This article will not tell you whether your child should go here. An article cannot decide that, not even an honest one. What I can do is show you, using the official data the government collects from this university, what kind of institution University of Mary Washington really is: its size, its cost, who gets in, who stays, and who finishes. With that information in hand, you and your child can decide whether it deserves to remain on the list and exactly what questions to bring to the next call or visit.
What Kind of School It Is, in a Few Words
University of Mary Washington is a public four-year institution. The federal system that classifies the nation’s colleges describes it as a medium-sized, four-year, highly residential bachelor’s college focused on the arts and sciences. That last designation has a precise meaning; it is not just decoration: in the latest available reporting period, at least half of degree-seeking undergraduates lived in institution-owned or institution-affiliated housing, and at least 80 out of every 100 attended full time. In other words, it is a university designed to be experienced from the inside, not merely visited between classes.
In a separate reporting period, it is also classified among institutions that enroll many transfer students. If your child plans to come here after studying somewhere else, that label matters, but it does not say how many credits will transfer or which ones might be lost along the way. Ask for that in writing before enrolling; do not assume.
The institution reports a master’s degree as the highest level it offers and is classified as a school that awards primarily bachelor’s degrees or higher-level credentials. That confirms the availability of graduate programs, but it does not tell you whether the specific major that interests your child connects undergraduate and graduate study. That must be verified program by program.
Where it is and what living there means. Fredericksburg, Virginia, falls within the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metropolitan area, but that does not mean the campus is in the bustle of that urban center. Its Census classification places it in a suburb: within the urbanized area but outside the principal urban center. If your child plans to live at home and drive every day, the advice is simple and practical: make the trip on a weekday at the exact time their classes would meet. A map almost never tells the truth about traffic.
What it is not. University of Mary Washington has none of these three designations: it is not a historically Black college or university (HBCU), a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 colleges and universities in this national directory, 138 do have at least one of those designations. This says nothing about which communities the university serves today or how your child will feel there. Ask directly which cultural centers and student organizations exist and, better yet, speak with someone who already studies there.
The Size of the Community and Who Makes It Up
University of Mary Washington’s official enrollment in the most recent fall count was 3,808. It is a medium-sized school, in the range between 1,000 and 4,999 students, and compared with 519 similar selective public schools, it is on the smaller side: seven out of ten of those schools enroll more students. Of its total enrollment, 3,611 are undergraduates and only 197 are graduate students. Above all, it is a bachelor’s-degree institution.
One more number helps show its actual scale: from total enrollment of 3,808, IPEDS estimates a full-time-equivalent enrollment of 3,373 and reports a first-time, full-time entering-student count of 737. That last group is not the entire entering class for that year; it is a specific portion that the government uses for certain calculations.
Being small does not guarantee more attention for your child, just as being large does not guarantee more options. What is worth asking about is the specific major, not the entire school.
Who makes up that community. Among undergraduates in the most recently reported fall term, 13 out of every 100 are Hispanic or Latino. That is a small minority, and compared with 519 similar selective public schools, University of Mary Washington ranks above the group’s midpoint, though not in the highest quartile. That comparison has a real limitation: it is based on school type, not state, and that matters here because it does not account for where in the country each school is located.
There are more women than men among undergraduates: 64 out of every 100 are women. Adult students, ages 25 through 64, are few: 12 out of every 100. And the great majority of first-time students, 88 out of every 100, reported a permanent address in Virginia when they applied. It is largely a local community.
If finding other Latino students matters to your child, the figure of 13 out of every 100 does not remove the school from the list, but it is real information worth bringing to the visit: ask which student group, cultural center, or person in the admissions office speaks Spanish.
How the Academic Year Works and How Broad the Offerings Are
The academic calendar here follows semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each, with consistent dates for all students.
The university reported accepting prior credit through two routes: AP exams and what IPEDS calls credit for life experience, which may include independent study, work experience, prior licenses or certifications, and military experience. It also reports accepting credit for military training. And it enrolls high school students in college courses for credit outside a formal dual-enrollment program, treating them as regular students in those courses.
