The University of Mary Washington continues to stand among the nation’s best, earning a Top 10 spot in the 2026 U.S News & World Report “Best Colleges” ranking released today.

UMW tied for No. 8 on the prestigious list of Top Public Schools – National Liberal Arts Colleges, up one place from last year. In the overall ranking of national liberal arts colleges, which includes both public and private institutions, Mary Washington tied for No. 131.

“Recognition from U.S. News affirms what our students and alumni already know – that Mary Washington provides a powerful undergraduate experience rooted in close faculty mentorship, small classes and meaningful opportunities beyond the classroom,” said UMW President Troy Paino.

In addition to the Top Public Schools ranking, several UMW programs were recognized on individual lists, including No. 335 Undergraduate Business Programs, No. 367 Undergraduate Psychology Programs, No. 410 Undergraduate Computer Science Programs and No. 480 Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs. UMW ranks No. 177 among Top Performers on Social Mobility. 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.