From UMW:
The University of Mary Washington has been recognized among the nation’s top schools by U.S. News & World Report, which released its 2024 “Best Colleges” list. UMW ranked 11th among public liberal arts colleges and 154th among national liberal arts colleges, both public and private.
Previously, Mary Washington received high scores in the publication’s “regional university” listings. Now recognized nationally among liberal arts universities, in just the second year in this category, UMW continues to advance, particularly among the peer survey and in key metrics such as the faculty resources rank and graduate performance rate rank. UMW’s student retention also increased notably, now up to 83%, and UMW joins Virginia Military Institute, a fellow Virginia university that perennially makes the list, along with the sector leaders of military colleges.
Now in its 40th year, the U.S. News rankings evaluate more than 1,500 colleges and universities on up to 19 measures of academic quality.
“For 40 years, students and their families have come to count on Best Colleges as a vital resource as they navigate one of the most important decisions of their lives,” said Eric Gertler, executive chairman and CEO of U.S. News. “The significant changes in this year’s methodology are part of the ongoing evolution to make sure our rankings capture what is most important for students as they compare colleges and select the school that is right for them.”
U.S. News also included UMW on its “Top Performers for Social Mobility” roster for efforts to advance opportunities for economically disadvantaged students. UMW’s graduation rate for Pell-eligible students, a key indicator in this category, also increased, and the University continues to enhance and expand initiatives for students to succeed through graduation and Life After Mary Washington.
In addition, U.S. News named UMW programs in business, nursing and psychology to their annual lists.
Other recent rankings received by Mary Washington include spots in the top 100 on Washington Monthly’s “Best Liberal Arts Colleges” and “Best Bang for the Buck” listings, as well as a spot in The Princeton Review’s The Best 389 Colleges – 2024 Edition.
To learn more about Mary Washington or to see campus for yourself, schedule a visit or sign up for an upcoming Open House.
