UMW Earns National Recognition for Value, Future Readiness and Student Wellness

September 14, 2026

Sarah Hertz Mahoney

students with laptops sit in chairs next to a professor that is seated and speaking inside a building on UMW campus — UMW continues to earn national recognition for its value, student experience and preparation for life after college. Professor Anand Rao (right), who leads UMW’s Center for AI and the Liberal Arts, meets with students in the Hurley Convergence Center, reflecting the emerging-technology curriculum that helped UMW earn an A+ for Future Readiness in Niche’s 2027 rankings.

The University of Mary Washington continues to earn national recognition this fall, with new rankings from Washington Monthly, TIME, Forbes and Niche highlighting UMW’s value, student experience and preparation for life after college.

In its 2026 College Guide, Washington Monthly, known for rankings that emphasize colleges’ contributions to students and the public good, ranked UMW No. 90 among its “Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars” in the Southeast, up from No. 97 last year. The ranking measures how well institutions help students attain affordable degrees that lead to successful careers while serving students across income levels. The rankings weigh access, affordability, student outcomes and community service equally.

TIME, the national news publication, also included UMW among 500 institutions in its inaugural America’s Best Colleges list, produced in partnership with global data and rankings company Statista. UMW placed No. 416 among colleges recognized nationwide, one of 12 Virginia institutions to make the list. The ranking draws on federal data to evaluate schools based on student outcomes, learning environment and attractiveness — with student outcomes carrying the greatest weight.

Forbes, the national business publication, named UMW among 500 institutions in its 2027 America’s Top Colleges ranking, placing Mary Washington No. 297 nationwide. The ranking focuses on educational and career outcomes, evaluating colleges based on measures like alumni earnings, student debt, graduation and retention rates, return on investment, academic success and alumni achievement.

Niche, a college search and rankings platform that combines data with student and alumni reviews, awarded UMW an A+ for Future Readiness and an A for Student Wellness in its 2027 rankings. Both measures are new this year with over 1,900 schools evaluated.

students sit outdoors in chairs on UMW campus

one woman with dark hair hands a book to another with light hair while standing indoors in a meeting room

students outdoors on UMW campus hold balloon letters that spell VOTE

Students approach tables set up at a Career Fair indoors in a building on UMW campus

UMW students gather outdoors on campus, reflecting the close-knit student experience at the heart of Mary Washington. Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce

UMW Associate Vice President for Health and Wellness Juliette Landphair (left), shares a moment with Betty Talley ’68, whose generous support led to the naming of UMW’s Talley Center for Counseling Services. Access to counseling and crisis care helped Mary Washington earn an A for Student Wellness in Niche’s 2027 rankings. Photo by K Pearlman.

UMW students spell out “VOTE” during Election Day activities designed to help classmates become informed, empowered participants in the democratic process. Civic engagement and community service are among the measures considered in Washington Monthly’s college rankings. Photo by Sam Cahill.

Hundreds of students from UMW attend the University’s biannual Career and Internship Fair, connecting with employers and exploring opportunities for internships and careers. Career services are a key component of Niche’s Future Readiness measure, for which UMW earned an A+. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

UMW’s A+ for Future Readiness places it in the 99.2th national percentile, or top 2.5% of colleges. Mary Washington earned particularly strong marks for future-focused career services and access to AI and emerging-technology curriculum. The grade considers career services, curriculum, high-impact practices, work experience, emerging-technology coursework and instructional spending, with the quality of career services carrying the most weight.

The A for Student Wellness places UMW in the 97th national percentile, roughly among the top 10% of colleges receiving a grade. The measure considers access to counseling, crisis care, recreation and student organizations, with UMW earning top marks for individual counseling, exercise and nutrition, a 24/7 crisis line and emergency care pathway.

The latest accolades add to a growing list of national recognition for UMW this year. The Princeton Review named UMW among its Best 392 Colleges for 2027, with UMW Theatre rising to No. 12 nationally. The Fiske Guide to Colleges featured UMW among the nation’s “best and most interesting” institutions. And Money awarded UMW four out of five stars in its 2026 Best Colleges in America list, up from 3.5 stars last year.

Explore more on UMW’s National Rankings webpage.

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