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.

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:

  • 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 -countess@virginia.edu 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.