National Rankings

UMW is ranked in every major selective guide publication.

The following is a sample of what these guides have to say about UMW:

  • The Peace Corps has named the University of Mary Washington to its annual list of “Top Producing Colleges and Universities.” Among small colleges and universities with fewer than 5,000 undergraduates, UMW ranks No. 3. The university currently has 21 alumni serving in the Peace Corps.
  • Fiske Guide to Colleges 2013 designated UMW as a “Best Buy School,” making it the only college in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia reaching this distinction.
  • For the fifth consecutive year, Forbes recognized the University of Mary Washington as one of the nation’s top universities. In the annual list of “America’s Best Colleges,” UMW ranked 66th out of 100 institutions that Forbes deems “The Top 100 Best Buy Colleges.” Overall, UMW is ranked 243 out of 650 undergraduate institutions that the magazine considers the nation’s best.
  • The University of Mary Washington was named to the Princeton Review’s 150 “Best Value Colleges: 2012 Edition” and “The Best 377 Colleges” of 2013.
  • Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine named the university in its “100 Best Values in Public Colleges” for 2013. The university ranks fifth among Virginia’s best values and 53rd out of 100 four-year public institutions nationwide when comparing tuition costs.
  • Washington Monthly recognized UMW as 12th among master’s universities in the nation based on its contribution to the public good.
  • U.S. News & World Report has ranked the university sixth among public southern universities in the “Top Public Regional Universities – South” category in its 2013 edition of America’s Best Colleges. The university ranks 16th among all southern universities in the same category.  In addition,  U.S. News & World Report ranks UMW  third among “Top Public Regional Universities – South” category  for its efficient use of resources and ability to provide a high quality education.
  • About.com rates UMW in its list of “Top (10) Public Liberal Arts Colleges” that place an emphasis on quality teaching and undergraduate education.