The University of Mary Washington ranks among the top 10 public liberal arts colleges, according to the 2025 “Best Colleges” list released today by U.S. News & World Report. UMW ties for No. 9 in the prestigious list and ties for No. 132 in national liberal arts, for both public and private universities.
In just two years since joining the Carnegie Classification category of undergraduate arts and sciences, following a long period of being listed among public regional universities, UMW ranks among the top 10 in the category. The nation’s military academies and public honors colleges perennially top the list, along with state designated liberal arts colleges in the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC). The new ranking puts UMW uniquely among the top colleges in the nation that are dedicated to the undergraduate experience and offer select graduate programs. It places UMW among the top 10, along with the Virginia Military Institution (VMI), showcasing the mission-driven focus of higher education in the commonwealth.
“Altogether, the rankings are a guide for discovering the best fit schools predicated on academics and personal considerations,” according to the U.S. News mission. “Based on statistics, the top-ranked schools provided ample classroom resources for students and faculty; conferred bachelor’s degrees at high rates; and produced graduates who entered the workforce with manageable debt and worthwhile starting salaries.”
At UMW, the Life After Mary Washington emphasis prepares students for diverse career paths and active citizenship, through faculty-led academic studies in small classes and opportunities beyond the classroom, such as internships, undergraduate research and study abroad.
U.S. News ranked nearly 1,500 U.S. four-year bachelor’s degree-granting institutions, grouped within 10 distinct overall rankings where colleges and universities were compared with schools that shared their academic mission.
Several programs at UMW also earned rankings in the 2025 U.S. News lists, with the undergraduate business program advancing to the top-400 tier and the undergraduate computer science program earning an inaugural spot on the list in the 328 range. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program rankings include UMW in the top 400, and Mary Washington’s undergraduate psychology program is now among the top 300 in the United States.
Mary Washington is also included in the “Top Performers for Social Mobility” roster for efforts to advance opportunities for economically disadvantaged students.
Earlier this year, UMW ranked highly on Washington Monthly’s list of liberal arts colleges and was named a “Best Bang for the Buck” school. It’s included in The Best 390 Colleges by The Princeton Review, and Money magazine recognizes UMW among the “Best Colleges in America” for quality, affordability and future earning potential.
Applications for admission to UMW for fall 2025 are open now, with daily tours and info sessions, weekend visits and open houses, and ways to explore campus virtually. Visit https://www.umw.edu/admissions/apply/ to apply.
