Darden School of Business – University of Virginia - Full-Time MBA

UVA Darden Full-Time MBA Program Structure

The UVA Darden Full-Time MBA is structured primarily around case method style teaching and engaging classroom discussion. Students are broken into teams of 50-60, and then further into learning teams of five or six students. Students do not technically pick majors in the MBA program. Rather, they select optional concentrations in the “career” and “theme” track categories. Students can take up to two tracks in the program.

Curriculum

Darden offers a balanced management curriculum within the framework of the case method teaching style and active classroom engagement. Darden’s case-based program means that student discussions constitute a significant chunk of in-class time as the students work through practical scenarios to resolve different business challenges.

There is no selection of academic majors at Darden. Instead, students may opt to pursue concentrations in specific areas of business, though this is not required. The school classifies its concentrations by “career track” and “theme track” categories, and the former includes seven tracks while the latter comprises six. MBA students may pursue as many academic tracks as they would like during their tenure at Darden, provided they can satisfy the academic requirements of each.

The typical incoming class at Darden includes just over 300 students, and each class is divided into five sections of 60 to 65 students and then into learning teams of five to six students. Each section works with its own set of faculty members and competes together in various events throughout the year as part of the Darden Cup. The Darden Cup comprises sporting events, trivia contests and myriad charity efforts for which each section can earn points.

First-year students are afforded several pre-term and orientation options prior to the start of fall classes, which include optional courses in key quantitative areas and many informal meet-and-greet events. The Darden MBA program structures first- and second-year schedules differently, giving first-year students core coursework over four terms and a capstone project while second-years have four quarters in which to take classes. In the first year, students all undertake the same required courses, and first-years participate in a strategy simulation upon finishing the required core curriculum. In the final term of students’ first year, they may begin to take electives and complete Darden Consulting Projects in their areas of interest.

During the second year of the MBA, students take electives at Darden and can also complete courses at other schools within the University of Virginia. Second-years are required to finish one leadership elective before graduation. Students may also study abroad through Darden’s exchange programs; in total, the school offers MBA exchange programs with 18 international institutions. Students wishing to spend one to two weeks abroad may opt for Darden’s Immersion Courses, which are usually offered in March. The Immersion Courses are open to both first- and second-year students.

UVA Darden Full-Time MBA Rankings

• U.S. News & World Report: 12 (tie)
• Bloomberg: 5
• Forbes: 11
• Financial Times: 23
• The Economist: 16

Class Profile

Darden’s Class of 2021 comprises 336 students. Of these, 40% are women and 21% identify as members of domestic minority groups, including students who are African Ameri­can, Asian American, Hispanic or Latino American, and Native American. Thirty-three percent of students were born outside of the U.S., and in total 38 countries were represented in the Class of 2021. The mean GMAT score reported was 713, and the average GPA was 3.5. Students averaged 27 years of age at the time of entry into the program.

Career Statistics

A full 97% of the Class of 2019 had received job offers three months after graduation, and 96% of the class had accepted a position within three months of graduating. The average base salary of 2019 graduates was $135,168 with an average signing bonus of $33,458.

Consulting was the most popular industry among 2019 Darden graduates, as nearly 36% of the class entered this field, followed by financial services at 24%. The technology sector drew 15% of graduates, while 4% entered manufacturing and 3% opted for consumer packaged goods. Students also chose positions in industries such as real estate and energy.

By function, the Class of 2019 pursued the most roles in consulting, a function chosen by 36% of students. Finance was the second most popular function at 24%, and General Management and Marketing attracted approximately 19% and 15%, respectively.

Geographically, most Darden MBAs relocated to the Northeast, where 31% worked upon graduation. Nineteen percent of the Class of 2019 remained in the Mid-Atlantic region, while 12% pursued roles in the South, 17% in the West, and 7% in the Midwest. Finally, 8% of students chose to work in the Southwest, and another 6% pursued work outside of the U.S.

Tuition, Scholarships, and Financial Aid for the UVA Darden Full-Time MBA 

Tuition for the UVA Darden Full-Time MBA 2020-2021 academic year is $69,600 for residents of Virginia and $72,600 for non-residents, while international students pay $72,800.  With fees, living expenses, and more, students can expect to pay total per-year costs of:

Cost of Attendance 2020-2021

Tuition & Fees
• Virginia Residents $69,600
• Non-Virginia Residents $72,600
• International Students $72,800

UVA Health Insurance $2,980
Living Expenses $18,176
Case Fees & Books $2,000
Computer $1,500

Transportation (domestic students) $1,000
Transportation (international students) $4,000

Federal Loan Fees (domestic students) $2,116

Totals
• VA Residents $97,372
• Non-VA Residents $100,372
• International Students $101,456

UVA estimates that tuition rates will increase 5 percent annually and that living expense rates may rise 3 percent annually. The school also notes that international students should “allot an additional $7,000 for a spouse and $4,000 for each additional dependent on the Financial Guarantee Form, which is part of the I-20.”

All U.S. residents are eligible for Federal Direct Subsidized Loans and Federal Graduate Plus Loans. The former has a current interest rate of 6.6 percent, while Graduate Plus Loans have a current interest rate of 7.6 percent. Students may also earn an MBA through employer sponsorship.

All candidates are automatically considered for the school’s merit-based scholarships and a myriad of fellowships. You can find a list of scholarships and fellowships for the UVA Darden MBA program here. U.S. military active members and veterans also may be eligible for multiple scholarships, which can be found here.

Admissions

In order to apply to the UVA Darden MBA program, applicants must submit:

• A completed online application
• Official transcripts
• GMAT/GRE scores
• Proof of English proficiency (if necessary)
• A résumé
• Two professional recommendations
• Answers to several short essay questions, which can be found here.
• Proof of residency
• A $250 application fee

Those accepted to the program must first conduct an interview with the school’s admissions committee. U.S. residents must interview in-person at the Darden campus, while international students are invited to do so, but can also interview with recruiting members on international trips, or through Skype.

2021-2022 UVA Darden Full-Time MBA Deadlines

APPLICATION DEADLINES

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