Overview
Applicants
2,524
Acceptance Rate
26%
Years Work Experience
5
Average Age
27
Test Scores
GMAT (25th and 75th percentiles)
-
GPA
-
Deadlines
Round 1
October 4
Round 2
January 9
Round 3
April 6
Other Admission Factors
Academic
GMAT Score
Undergraduate GPA
Letters of Recommendation
Essay / Personal Statement
Non-Academic
School Type And Accreditation
School Type
Public
AACSB-approved
Yes
Selectivity Rating
Program Types
Full-Time
Yes
Part-Time
No
Evening
No
Executive
Yes
Online
No
Faculty Information
Student/Faculty
6:1
Total Faculty
104
65
Full-time
35
Part-time
22
Female
17
Underrepresented Minorities
Students Say
The University of Virginia's Darden Graduate School of Business Administration in Charlottesville, Virginia is a juggernaut among East Coast business programs, and is touted for its "rigorous core curriculum, excellent teaching faculty, [and] collaborative student body." While the workload is intense especially during the first-year "grind", the school's overwhelmingly "supportive spirit," fostered by learning teams, second-year coaches, and "very active" career-focused clubs, means that life here "is also a lot of fun." Academics are taught through the case study method and focus on collaborative learning, which students describe as "amazing."
Firstand second-year Darden students have two distinct academic experiences. The firstyear schedule is "pretty rigid as you have three classes every weekday except Friday, and you have to balance your workload in your learning teams." But there are plenty of opportunities "to spend time outside of the classroom developing personal relationships" through activities like "First Coffee, club events, and night time socials." The first year is "really demanding, but it is collaborative and engaging" as well, and "everyone works together to get through the material before entering the classroom." The second year "is focused on leadership in the school," as second-year students coach first years, helping them "navigate the job recruiting process," and lead clubs or "[help] faculty write cases." Second-year students pursue elective courses and build their own schedules—"a lot of students also use the time as an opportunity to travel."
Darden's "excellent" faculty are engaged in the program and "are genuinely invested in helping you be successful." "They want to know how your family is, how job searches are going, and who they can put you in touch with to help." Students appreciate that faculty "prioritize teaching and research equally," and often consult with companies and conduct research "to stay relevant" in their fields. Students are also "amazed at how well everything is run," especially by "how well different parts of the faculty (e.g. finance and ethics) coordinate their curriculum." One student reports, "I've never seen an organization run as smoothly as Darden. I'm sure there is tons of work and grinding going on in the background, but it almost seems automated."
Concentrations
Entrepreneurship
Finance
Investment Banking
JD/MBA - Dual Degree
Leadership/Management
Marketing
MD/MBA - Dual Degree
MS/MBA - Dual Degree
RN/MBA - Dual Degree
Supply Chain Management
Finance
Investment Banking
JD/MBA - Dual Degree
Leadership/Management
Marketing
MD/MBA - Dual Degree
MS/MBA - Dual Degree
RN/MBA - Dual Degree
Supply Chain Management
Center for Research
Entrepeneurship
Finance
International Business
Leadership/Management
Non-Profit Management/Public Administration
Organizational Behavior
Finance
International Business
Leadership/Management
Non-Profit Management/Public Administration
Organizational Behavior
Specialities of Faculty
Academic specialties of faculty
URL
Asset Management/Sales & Trading
Corporate Finance/ Investment Banking
Entrepreneurship
Strategy Consulting
Supply Chain Management
Corporate Innovation
Innovation for Sustainability
Global Business
Sustainability
Courses in Sustainability
Yes
Sustainability course is
Required
Description
In support of its mission to, “improve the world by developing and inspiring responsible leaders and by advancing knowledge,” the Darden School was one of the first business schools to require Business Ethics as a first year course. Now the Darden MBA program incorporates ethics, social responsibility and sustainability throughout the curriculum. Through real-time case studies and experiential opportunities, students are encouraged to think deeply about the nature of business, responsibilities of management, and need for business to achieve profitability in an ethical, socially minded and environmentally responsible manner.
