The Fiske Guide to Colleges has once again named the University of Mary Washington among the country’s “best and most interesting” public and private four-year colleges and universities. UMW is among 11 Virginia universities and just over 300 schools in the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Ireland included in the 2024 edition of the Fiske Guide, its 40th annual issue.

As in prior years, the selective guide showcases colleges and universities “that students most want to know about,” with details directly from campus questionnaires and student input. Each narrative focuses on academic strengths, social life and overall quality of life.

UMW stands out for all points, particularly for its reputation among public liberal arts and sciences colleges across the country. “Indeed,” the publication states, “for an aura of history and tradition, few schools stack up to this small college in Fredericksburg.” 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, Va., a second one in nearby Stafford and a third in Dahlgren, Va., which serves as a center of development of educational and research partnerships between the Navy, higher education institutions and the region’s employers