University of Mary Washington is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It enrolls 3,566 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes70
Value59
Affordability34
Selectivity61
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 79.8%, University of Mary Washington is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
79.8%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1170 – 1370
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
27 – 31
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of Mary Washington is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
11.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of Mary Washington isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,667 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,667
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
29%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$14,640
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$27,560
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,250
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,040
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,810
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,750
Total Cost of Attendance
$31,137
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,304
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,061
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,477
$75,001 – $110,000
$26,212
Over $110,000
$30,986
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,25010%percentile
$6,50025%percentile
$20,500Medianpercentile
$25,00075%percentile
$28,73590%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $17,235
↓ $3,265
No Pell $15,000
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $15,500
↓ $5,000
Independent students $18,609
↓ $1,891
Female students $16,750
↓ $3,750
Male students $15,000
↓ $5,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,750, less than completers ($20,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
67% of full-time students who enrolled at University of Mary Washington graduate within six years, and 83% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
67%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
83%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of Mary Washington earn a median of $60,613 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$60,613
Earning > $25K
83%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$52,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$63,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$47,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$60,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$57,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,600, about 18% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
16.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 95% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of Mary Washington is home to 3,566 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
3,566
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
25%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 59.3%2,116
Hispanic 13.0%462
Black 8.2%291
Other 6.4%226
Asian 4.4%158
International 2.7%95
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of Mary Washington. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize SuburbFredericksburg, Virginia
Housing
Mostly residential2,261 beds on campus
Adult Learners
12%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of Mary Washington offers
a varied set of programs:
32 distinct programs across
17 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Mary Washington is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,922
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$78M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$85,911
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
224 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
82
37%
$98,113
Associate Professors
78
35%
$83,734
Assistant Professors
29
13%
$68,721
Instructors
6
3%
$72,822
Lecturers
29
13%
$77,165
Pros & Cons of University of Mary Washington
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of Mary Washington tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, University of Mary Washington is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Mary Washington
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of Mary Washington.
Is University of Mary Washington hard to get into?
University of Mary Washington has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 79.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Mary Washington?
University of Mary Washington has an acceptance rate of 79.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for University of Mary Washington?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Mary Washington scored between 1170 and 1370 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for University of Mary Washington?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Mary Washington scored between 27 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of Mary Washington cost?
The average net price after aid at University of Mary Washington is $20,667 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of Mary Washington worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $60,613 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,667 per year. That's roughly 2.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of Mary Washington known for?
University of Mary Washington is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of Mary Washington graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of Mary Washington are $60,613, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of Mary Washington accredited?
Yes. University of Mary Washington is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend University of Mary Washington?
University of Mary Washington enrolls 3,566 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of Mary Washington?
University of Mary Washington graduates 67% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of Mary Washington a public or private college?
University of Mary Washington is a Public institution.
Where is University of Mary Washington located?
University of Mary Washington is located in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
What programs does University of Mary Washington offer?
University of Mary Washington offers 32 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Psychology, Biology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of Mary Washington?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Mary Washington is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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