The Innovation for Sustainability concentration (available in the Second Year) prepares students to design and implement sustainability strategies such that their future organizations not only expand their positive impact on society, but also realize revenue growth, cost savings and/or brand enhancement.
For more information on Darden’s 17 elective courses that solely or partially focus on sustainability and ethical leadership/decision-making visit www.darden.virginia.edu/mba/academics/electives/sustainability/.
Research Opportunities in Sustainability
Yes
Description
During the academic year, students can participate in a variety of for-credit research projects. Previous student research and case study projects focused on sustainability and social impact issues include; Design Thinking Tech for Good; Economic Inequality: Causes and Consequences; Ethics of Disruption; Impact Investing; Integrating Philosophy, Business and Literature; Precision Farming; Prisoner Reentry Education Program; Solar ITC use by Municipalities; Women in the Technology Industry; Investing in Green Energy Markets.
Darden’s Sustainability Centers also provide research and educational opportunities for students. These include the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Alliance for Research on Corporate Sustainability (ARCS) and the Institute for Business in Society.
To learn more visit www.darden.virginia.edu/faculty-research/centers/sustainability/.
School's environmental commitment 1:
Regional Food System
The hospitality organization has increased use of local food and beverage for use to the Darden Enterprise in the Café and in the Dining Room. Local service providers include Shenandoah Joe for coffee; Bubba’s Sweet Nectar for all honey that the enterprise uses; Produce is purchased from Standard Produce Co; Beef is purchased from Double H Farm; The Rock Barn for pork; Lumijuice for organic cold pressed juice; and an Herb garden on Darden grounds
School's environmental commitment 2:
LEED Certified Building
The UVA Inn at Darden will undergo a renovation this fiscal year that will deliver Darden’s first LEED Certified facility. Low flow plumbing fixtures will be utilized to achieve approximately 20% reduction in water use; Native LED lighting technology will be used along with LED replacement bulbs where native LED fixtures are not available; Automatic control (occupancy sensors) will be provided for learning team rooms and support spaces; recycled content for all materials used, including furniture; and building envelope repairs to reduce air infiltration.
School's environmental commitment 3:
Parking & Transportation
Sustainable transportation efforts include the installation of 3 electric vehicle charging stations, introduction of the U-Bike system, and introduction of CAVPool parking. The U-Bike system is currently used on UVa Grounds, primarily in the undergraduate areas. Darden will house the first U-Bike system providing the service to the entire North Grounds precinct. CAVPool is a University wide car pool initiative that was most recently introduced to the Darden parking allotment.
Career Overview
Average Starting Salary
$122,806
Accepted employment by 3 months after graduation
90%
Finding Jobs & Internships
Source Of Full-Time Job Acceptances
88%
School Facilitiated
11%
Graduate Facilitated
Graduates Employed by Area of Practice
39%
Consulting
30%
Finance/Accounting
21%
General Management
9%
Marketing
Graduates Employed by Region
34%
Northeast
21%
Mid-Atlantic
15%
West
13%
South
10%
Southwest
9%
International
7%
Midwest
Students Say
Darden's challenging curriculum and extensive alumni network pay dividends on the job market. "If I sent an email to ten different alums," one second year told us, "I'd be surprised if I didn't get at least nine responses." Darden has a great track record placing students in finance, but in recent years has been expanding its foothold in consulting and technolo- gy, counting Amazon and Microsoft among its top on-campus recruiters. The program also maintains "good relationships with top consulting firms." Darden has cultivated a reputation among "traditional MBA career firms (consulting, banking, general manage- ment) for creating professionals who are very smart and hardworking, but collaborative, team-focused, and friendly." For students plotting a different course, Darden has a "strong reputation with entrepreneurship," and the "Career Development Center is very helpful for students pursuing careers outside the 'traditional' paths," an investment advisory student reports.