Here is the hard truth behind that good news: the university’s statement that it accepts AP does not mean it awards credit for every exam or score. These data do not tell us what score is required or whether those credits count toward your child’s specific major. Ask for the equivalency evaluation in writing before enrolling, and do not calculate the savings until you have it in hand.
How widely the majors are distributed. In one year, University of Mary Washington awarded 832 bachelor’s degrees across 17 program families. None accounts for a large share: business and management was the family with the most degrees, and even it represented only 16 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year. Compared with 514 similar schools, the university is in the quartile with the fewest program families represented in its bachelor’s-degree detail. This counts degrees awarded, not people or the entire current catalog. Before deciding, ask specifically about the major that interests your child: how many students graduated in it, how long they took, and what the curriculum is like.
The ratio of students to instructional staff. The ratio is 13 full-time-equivalent students per full-time-equivalent instructional staff member. Compared with 519 similar schools, University of Mary Washington is in the bottom quartile: its ratio is lower than that of three out of four schools in the group. That is a low ratio, which sounds good, but by itself it does not demonstrate that more staff are available to each student or reveal the actual size of first-year classes. Those details are not included in this figure.
Academic Opportunities the Institution Reports Offering
University of Mary Washington reports offering study abroad, cocurricular undergraduate research, a complete program that can be taken only during evenings or weekends, preparation for teacher certification below the postsecondary level, preparation in certain areas of teacher specialization, and state approval of its program for initial teacher certification. The institution’s report that these opportunities exist does not, by itself, explain how they work for your child’s exact major. Confirm that directly.
How the Admission Process Works
University of Mary Washington does not have open admission. It reviews specific components before saying yes. Of the nine admission considerations examined in the federal report, four are required: the high school record, high school GPA, completion of the college-preparatory subject plan required by the university, and an English proficiency exam for applicants to whom it applies. Other components are not required but are considered if submitted: class rank, the personal essay, letters of recommendation, work experience, and whether a family member attended the university.
There is one of those considerations your child cannot change: the university reported that it considers whether a family member attended. If that does not apply, do not spend energy on it. Spend it on what is within your child’s control.
The published undergraduate application fee is $50.
How selective it is in practice. In the most recently reported cycle, University of Mary Washington received 4,606 first-time applications and offered admission to 3,973. That is 86 out of every 100. Compared with 519 similar selective public schools, that percentage falls near the middle of the group, slightly above the midpoint. Put simply: of every 100 who applied, 86 were admitted. This is a school that does admit applicants. Even so, the application must be complete and submitted on time.
A likely admission does not make what follows easy. That figure of 86 out of every 100 applies to the entire school in a single cycle. It does not say how much attendance will cost, how many students finish, or whether the major your child wants has an additional screening process. Those three questions must be asked separately, and we will examine them below.
How many admitted students actually enroll. Of every 100 admitted, only 19 enrolled. The other 81 had a place here and did not take it. Compared with similar schools, that figure is near the middle of the group. Do not read it as a black mark: the fact that most admitted students did not enroll does not mean the school is bad. The federal record does not say why each person made that decision. What does matter is this: what other people decided does not tell you what the university will offer you. Wait for your letter showing the actual net price before deciding whether this school stays on the list.
About the SAT and ACT. They are not required. If your child submits them, they are considered; if not, the application remains active. Among enrolled first-time students, 31 out of every 100 submitted SAT scores. Among those students, the middle half scored between 600 and 690 in reading and writing and between 540 and 640 in mathematics. Those ranges describe students who enrolled and submitted the test, not all applicants, and they do not prove that the score was used to admit anyone. That 600 is not a minimum, and that 690 is not a guarantee.
Transfers, viewed from both directions. Among the bachelor’s-degree-seeking cohort that entered in 2017, 26 out of every 100 transferred to another school without completing here. That is a large share, and compared with similar schools, it is near the middle of the group, slightly above the midpoint. The report does not say why any of them left. Here is an important calculation that almost no family sees: someone who transfers does not appear as a University of Mary Washington graduate, even if that person completes a degree elsewhere. Remember that when you compare graduation rates later in this article. And the fact that many transferred does not mean they did poorly; the report counts the transfer, not the human outcome behind it.
In the other direction, 277 students arrived at University of Mary Washington for the first time after studying at another institution.
