The University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce placed 14th in the 2025 ranking of the Best Undergraduate Business Programs in the U.S.
In our three methodological categories, McIntire finished 25th out of 104 ranked programs in Admission Standards, ninth in Career Outcomes, and third in Academic Experience which solely based on our alumni survey.
It is one of the hardest undergraduate programs to get into with an acceptance rate of 6.56% for the 2024 incoming class. It also reported an average SAT score of 1476 and a 6-year graduation rate of 96%.
In career data, 96% of its 2024 grads completed a business-specific internship before graduation, up 2% from the previous class. Some 93.5% of job-seeking graduates found a job within three months in 2024, compared to 95.5% in 2023.
2024 grads reported an average starting salary of $91,838 while 46% of them reported receiving an average signing bonus of $9,801. Top employers include Deloitte, Capital One Financial Corporation, KPMG, JP Morgan, Bank of America, Accenture, Bain & Company, FTI Consulting, McKinsey & Company, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
AN EXPANDED BUSINESS DEGREE
Starting in Fall 2025, McIntire is shifting from a two-year to a three-year program, admitting students after their first year at UVA to begin Commerce coursework as sophomores (Second Years at UVA).
This new structure includes 15 credits of foundational core courses in the sophomore year, followed by 15 credits of integrated core coursework in the junior year, delivered in cohort-based learning environments. The redesigned curriculum aligns with modern instructional design principles, ensuring students gain a comprehensive, interdisciplinary business education while maintaining the hallmark Integrated Core Experience (ICE) in their junior year.
To complement the expanded program, McIntire has created a Student Success unit, combining Student Services and Commerce Career Services into a single, streamlined support system. This unit offers advising, coaching, and career development resources, guiding students through both their academic and professional journeys.
Students earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Commerce with concentrations available in Accounting, Finance, Information Technology, Management, and Marketing.
THE INTEGRATED CORE EXPERIENCE
The University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce stands out for its highly integrated, hands-on business education that blends technical expertise, interdisciplinary learning, and real-world application.
Its Integrated Core Experience (ICE) provides a collaborative, cross-disciplinary approach to business education. During their first year in the program, students complete 21 credit hours across two semesters, learning business fundamentals from a team of seven faculty members while tackling real-world projects with corporate partners. In their second year, students can customize their studies by combining traditional concentrations – such as accounting, IT, finance, management, and marketing – with interdisciplinary tracks in business analytics, real estate, and global commerce, ensuring they develop both technical expertise and cross-functional problem-solving skills.
McIntire integrates business analytics and AI throughout its curriculum. The Business Analytics track is open to students from all concentrations, offering courses that focus on cutting-edge methodologies and technologies to solve complex business problems.
COMMUNITY & INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT
Corporate partnerships play a significant role in the McIntire experience. From speakers and site visits to sponsored projects and internships, students gain direct access to industry leaders who help bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional success.
It also offers a portfolio of global study opportunities, ranging from one-week immersive programs to full-semester study abroad experiences. A global perspective is also woven into the curriculum, preparing students to navigate international markets and business environments.
Recognizing that many students seek careers that align with their values and social impact goals, McIntire introduced “Commerce for the Common Good” signature courses. These courses focus on the intersection of business and society, equipping students with the tools to tackle major societal challenges and drive meaningful change through business. The Commerce Cohort program selects 60 first-year students for an immersive experience that includes skill-building workshops, business site visits, and professional development. Additionally, Days @ McIntire focuses on encouraging more women to pursue business education, fostering greater diversity and inclusion within the student body.
ALUMNI SAY
“Our large, semester-long project incorporated several facets of business including strategy, analytics, and marketing. Took my critical-thinking and presentation skills up multiple levels. I am able to give well-crafted, solution-driven presentations in my current job.”
“The entire first semester at McIntire consisted of a consulting project in a case group for a major hospitality brand working on a real-world business issue, which culminated in us presenting our findings and recommendations to a board of executives at the company. We were able to leverage all of the classroom learning we’d absorbed in the courses of the semester (finance, marketing, management, communications, analytics) and really pin down which aspects we enjoyed the most, which was informative for the impending career search.”
“I studied abroad a semester in London – it was one of my favorite experiences in college, I got to explore a new city, meet new people, and take international business classes. It led me to love the city and end up working there a month full-time this past year with Goldman Sachs.”
“I interned at a Portuguese consulting firm. It was the first experience I had with international business. I happened to go on to work for a global consulting firm with offices in over 100 countries. I knew to look for cultural nuances and felt very comfortable liaising peers from different geographies.”
