The University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce placed 2nd in the 2026 ranking of the Best Undergraduate Business Programs in the U.S.
In our three methodological categories, McIntire finished second out of 110 ranked programs in Admission Standards, 11th in Career Outcomes, and first 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 5.5% for the 2025 incoming class. It also reported an average SAT score of 1478 and a 6-year graduation rate of 99.2%.
In career data, 93% of its 2025 grads completed a business-specific internship before graduation while 95.1% of job-seeking graduates found a job within three months in 2025, compared to 94.1% in 2024.
2025 grads reported an average starting salary of $94,747 while 78.7% of them reported receiving an average signing bonus of $9,746. 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
As of fall 2025, McIntire shifted from a two-year to a three-year program, admitting students after their first year to begin Commerce coursework as sophomores (referred to as “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 third year, delivered in cohort-based learning environments. The redesigned curriculum ensures students gain a comprehensive, interdisciplinary business education while maintaining the hallmark Integrated Core in their junior year.
To complement the expanded program, McIntire 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 of Science in Commerce, with concentrations available in Accounting, Finance, Information Technology, Management, and Marketing.
THE FOUNDATIONAL AND INTEGRATED CORE
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.
Under McIntire’s redesigned three-year undergraduate structure, students enter the School in their second year. This shift gives students expanded time to build foundational skills before beginning advanced coursework and aligns more effectively with accelerated employment recruiting timelines.
Second-year students complete six Foundational Core courses across the fall and spring semesters—covering financial accounting, finance, information systems, quantitative analysis, management communication, and managerial decision-making. Students transition into the School’s signature Integrated Core courses in their third year.
In the Integrated Core, students engage in collaborative, multi-course academic work led by a coordinated teaching team, applying their foundational knowledge to real corporate challenges. Students working in teams address a semesterlong case presented by a corporate sponsor to apply integrated perspectives to a real-world challenge. Building on this shared knowledge base, students then customize their academic path by combining traditional concentrations in Accounting, Finance, IT, Management, or Marketing—with interdisciplinary tracks in Analytics & AI, Entrepreneurship, Global Commerce & Society, Quantitative Finance, Real Estate, and Strategic Brand Consulting & Communications.
McIntire continues to embed business analytics and AI throughout the curriculum. The Analytics & AI Track remains open to all concentrations and emphasizes advanced analytical techniques, data-driven decision-making, and emerging technologies, preparing students to approach complex business problems with a holistic, cross-functional mindset.
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. The new, co-curricular COMMence program supports all students with an onboarding experience that combines academic and career advising, community building, and focused interactions with corporate leaders across a wide range of industries. The co-curricular Finance Academy, supported by several industry partners and finance alumni, introduces interested students to finance careers and skill development.
McIntire also offers a portfolio of global study opportunities, ranging from one-week immersive programs to full-semester study-abroad experiences. Recognizing that many students seek careers that align with their values and social impact goals, McIntire also offers a Global Commerce & Society Track. This track focuses on the intersection of business and society, equipping students with the tools to tackle major societal challenges and drive meaningful change through business.
ALUMNI SAY
“Attending UVA as an out-of-state student was the best decision I’ve made to date and I am grateful for the experience and all the doors it opened for me every single day.”
“Strong emphasis on discussion and case studies, group work, classes taught by professors, reasonably small class sizes, strong community. My sister transferred from another school after seeing my experience.”
“I studied abroad in Thailand and Vietnam which strongly contributed to my interest in pursuing global strategy as a long term career.”
“Promotions taught my Carrie Heilman was instrumental in developing my strategic business acumen in marketing, and in providing me with real-world leadership and organizational behavior understanding.”
“Every third year student participates in a semester long consulting project for a major corporation. It’s great experience for developing an idea, working with a team for an extended period of time, and presenting to management.”