The Cost: Two Prices and a Large Gap
This is where many families feel the ground shift beneath them. Let’s take it slowly.
For the 2023–24 academic year, the reported total cost of attendance for a first-time, full-time student living on campus was $32,549 at the Virginia resident rate and $49,469 at the out-of-state rate. That difference, $16,920 per year, is enormous, and it is the first thing to confirm: which of those two figures is being quoted to you.
Broken down by category, tuition and fees are $14,559 in-state ($31,479 out-of-state), on-campus housing and food are $14,040, and books and supplies are estimated at $1,200. The remainder of the cost of attendance includes an estimate of other expenses, such as laundry, transportation, and entertainment, calculated by the financial aid office.
Compared with 483 similar schools, this cost at the in-state rate is among the highest in the group. That is worth keeping in mind when making comparisons, although, as you will see next, the published price is almost never the price actually paid.
One practical detail: as typical charges for the full year, the institution separately publishes housing at $7,783 and food at $5,670. And pay close attention to the rate category: ask the institution what requirements it uses to classify someone as a Virginia resident and when those rules begin to apply. They are not the same everywhere.
Net Price: What Different Families Actually End Up Paying
At University of Mary Washington, among 68 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid, paid the in-state or in-district rate, and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $11,137. Among 45 students from the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $19,886; among 102 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $29,234. For dependent students, the income band combines their parents’ income with their own.
There is a difference of $18,097 between the average for the lowest-income band, representing 68 students, and the average for the highest-income band, representing 102 students. These are group averages, not a prediction of your family’s price. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $21,615.
$11,137 was the average net price for families in the lowest-income band in academic year 2022-23. That does not mean it is what your family will pay. It helps you decide whether it is worth requesting the financial aid letter.
Because the price changes so much from one income band to another, correctly identifying yours comes first. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average with grant or scholarship aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The financial aid letter sent to you is what matters.
Financial Aid and Loans: Separate the Piles
Aid that does not have to be repaid—that is, grants and scholarships—went to 72 out of every 100 degree-seeking students here. The average amount of that aid, counting only those who received it, was $8,426 per year.
The Pell Grant, the federal aid specifically intended for low-income families, went to fewer people: 21 out of every 100. The difference between those two figures may include other sources of federal, state, local, or institutional aid; this breakdown does not allow us to say precisely what makes up the difference. Ask directly which programs account for it and what they require.
When your child’s letter arrives, separate it by hand into three piles: money that does not have to be repaid, money that must be repaid with interest, and money that must be earned through work. Many letters mix them together in a single column, and that confusion costs families dearly.
Regarding loans, 31 out of every 100 undergraduates received a federal student loan in the most recently reported academic year. Among those who borrowed, the average amount borrowed that year was $6,146. Compared with similar schools, that proportion is near the middle of the group. Some students here went through the year without debt, while others borrowed; this overall percentage does not determine which group your child will fall into. Their own financial aid letter does.
And here is a detail that is often overlooked: that average of $6,146 covers a single year and only federal loans in the student’s name. It does not include PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, bank debt, or credit cards. Nor is it the total debt someone carries upon graduation; calculating that would require adding every year, and that figure is not in this report.
Regarding payment options, the institution reports offering a tuition installment payment plan.
Campus Life, Instructional Format, and Available Support
University of Mary Washington does have institution-controlled housing, with a reported capacity of 2,261 students on or off campus. The university responded that not all first-time, full-time students are required to live there; that rules out a universal requirement but does not say whether a specific program might require it. The university also offers meal plans, although the number of meals per week varies by plan. The existence of housing does not guarantee an available bed for your child. Ask in writing for this year’s rate, the housing application deadline, and whether a place is guaranteed or your child would join a waiting list.
ROTC. The institution indicated that an ROTC opportunity is available, and the only branch confirmed in writing is the Army. The Navy and Air Force are not marked. If your child is interested in another branch, it is not confirmed in this report. That does not make it impossible; it only means you need to ask directly. And the marked response does not say whether the program takes place on this campus or at another nearby campus.
