The University of Mary Washington has once again been named among the nation’s best by The Princeton Review. The education services company included UMW in its 2026 edition of The Best 391 Colleges, which profiles just 15 percent of America’s four-year institutions.
While the publication doesn’t rank schools 1 through 391, several earn specialized accolades, including UMW, which appears in the Top 20 for #11 Best Health Services, #15 Best College Theatre, #15 Best Student Support and Counseling Services and #15 Town-Gown Relations. Selections are based on data taken directly from student surveys – collected from 170,000 students nationwide – highlighting schools that deliver exceptional academics, campus life and other key aspects of the college experience.
The Princeton Review praises Mary Washington for providing “an extremely thorough and well-rounded education,” with classes that range from discussion-based seminars to hands-on experiential learning beyond the classroom. Students highlight faculty who take the time to connect with them and are “very personable and understanding.” One student concluded that when it comes to UMW professors, “we are a first priority to them, and it shows.”
Campus life earned a mention for offering “plenty of activities that cater to so many different interests,” including arts and music showcases, athletics, service-based opportunities and longstanding traditions like Devil-Goat Day, where students engage in friendly games and competitions. In all, “there’s always some type of event going on.”
The campus environment is described as welcoming; at Mary Washington, the guide says, it’s “very easy to feel part of the community.” One student said UMW is “the most comfortable I have felt in a school environment” and another said it “is a place where I can never fail to find friends.” When not in classes or participating in extracurricular activities, students often visit the “incredibly popular” downtown Fredericksburg.
This recognition follows UMW’s inclusion earlier this summer on The Princeton Review’s Best Value Colleges for 2025 list, which recognized the nation’s best schools for students seeking a great education at an affordable price. Mary Washington also received specialized rankings for public schools in the summer listing, including #11 Best Schools for Making an Impact and #18 Best Schools for Internships nationally.
The Princeton Review is an education services company that annually publishes guidebooks that rank colleges, and business and law schools. Its Best 391 Colleges guide, now in its 34th edition, is one of its most popular publications, helping prospective students and families identify schools that best fit their academic, social and financial priorities. Selections are based on detailed institutional data and student surveys covering academics, campus life, extracurriculars and community engagement.
“The University of Mary Washington has outstanding academic programs and the feedback we received about the University from its students we surveyed was very impressive,” said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief and lead author of The Best 391 Colleges. “We are delighted to name Mary Washington one of our best colleges for 2026 and to recommend it to students searching for their ‘best-fit’ college.”
Learn more about The Princeton Review’s 2026 Best 391 Colleges list and its methodology or explore UMW’s national rankings webpage for additional recognitions. Information sessions, tours and open houses at Mary Washington are available through UMW Admissions and applications to UMW are open now.
It was already on its way there when I entered in 1964. My high school was one of the best, and MWC kept challenging me! This thrills me!