CAV Program FAQS

For first-year students, we offer a program we call the CAV Program.  You can view the offerings and place your order online at http://www.cavprogram.com/. Below are a few of the benefits that come with a CAV Program computer.

You can a computer that fits your major, that includes a four-year warranty with accidental damage coverage, and comes with the peace of mind know that it is built to get you through four years of college at a minimum

• A 4-YEAR WARRANTY includes an accidental damage protection plan covering your computer from spilled drinks, drops, and more.
• Windows Professional with Microsoft Office for PCs and Mac OSX® for Apple® computers*,plus access to Microsoft Office at no additional charge via download.
• Delivery options that meet your needs. We provide FREE delivery to your home. You may also choose in-store pick-up at Cavalier Computers (inside the UVA Bookstore).
• Free access to UVA software for data backup to the UVA servers via 1TB of free cloud storage with UVa Box and connectivity to UVA’s wired and wireless networks. 
• Access to UVA software such as Microsoft Office, UVA Box, Alertus, LastPass, Zoom, Remote Apps, and more at no additional cost via links provided in the Getting Started Guide
• Convenient, worry-free, professional service and support. FREE loaner computer during repairs.

All CAV Program computers are academically priced, and once you compare like to like, you will see that you are indeed getting the best deal possible.  CAV Program computers are each manufacturer's business-class model built with students and businesses in mind. Typically, once you add all of the SAME options and features and compare pricing, CAV Program computers come out to be cheaper or the same price, and you get more value-add due to our on-grounds service and because we are a part of the University of Virginia.

CAV Program Exclusives:

• Only CAV Program Apple Computers come with a 4-Year Apple Protection Plan
• A 4-year warranty option is not available from Apple or other retailers
• CAV Program Computers come with links to UVA Software at no additional charge
• Free Access to Microsoft Office (value of $280 over four years*)
• Free Access to UVA Box with a Terabyte of data storage (value of $384 over four years**)
• Free Delivery to your home or dorm room
• Free loaner system available should you need repair while on-grounds
• Warranty included in the pricing

The warranty also covers you while you are away from the grounds via the manufacturer.

 * Based on a $69.99 annual subscription for Office 365 for individuals

** Based on the Box Starter plan, which provides 100GB of storage at $7 per month

***updated 05/25/2023

Cavalier Computer does not have access to your scholarship or financial aid funds.  You must talk to your scholarship provider or administrator to determine how to use those funds to purchase a computer.

We order CAV Program computers in bulk; therefore, they cannot be expedited. We base our ordering on historical ordering patterns and emerging trends so that we can place our orders before you place yours. This method allows us to usually already have computers ordered or in stock by the time you place your order. We allow 3 to 4 weeks for delivery to adjust for manufacturing delays, parts shortages, and shipping delays, all of which have happened and are out of our control. 

While we allow 3 to 4 weeks for delivery to you, your order will often arrive shortly after you have placed it due to our ordering in advance. Once we receive the computer for your order, we will prep it for you within 24 hours and notify you of its availability or tracking information if we ship it to you.

Only CAV Program computers get this service.  We cannot and will not set up non-CAV Program computers to resemble CAV Program computers.

Only the CAV Program computers listed under the individual schools are eligible for the CAV Program warranty and direct access to select software. These benefits of the CAV Program cannot be added to non-CAV Program computers. While select software can be downloaded and installed from the University, we do not offer this service to non-CAV Program computers.

CAV Program computers cannot be customized.  The schools select the CAV program computers to fit the needs of the students in their programs.

Yes, we are an Authorized Apple Service Center.

 If there are fees, how much would those be? If you purchase AppleCare, the repairs will be covered by the warranty, but you will have to pay service fees for screen damage or other damage according to Apple's warranty. The most extended warranty from Apple is only 3 Years and does not cover fees (Mac: $99 for screen damage (or external enclosure damage), $299 for other damage.) CAV Program computers come with a 4-Year Warranty included, and all fees are covered.

 And would I get a loaner computer for free? Non-CAV Program computers are charged a $45 fee. CAV Program computers get a free loaner to use during repairs.

Also, do computers purchased through the CAV program come preloaded with any UVA systems, or is it the same as if I bought it through Apple? We do not preload software, as your UVA ID and password are required to install software; we provide you with links to access and download the essential software.

UVA students may use their student account to pay for their CAV Program computer. Your purchases will appear on your UVA account as a separate line item. The total amount due for payment is split into two with the first payment due October 31 followed by the remaining balance due December 31.

Getting Started

Step One:

Activate your Computing ID and E-Services password by completing the Responsible Computing Quiz at http://itc.virginia.edu/pubs/docs/RespComp/

Step Two:

To obtain your University assigned nine-digit number:

When entering your Student ID, please do not put in dashes or spaces.

Yes, we provide two options to pay using your 529 Plan:

• We recommend using your Student Charge account to complete your purchase and then having your 529 Plan administrator reimburse you. To do this you will select the Student Charge payment option during checkout. This will put the order on your student account. Once you place the order you can submit a copy of the order to your 529 Plan administrator, they will send you a check to cover the cost your order. Once you recieve that check you can login to your SIS account and apply that check your CAV Program purchase. This option allows for us to process the order and release it to you as soon as it arrives.Our CAV Program Student Charge payment option provides you with the option to payoff your purchase in two installments with the first being due October 31st and the second by December 31st. This time frame gives your 529 Plan administrator plenty of time to send your check to payoff your order.


• You also have to option to select the 529 Plan payment option during checkout. This options requires us to have received the payment check from your 529 Plan administrator before we can release your order to you. This method can somethings take longer due to the delay of the 529 Plan check arriving to us.

See more about our payment options HERE

Please allow up to 3 - 4 weeks after the date of order for your CAV Program order to arrive. This timeframe is based on a number of factors but most importantly on what the manufacturers have told us. We base our ordering on historical ordering patterns and emerging trends to place our orders before you place yours. This method allows us to usually already have computers ordered or in stock by the time you place your order. We allow 3 to 4 weeks for delivery to adjust for manufacturing delays, parts shortages, and shipping delays, all of which can happen and are out of our control. While we allow 3 to 4 weeks for delivery to you, many times, your order will arrive shortly after you have placed it due to our ordering in advance. Once we receive the computer for your order, we prep it for you within 24 hours and notify you of its availability or tracking information if we are shipping it to you.

If you cannot find the answer to your question here, you can log in to your account and submit your question via the Submit New Case option, which is located under My Account. Once logged into your account, click "Welcome, Your Name," then select Account Overview. When you are on your account overview, click on the CASES box and then select Submit New Case. Fill out the form and click the submit button. See video below for more information.