How to get into University of Richmond
How to get into U Richmond: 'eight schools, one campus' and the Promise
22.2%
Acceptance rate
$65,230
In-state cost
What makes University of Richmond admissions different
University of Richmond is a small (~3,000) liberal arts university with a separate undergraduate business school (Robins) and a leadership school (Jepson School of Leadership Studies — one of the only of its kind). Admit rate ~22%. Richmond's Promise gives full-need aid and meets demonstrated need for all admits.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Decide whether you want the Robins business direct-admit or Jepson — each has its own appeal and supplement focus.
- 2.
Apply ED I (Nov 1) or ED II (Jan 1) if Richmond is your top choice.
- 3.
Write supplements specifically about Richmond features — the schools, the eight-week First-Year Seminars, the Sophomore Scholars in Residence.
- 4.
Apply for Richmond Scholars (Oldham, Presidential) if you're a top applicant — separate merit consideration.
- 5.
Demonstrated interest matters; visit if possible.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Treating Richmond as interchangeable with W&L or Davidson. The leadership school and business school are distinctive.
- ✕
Missing ED. RD odds are materially tougher.
- ✕
Generic 'mid-size school' essays. Be specific.
The specifics for University of Richmond
Application deadlines
- Early Decision INovember 1
- Early ActionNovember 1
- Early Decision IIJanuary 1
- Regular DecisionJanuary 1
What makes this admissions process distinctive
Jepson School of Leadership Studies
One of the only undergraduate schools of leadership in the country
Robins School of Business direct admit
Business is a separate undergraduate school with direct admission from high school
Notable scholarships at University of Richmond
Richmond Scholars ProgramFull tuition (named scholarship recipients)
Most competitive admits; separate consideration
What graduates actually do
Richmond graduates cluster in finance, consulting, law, and increasingly tech — the Robins School of Business and the Jepson School of Leadership Studies anchor strong professional pipelines. Median early-career earnings run around $60-65k per Scorecard, among the highest of small liberal arts institutions. Richmond's Mid-Atlantic alumni network is particularly active in Richmond, DC, and NYC professional services.
Notable alumni
- Eric Cantor — former House Majority Leader
- Sean Casey — MLB player, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Bryan Cranston — actor (briefly attended)
- Robert Spilman Jr. — Bassett Furniture CEO
- Pam Royle — British TV journalist
- Tom Wolfe — author (attended Washington and Lee, taught at UR)
Transfer pathway
Richmond admits a small number of transfers for fall entry. Applicants need at least one full year of college coursework with strong grades. The application requires the Common App transfer form, college report, official transcripts, and academic recommendations.
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App. Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
Richmond's ED lift is substantial. The Richmond Promise (meeting full need) makes it accessible to lower-income strong applicants.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.