Once again, the University of Mary Washington has been named by the Fiske Guide to Colleges as one of the nation’s “best and most interesting” public and private four-year institutions. UMW is among 11 Virginia universities featured in the guide’s 2026 edition – its 42nd issue.

The bestselling publication describes UMW as “one of the premier public liberal arts and sciences colleges in the country,” attracting students who are “serious about academics, committed to an inclusive community and eager to contribute to the greater good.”

Strong connections between students and faculty remain a hallmark and “great source of pride” with 58% of classes having fewer than 20 students. A political science major told Fiske, “We are able to fully participate and not be another number in a room of hundreds.” A biomedical sciences student added, “The quality of the instructors is so outstanding that students can overcome any obstacles.”

UMW’s sense of community was called “unusually strong,” with students noting peers who are “kind, determined and hungry for academic and cultural knowledge.” One junior said, “Tradition is at the heart of UMW, and it’s one of the many things that instills a sense of community here.” Another student cited the wide variety of events, “from Tuesday night bingo to live music” as examples of ongoing campus engagement, saying “there’s always something happening on campus for students.” 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.