The University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg was ranked No. 9 on a recently released list of the top national public liberal arts colleges.
The 2025 Best Colleges list is compiled by U.S. News & World Report, which uses statistics to rank schools based on classroom resources, conferred degrees, test scores and graduation numbers. The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis took the top ranking.
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).
UMW tied for No. 9 in the prestigious list with the University of North Carolina in Asheville. The school ranks No. 132 in national liberal arts, for both public and private universities.
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,” states 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.”
