Liberal arts college
#6 Best colleges for education in VirginiaUniversity of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA · Public · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $20,667 a year
Median debt at graduation: $20,500 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for nursing in America#169 of 1,068
- Best colleges for business in America#283 of 1,563
- Best colleges for education in America#241 of 1,318
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#238 of 1,238
- Best colleges for psychology in America#304 of 1,418
- Best colleges in America#398 of 1,829
Show 8 more
- Best colleges for English in America#287 of 1,283
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#305 of 1,358
- Lowest net price for middle-income families in America#156 of 682
- Best test-optional colleges in America#348 of 1,481
- Best colleges for art and design in America#286 of 1,187
- Best colleges for history in America#301 of 1,247
- Best mid-size colleges in America#163 of 667
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#300 of 1,215
In Virginia
- Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in Virginia#3 of 19
- Best colleges for education in Virginia#6 of 32
- Best colleges for nursing in Virginia#7 of 33
- Best mid-size colleges in Virginia#3 of 13
- Best colleges for business in Virginia#11 of 47
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in Virginia#8 of 34
Show 8 more
- Best colleges for music in Virginia#8 of 34
- Best colleges for mathematics in Virginia#9 of 38
- Best colleges for psychology in Virginia#10 of 41
- Most affordable colleges with strong academics in Virginia#5 of 20
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Virginia#10 of 38
- Best colleges for English in Virginia#10 of 38
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in Virginia#10 of 38
- Best colleges for art and design in Virginia#9 of 33
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.66%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.84%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,272 · ACT 29
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.13 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$11,398
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $31,137 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 3,611 |
|---|---|
| Men and women Undergraduates, fall 2023 (College Scorecard) | Men 36% · Women 64% |
| First-generation students Share of students who are first-generation, by the College Scorecard’s definition | 25% |
| First-year students from another state Of first-time students whose home is a U.S. state, fall 2023 (IPEDS) | 10% |
| Total students | 3,808 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $20,667 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $31,137 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $20,500 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 66% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients Finishing within 6 years (College Scorecard) | 71% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students Finishing within 6 years (College Scorecard) | 68% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years Borrowers who repaid at least $1 of principal within 3 years (College Scorecard) | 74% |
| First-year retention | 84% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $60,613 |
| Admission rate | 80% |
| Application fee Undergraduate application fee, 2023–24 (IPEDS) | $50 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 21% |
| Average SAT | 1272 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 610–710 |
| SAT math | 560–660 |
| ACT composite | 27–31 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Very good · Top 33% (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computing and information science | |
| Nursing | |
| Mathematics | |
| Business administration | |
| Economics | |
| Biology | |
| Political science | |
| Other physical sciences | |
| Sociology | |
| History | |
| Liberal arts | |
| Psychology | |
| Linguistics | |
| Geography | |
| International relations | |
| English | |
| Historic Preservation and Conservation | |
| Fine arts | |
| Visual and performing arts |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Anthropology, Area studies, Chemistry, Classics, Communication studies, Music, Other philosophy and religious studies, Physics, Teacher education.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Business | |
| Social sciences | |
| Biology | |
| Psychology | |
| Computer and information sciences |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | Suburb |
| Part-time undergraduates | 13% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 12% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $14,250 |
| Sports | NCAA Division III |
| ROTC | Army |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 13 to 1 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 68%Of instructional faculty, fall 2023 (College Scorecard) |
| Endowment per student | $23,006Endowment at the end of fiscal year 2023, per full-time-equivalent student (IPEDS) |
| Dorm space | For about 63% of studentsCampus beds divided by undergraduate enrollment. Not how many students live on campus (IPEDS) |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)About 44 miles away in a straight line (OurAirports) |
| Town population | 28,8732020–2024 five-year estimate (U.S. Census Bureau) |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | WashingtonAbout 48 miles away in a straight line (U.S. Census Bureau) |
| Average temperature in January | 36°F1991–2020 normal, from FREDERICKSBURG SEWAGE, VA US, about 2 miles away (NOAA) |
| Average temperature in July | 78°F1991–2020 normal, from FREDERICKSBURG SEWAGE, VA US, about 2 miles away (NOAA) |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.17 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.00 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.00 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.00 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is University of Mary Washington’s Compass Score?
- Very good (grade B+). It ranks in the top 22% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does University of Mary Washington cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $20,667 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into University of Mary Washington?
- University of Mary Washington admitted 80% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do University of Mary Washington’s graduates do?
- 66% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $60,613; the median federal debt at graduation is $20,500.
Ask the school
Something you want to know that isn’t on this page? Ask it here. We send it to the school, and their answer appears on this page. Your name is never shared.
Reviews
Personal experiences from signed-in readers. Reviews are moderated automatically and never change a school’s grades.
No reviews yet.
Sign in to write a review.
My rating and notes
Sign in or create a free account to rate this school privately, keep notes, and save it to your list.
About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 232681
- Carnegie classification: Baccalaureate college (arts & sciences)
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Report an error or a newer source
- Respond as this school
Colleges like this one
The same kind of school first, then the closest in selectivity, size and cost.
Compare side by side: University of Mary Washington vs SUNY at Purchase · University of Mary Washington vs St. Mary's College of Maryland · University of Mary Washington vs Hope · University of Mary Washington vs University of North Carolina Asheville
More in Virginia · Virginia rankings