The Range

It is considered an honor to live in one of the University’s prestigious rooms on the Range. Located in Mr. Jefferson's original buildings, the Academical Village, these single rooms are truly in the center of the University.

Living on the Range and in the Crackerbox rooms is reserved for graduate students who are enrolled full-time in a degree-granting program. Students must use their Range room as their primary University residence if selected. In addition, it is expected that students selected to live on the Range will live there for the full academic year (both fall and spring semesters).

Each room is furnished with a lofted bed with ladder above a daybed with cover, a secretary desk with chair, a hutch containing a refrigerator with freezer and a microwave, a built-in closet and sink closet, and a rocking chair. There are blinds on the windows, and all rooms have air-conditioning and a fireplace. While no kitchen or study lounges are available, students can find whatever is needed just a few steps from their doors. Also see the Range Instagram for more information about living on the Range.

Starting in April, students who wish to live on the Range can apply through the Housing Application for Graduate Students. If you are a prospective UVA graduate student, your graduate school application must also be submitted to your prospective school of enrollment no later than April 1.

The rate is $9,790/academic year for 2026-2027.

Notice to Range Residents: Please do not bring firewood from home! Due to the risk of infestation by the Emerald Ash Borer, all firewood must be purchased locally.

History of The Range

The University traces the origins of the Range back to Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. president, and his vision for a new kind of academic community. The name likely comes from the buildings themselves. The student rooms were built as long, continuous rows of attached spaces, matching an older architectural meaning of "range" as a row or stretch of buildings. Today, the Range, along with the Lawn, Pavilions, and the Rotunda (the original Academical Village), stands as part of a UNESCO World Heritage site and the symbolic heart of the University. Behind each Lawn Pavilion, enclosed gardens stretch back toward the strips of one-room student residences that form the East and West Ranges. 

Construction of the Academical Village began in 1818. By 1822, workers -- both enslaved and free -- had completed building the Range. Positioned between clusters of Range rooms, the Hotels originally served as student dining halls and gathering places. Hotel C, completed in October 1822, now houses the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society, which has met there since 1837. Another surviving structure from this period is the Crackerbox. Built as early as 1826 behind the East Range, it served as a kitchen and living quarters for enslaved workers, and was later converted into two rooms for student housing. The Range’s most famous resident was Edgar Allan Poe. His West Range room has been staged to reflect its appearance during his 1826 student year. 

Porch life remains central to the Range experience. Rocking chairs and shared walkways make it easy for students to gather. The Range includes 52 rooms, and graduate students from any academic program may apply to live there.

Why Live on The Range

• Life on The Range is shaped by the people who live here.
• Each year, Rangers choose an Executive Committee to oversee community life. The committee manages shared resources, plans activities, and acts as a link between residents, the University, and alumni.
• Residents help shape the social calendar. Anyone can suggest or host an activity, whether it's a group dinner, a watch party, a cultural celebration, a trip off Grounds, or a larger multi-department gathering. Events that bring people together can receive community funding.
• Throughout the year, The Range hosts informal gatherings such as movie nights, shared meals, game nights, seasonal celebrations, and creative community projects. Monthly forums and symposia also offer spaces for residents to share research interests, ideas, and perspectives.
• Because Rangers come from many disciplines and countries, life on The Range allows for daily conversation, cultural exchange, and collaboration.
• Strong ties with residents of The Lawn and Pavilions offer opportunities to participate in additional events and University traditions.

Please see our Range FAQ for answers to common questions about living on The Range.