Job Function
| Job Function | % of Grads Seeking Employment Who Accept Jobs w/in 3 Months |
Median Salary | Mean Salary | Low Base Salary | High Base Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consulting | 39% | $140,000 | $134,916 | $80,000 | $147,500 |
| Finance / Accounting | 30% | $125,000 | $120,148 | $31,200 | $150,000 |
| General Management | 21% | $110,000 | $109,873 | $65,000 | $160,000 |
| Marketing / Sales | 9% | $105,500 | $108,793 | $85,000 | $135,000 |
Industries
| Industries | % of Grads Seeking Employment Who Accept Jobs w/in 3 Months |
Median Salary | Mean Salary | Low Base Salary | High Base Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consulting | 38% | $140,000 | $135,771 | $80,000 | $147,500 |
| Financial Services | 27% | $125,000 | $121,546 | $75,000 | $150,000 |
| Technology | 17% | $115,000 | $114,722 | $74,000 | $160,000 |
| Consumer Products | 5% | $105,000 | $102,992 | $80,000 | $120,000 |
| Manufacturing | 4% | $110,000 | $110,918 | $105,000 | $120,000 |
| Pharmaceutical / Biotechnology / Healthcare | 3% | $110,000 | $113,571 | $105,000 | $125,000 |
| Non-profit | 2% | ||||
| Real Estate | 2% | $100,250 | $96,375 | $70,000 | $115,000 |
Prominent Alumni
Mr. Elie Maalouf
Chief Executive Officer, InterContinental Hotels Group, The Americas
Ms. Vanessa Wittman
CFO, Dropbox and Board Member for Ulta and Sirius
Mr. Michael E. O'Neil
Chairman, Citigroup, Inc.
Ms. Carolyn Miles
President and Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children
Mr. John R. Strangfeld
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Prudential Financial, Inc.
Dates
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Aid Package
$66,485
Average Scholarship / Grant Aid Package
$34,483
Students Receiving Some Form Of Aid
85%
All Students Receiving Scholarships / Grants
64%
New Students Receiving Some Form Of Aid
84%
New Students Receiving Scholarships / Grants
65%
New Students Receiving Loans
50%
Tuition Full-Time (per year)
Tuition (In-State)
$60,024
Tuition (Out-State)
$62,342
Fees (In-State)
$2,776
Fees (Out-State)
$3,458
Expenses per Academic Year
Estimated Room And Board On-Campus
$17,078
Estimated Room And Board Off-Campus
$17,078
Academic Expenses
$2,000
Student Body Profile
Total Enrollment
678
Part Time
0%
Demographics
12.00%
Underrepresented Minorities
31.00%
International
37% female
63% male
Campus Life
Students Say
Darden "students are very, very social" and forge strong bonds with one another. "Because we are not in a large city," one technology student explains, "the majority of people that you meet and spend time with are your classmates which makes for an incredibly strong community with a strong affinity for the school and Charlottesville." Even though students are "graded on a significant curve," it has "never stopped students from helping one anoth- er." Students generally hang out together on Thursday nights and enjoy Charlottesville's "wonderful hiking, rafting, and biking trails" on weekends. While life as an MBA student can become hectic, at Darden "the degree of busyness depends on how much you want to get out of the program [. . .] students ultimately choose their balance in academics, activities, and recruiting."
More Information
% of Classrooms with Internet Access
100%
Campus-wide Internet Network
Yes
Internet Access for All Students
Yes
Admissions Office Contact
Contact
Sara E. Neher
Assistant Dean of MBA Admissions
Assistant Dean of MBA Admissions
Address
P.O. Box 6550
Charlottesville, VA 22906
United States
Charlottesville, VA 22906
United States
Phone
434-924-7281
Fax
434-243-5033
Email
darden@virginia.edu
