The University of Mary Washington is known for its exceptional urban canopy and picturesque grounds as much as its commitment to sustainability and a student body that’s energized by opportunities to support and enjoy the environment. These factors, among others, earned it a spot on The Princeton Review’s 2025 Guide to Green Colleges for schools that demonstrate an earth-friendly pledge through sustainability in campus programs, policies and practices.

The educational rating organization based its Green Colleges list on surveys of administrators and students at U.S. and international schools, assessing campus sustainability practices along with students’ perspectives on “green” campus experiences.

“We are delighted to recommend UMW to students who want their ‘best-fit’ college to also be a ‘green’ one,” said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief. “UMW, which offers excellent academics, also demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability in its campus practices and programs.”

Hardworking groundskeepers support the landscape, along with no-mow zones, pollinator gardens, and sustainability initiatives such as waste reduction, recycling, water conservation, energy efficiency and an electric vehicle charge point planned for the Alvey Parking Deck. Events that encourage engagement include the Eco-Carnival on Earth Day and the Tree Festival, welcoming clubs, departments and community members to celebrate UMW’s tree population. Read more.

The University of Mary Washington is a premier, selective public liberal arts and sciences university in Virginia, highly respected for its commitment to academic excellence, strong undergraduate liberal arts and sciences program, and dedication to life-long learning. The university, with a total enrollment of about 4,000, features colleges of business, education and arts and sciences, and three campuses, including a residential campus in Fredericksburg, Virginia, a second one in nearby Stafford and a third in Dahlgren, Virginia, which serves as a center of development of educational and research partnerships between the Navy, higher education institutions and the region’s employers.