses without academic penalty.

Monthly Payment Plan The University of Virginia offers a Monthly Payment Plan in conjunction with Nelnet Business Solutions. Signup is by semester, and there is a $35 per semester fee for this plan. This payment plan allows parents and/or students to make 5 monthly payments per semester for tuition and fees, housing, and dining plans. Participation in the Monthly Payment Plan is optional and available to all students. Please note that this plan is not available as an option to pay Summer term tuition. The plan is only available for the Fall and Spring terms.  For more information, go to http://www.virginia.edu/studentaccounts/paymentplan.html.

University students enrolled in variable-charge graduate schools are assessed tuition and fees based on their residency status, school of enrollment, and enrollment credits. For tuition and fee assessment purposes, enrollment credits are classified as either regular credit, non-topical research, or audit.

For information on course classification and academic requirements, contact the appropriate school.

Waiver of Comprehensive Fees

Employee Waiver Program University of Virginia full-time salaried faculty (9- or 12-month), ROTC faculty, full-time staff and health care professionals who have been employed for one year or more who are enrolled in more than 3 credit hours at the University of Virginia will qualify to have their comprehensive fee waived.  At the time of application for Education Benefits through University Human Resources, Student Financial Services will be notified to waive the comprehensive fee.

Tuition and Fees Students who withdraw from the University are charged a percentage of the tuition and fees based on the school week within which the withdrawal occurs. A school week is defined as the period beginning on Monday and ending on the succeeding Sunday; the first school week of a semester is defined as that week when classes begin. The effective date of withdrawal is determined by the dean of the school in which the student is enrolled and is recorded on the official withdrawal form that the student must complete as part of the withdrawal process. The schedule for allocation of tuition and fees between amounts charged and amounts credited is listed below. This schedule is subject to change.

Any refunds owed to the student as a result of withdrawal will first be offset against any other amounts owed to the University.

Students who receive financial aid and withdraw prior to the completion of 60% of the enrollment period must repay Title IV funds (i.e., PLUS and Unsubsidized Loans) to their sources. To determine what percentage of aid the student has earned, and what percentage must be returned, the financial aid office will divide the number of days the student attended by the number of days in the enrollment period. For details or examples, contact Student Financial Services.

Residence Hall Rent No refund of residence hall rent will be made in the event of withdrawal after the fifth class day of the semester. Upon vacating student housing facilities, the room key must be returned to the student accommodation office. The date the room key is returned to the student accommodation office is the effective termination date of the student housing contract. Failure to return the room key will result in a re-keying fee being charged to the student.