Athletics. University of Mary Washington does compete in intercollegiate sports and is affiliated with the NCAA. It reports membership for basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. These data do not identify every current team, the division in which each sport competes, or whether athletic scholarships are offered. If this matters to your child, contact the coach of the specific sport directly and request the answer in writing.
Distance education. The university offers it at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In the most recent count, only 4 out of every 100 undergraduates took all their classes through distance education; the other 96 took at least one class in person. And importantly, the institution reported that it does not offer any complete undergraduate program that can be finished entirely through distance education. If online study is a deciding factor for your family, confirm the exact level and program.
Library. It operates with hired staff, and its annual spending exceeded the reporting threshold of $100,000 used by the government. It has physical and digital materials and offers interlibrary lending. That threshold is only a minimum floor; it does not guarantee access to the specific databases your child’s major requires. Ask about those by the name of the major.
Reported support. The institution reports combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students, placement services for graduates, participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and military families, a student veterans organization, and a disability-services webpage.
Retention, Graduation, and What Happens Over Time
Here we reach the question that probably matters most to you: if your child enrolls, will they stay? Will they graduate?
First-year retention. Of 732 first-time, full-time, bachelor’s-degree-seeking students who entered, 600 met the official retention criterion: 82 out of every 100 were still enrolled there or had already completed the bachelor’s degree one year later. Compared with 519 similar schools, University of Mary Washington ranks in the upper part of the group. Two things this figure does not say: at a four-year school, only students who began seeking a bachelor’s degree are included in the calculation; no one else is. And not returning is not the same as dropping out: someone who transferred to another university and continues studying there is counted the same, in this figure, as someone who left school entirely.
Graduation within six years. Of 932 first-time, full-time students who began seeking a bachelor’s degree in 2017, 628 had graduated here six years later. That is 67 out of every 100. At the four-year mark, the figure falls to 58 out of every 100, a difference of 9 points. Compared with 518 similar schools, University of Mary Washington ranks in the top quartile.
It is worth examining the complete breakdown of those 932 students because it tells a richer story than a single percentage:
| Outcome after six years | Students |
|---|---|
| Graduated here | 628 |
| Transferred without completing here | 244 |
| Still enrolled without completing | 7 |
| No longer enrolled (reason unknown) | 53 |
That “no longer enrolled” category does not give a reason and may include people who completed their degree after the calculation’s time limit. And remember what we saw earlier: someone who transferred does not count as a graduate here, even if that person completed a degree elsewhere.
After eight years, looking farther ahead. IPEDS followed a cohort of 1,478 undergraduates who entered between July 2015 and June 2016, including both full-time and part-time students. As of August 2023, 71 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from University of Mary Washington. Among those who specifically received a Pell Grant, the figure was 66 out of every 100, six points below the group that did not receive Pell. Compared with similar schools, this institution ranks in the top quartile.
A high percentage is not a promise for your child as an individual. It describes a cohort that entered several years ago. It is worth asking directly about the current support available in the program that interests your child and about outcomes for more recent cohorts.
What This Article Cannot Tell You
The official data supporting this article contain no figure showing what a University of Mary Washington graduate earns, what kind of work that graduate does, or exactly how much debt that person carries upon leaving with a diploma in hand. That requires another source, and it would be dishonest to invent it here.
Putting the Pieces Together
You now understand in detail one of the three pieces you need to make a decision: what University of Mary Washington really is, what it costs, who gets in, who stays, and who graduates. That piece alone does not complete the plan. What your child wants to study and what they have already built in high school are still missing. So is what your family can truly afford—the figure only you know and that the financial aid letter will put to the test.
Your child’s job is to research the major, visit if possible, write the essay, and decide whether they can imagine living there. Your job is the money, deadlines, documents, and asking uncomfortable questions before they turn into expensive surprises. Neither of you does the other’s work alone.
With this piece in hand, you can now decide together whether this university deserves to remain on the list and exactly what questions to bring to the next call, email, or visit.
Note on sources: The information in this article comes from official data reported by University of Mary Washington to the U.S. Department of Education’s IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), corresponding primarily to the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles, as indicated in each section. Best College Aid does not represent University of Mary Washington or the United States government, and this article does not constitute personalized admission advice.