University of Mary Washington
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Why University of Mary Washington Matters
University of Mary Washington is a public liberal arts college in Fredericksburg, VA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 3,566
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology
Why students choose University of Mary Washington
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 80% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1170–1370. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $20,667 a year after grants and scholarships — 21% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $60,613 ten years after enrolling — 49% above the typical college, against $20,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 89% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.73 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 80%, the University of Mary Washington is a welcoming choice for students who are looking to pursue a range of popular fields, including Business and Marketing, Social Sciences, Biology, Psychology, and Computer Science. This university caters to a diverse student body and emphasizes a supportive learning environment where students can grow academically and personally.
After graduation, students from Mary Washington can expect to earn about $60,613 within ten years. That figure is encouraging for those considering their financial future. The university’s affordability, with a net price of $20,667 after aid, makes it a viable option for many. It's worth noting that 21% of students receive Pell Grants, which can help lower costs even further for those who qualify.
In terms of debt, the median amount stands at $20,500, a figure that's manageable for many graduates given their earnings potential. Students who thrive here often appreciate the smaller campus atmosphere and the close-knit community that comes with it. If you're looking for a school that balances accessibility with a solid educational experience, Mary Washington might just be the right fit.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Mary Washington is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Mary Washington? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Fredericksburg, Virginia, University of Mary Washington keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 80% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,272. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 67%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Mary Washington? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending University of Mary Washington, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $27,560 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $20,667 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,304 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $20,500.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Mary Washington Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Mary Washington earn a median of $60,613, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Mary Washington Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Mary Washington delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $20,667/year ($82,668 total). Graduates earn $60,613 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,567,785 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,485,117 (19.0× your investment). The median debt is $20,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 67% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does University of Mary Washington Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Mary Washington is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.77%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower — only about 1.3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 60.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $133,800, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
University of Mary Washington produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 11 patents tied to its graduates.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields University of Mary Washington awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Mary Washington's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Mary Washington? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
As a public institution in Fredericksburg, Virginia, University of Mary Washington keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 80% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,272. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 67%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Mary Washington? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending University of Mary Washington, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $27,560 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $20,667 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,304 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $20,500.
Is University of Mary Washington Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of University of Mary Washington earn a median of $60,613, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does University of Mary Washington Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
University of Mary Washington is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 0.77%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower — only about 1.3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 60.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $133,800, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of Mary Washington? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at University of Mary Washington, with an economic connectedness score of 1.73 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Mary Washington.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Mary Washington? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at University of Mary Washington, with an economic connectedness score of 1.73 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note