The University of Mary Washington has once again been recognized among the nation’s best colleges by the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2019.
This is the ninth consecutive year UMW has received the distinction from the prestigious publication, the nation’s top-selling college guidebook. Mary Washington is among public and private institutions recognized for delivering outstanding academics and the most reasonable prices.
The 2019 edition, the publication’s 35th annual issue, features more than 300 of the “best and most interesting” colleges and universities in the country. The listing was based on questionnaires sent to administrators and a cross-section of students.
Mary Washington is a good place to spend four years “because it is a strong community of socially conscious and academically focused students,” the guide quotes a UMW senior as saying.
Says another: “I never imagined that I would find such a highly engaged and compassionate set of professors my first year of college.”
The publication lists UMW’s most popular programs, including historic preservation, biology, business administration, English, psychology and political science. It touts the success of UMW Athletics, particularly men’s swimming and women’s volleyball, in the Capital Athletic Conference, where it has won more championships than all other members combined.
Student quotes highlight the perks of the recently opened University Center and tout the efforts of the James Farmer Multicultural Center in bringing diverse cultures together on the UMW campus. Students also gave the quality of life at Mary Washington four out of five stars, with a senior recognizing the charm of Fredericksburg as a contributing factor.
Small and friendly, nearby Fredericksburg “has a relaxed social atmosphere. Students are always hanging out downtown at coffee shops or by the Rappahannock River on nice days,” the student said. Another added that undergrads “are connected and feel like a family.”
Compiled annually under the direction of Edward B. Fiske, former education editor of The New York Times, the Fiske Guide is recognized as a leading source of information for college-bound students and their parents. It is available in bookstores and as an iPad app on iTunes and a web app on CollegeCountdown.com.
