Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Catalog Year 2025-2027

Based on VCCS Curriculum for ENGINEERING

Transfer Guidance

Guaranteed Admission Agreement

• Students who complete the prescribed curriculum and meet the GAA criteria are guaranteed admission into UVA Engineering and the Mechanical Engineering Major.

• Complete approved transferrable Virginia Community College AS or AA&S degree.

• Earn a minimum of 45 VCCS course transfer credits toward UVA Engineering degree following graduation from high school. UVA requires a grade of C or better for course credit to transfer for any course.

• VCCS minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA with grades of B or better in MTH 264, MTH 265, PHY 241, CHM 111, and EGR 125 OR CSC 221.

• Submit a Transfer Common Application by March 1 deadline and send official transcripts from all schools attended.

• Complete all GAA requirements by the end of spring term prior to intended fall entry.

• Provide official VCCS transcript with final grades and conferral of associate degree to UVA Admission Office by June 15.

• GAA candidates must not have previously enrolled at UVA and must be in good academic standing and have no conviction of a felony or pending charges.

Important Links & Dates

• University Transfer Admissions: https://admission.virginia.edu/admission/transfer

• Admission Application: By March 1 at https://www.commonapp.org/

• Financial Aid: https://sfs.virginia.edu/

• FAFSA: April 1 at https://studentaid.gov/

• CSS Profile: April 1 at https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/

What Should I Consider When Selecting Courses?

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year. For help, see Transfer Steps and Resource Center at www.TransferVirginia.org

• Connect with an advisor at your community college and in Mechanical Engineering at UVA within your first year.

Is This Degree Right For Me?

• Mechanical engineers use engineering principles to design solutions involved in a wide range of fields.

• A bachelor's degree can serve as a springboard to a professional career or to graduate study in targeted fields such as aerospace, biomedical, robotics, and manufacturing.

What Is The Impact On My Degree Of Work I Have Already Completed?

• Associate Transfer Degree Completion: The completion of an Associate Degree results in most first and second year degree requirements being met when you transfer to UVA Engineering.

• Dual Enrollment: The completion of an Associate Degree concurrent with high school results in 60 credits of coursework towards your degree and most general education courses satisfied. Students apply as and enroll as first year students for orientation and engagement purposes.

• Credit for Prior Learning: Consult the Undergraduate Record for Advanced Examination test score needed to earn course credit.

• Catalog Year: Transfer students are typically assigned a catalog year corresponding to the academic year in which they matriculate into UVA Engineering.

Is This College Right For Me?

• UVA Engineering has the highest four-year graduation rate for all undergrads and for Hispanic, Asian, and African-American students compared to all public engineering schools in the country.

• UVA Engineering has the highest percentage of women students for all engineering schools with at least 200 graduates per year.

• AccessUVA guarantees 100% of demonstrated need for undergraduates, who are admitted on a need-blind basis.

• UVA engineering emphasizes the integral role of engineering in society, and our grads are widely recognized for their leadership and communication skills.

Did You Know That…

• Completing your Associate in Engineering transfer degree, post-high school, satisfies most lower division general education requirements except Science, Technology and Society requirement and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?

• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at the University of Virginia?

What Can I Do With This Degree?

• Explore careers of UVA Engineering graduates through the First Destination Reports.

• Explore possible careers, salaries, and job outlook at www.TransferVirginia.org

Program Successes & Highlights

• The University of Virginia Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department brings together outstanding undergraduate and graduate programs with world-class expertise in energy, propulsion, autonomous systems, biomechanics and manufacturing.

• Transfer students who come to UVA Mechanical Engineering with an associate degree can expect to graduate in 2 years.

• Every student completes a capstone design project and an undergraduate thesis.

• The median starting salary of 20/21 ME graduates was $72,000.

What Are My Chances For Getting Accepted?

• Any transfer student accepted to the UVA School of Engineering and Applied Sciences may major in Mechanical Engineering. There is no additional major application process.

• Most enrolling applicants are admitted without having met all of the guaranteed admission criteria.

• To be competitive for admission outside the GAA, students should meet all or nearly all of the program's general education requirements, earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 or better at your current institution, and have 60-64 transferable credits.

Do More With Your Degree!

• Mechanical Engineering students at UVA are involved in a number of extracurricular organizations including several focused on international student design competitions such as those sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers and NASA.

• UVA Mechanical Engineering students often gain experience through summer internships with industry. Others take advantage of summer research opportunities within the Mechanical and Aerospace (MAE) Department.

Other Than Classes, Are There Other Program Requirements?

• All UVA engineers complete a senior thesis portfolio, with a Science, Technology & Society research paper and a technical report, but these experiences are integrated into required courses during the fourth year.