University of Mary Washington
University of Mary Washington — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Mary Washington at a Glance
University of Mary Washington (UMW) is a public liberal arts university in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Established in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Fredericksburg, the institution later became known as Fredericksburg Teachers College, and was named Mary Washington College in 1938 after Mary Ball Washington, mother of the first president of the United States, George Washington. The General Assembly of Virginia changed the college's name to University of Mary Washington…
1908
118 years old
$78M
$77.6 million (2023)
4,108
3,834 undergrad · 274 grad
386
176 acres
Identity
Is University of Mary Washington Worth It?
University of Mary Washington offers moderate value at $20,667/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $60,613, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 67% graduation rate means roughly 33% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How University of Mary Washington compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #15 of 58 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #2 | Bellingham Technical College | 92 | $5,997 | $49,748 |
| #3 | Bates Technical College | 86 | $6,292 | $50,051 |
| #4 | Renton Technical College | 76 | $8,296 | $49,782 |
| #5 | Truman State University | 75 | $12,780 | $56,280 |
| #6 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | 71 | $6,817 | $50,669 |
| #15 | University of Mary Washington | 49 | $20,667 | $60,613 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Mary Washington's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at University of Mary Washington
The highest-earning program at University of Mary Washington is Computer and Information Sciences, General at $63,700/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Fine and Studio Arts at $15,200/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer and Information Sciences, General graduate from University of Mary Washington earns $63,700, while a Fine and Studio Arts graduate earns $15,200. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates carry $23,250 in median debt vs. $21,250 for Fine and Studio Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $20,667/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $63,700 | $63,700 | $23,250 |
| Mathematics | $44,400 | $44,400 | $22,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $42,500 | $42,500 | $19,500 |
| Economics | $36,300 | $36,300 | N/A |
| Sociology | $33,700 | $33,700 | $21,214 |
| Political Science and Government | $32,900 | $32,900 | $25,750 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $31,400 | $31,400 | $23,069 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $31,100 | $31,100 | $18,750 |
| Psychology, General | $28,000 | $28,000 | $20,500 |
| Biology, General | $27,800 | $27,800 | $19,500 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $23,900 | $23,900 | $20,951 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $23,500 | $23,500 | $22,625 |
| Historic Preservation and Conservation | $23,300 | $23,300 | $21,500 |
| History | $20,800 | $20,800 | $20,500 |
| Physical Sciences, Other | $18,100 | $18,100 | $21,988 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $15,200 | $15,200 | $21,250 |
Similar Colleges in VA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Fredericksburg, VA
- Student Body
- 3,566 students
- Admission Rate
- 80%
- Graduation Rate
- 67%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $20,667
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $60,613
- Median Student Debt
- $20,500