Mary Washington College vs. Roanoke College

Deciding between University of Mary Washington and Roanoke College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Mary Washington
Roanoke College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Mary Washington College Fredericksburg, VA
  • Roanoke College Salem, VA
  • Setting
  • Mary Washington College Small Suburban
  • Roanoke College Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Mary Washington College 3,826
  • Roanoke College 1,804
  • Type
  • Mary Washington College Public 4 Year
  • Roanoke College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Mary Washington College #259
  • Roanoke College #369
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Mary Washington College -
  • Roanoke College Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Status
  • Mary Washington College Non-profit
  • Roanoke College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Mary Washington College
  • Roanoke College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Mary Washington College $14,640
  • Roanoke College $38,068
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Mary Washington College $27,560
  • Roanoke College $38,068
  • Room & Board
  • Mary Washington College $14,250
  • Roanoke College $15,366
  • Average Net Price
  • Mary Washington College $21,800
  • Roanoke College $26,044
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Mary Washington College $10,491
  • Roanoke College $28,188
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Mary Washington College 99%
  • Roanoke College 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Mary Washington College 5,124
  • Roanoke College 5,785
  • Admitted
  • Mary Washington College 4,088
  • Roanoke College 4,805
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Mary Washington College 79.8%
  • Roanoke College 83.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Mary Washington College 17.7%
  • Roanoke College 9.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Mary Washington College 1270
  • Roanoke College 1200
  • Typical ACT score
  • Mary Washington College 29
  • Roanoke College 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Mary Washington College 3.71
  • Roanoke College 3.56
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Mary Washington College A-
  • Roanoke College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Mary Washington College Difficult
  • Roanoke College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Mary Washington College
  • Roanoke College
  • ACT Range
  • Mary Washington College 27/31
  • Roanoke College 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • Mary Washington College 1170/1370
  • Roanoke College 1090/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Mary Washington College Test optional
  • Roanoke College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Mary Washington College
  • Roanoke College
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Mary Washington College 13:1
  • Roanoke College 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Mary Washington College
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Business (12%)
    • General Studies (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Roanoke College
    • Business (25%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • History (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Mary Washington College 71%
  • Roanoke College 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Mary Washington College $55,500
  • Roanoke College $51,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Mary Washington College 80%
  • Roanoke College 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Mary Washington College $21,500
  • Roanoke College $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Mary Washington College $222
  • Roanoke College $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Mary Washington College 36%
  • Roanoke College 48%
  • % Women
  • Mary Washington College 64%
  • Roanoke College 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Mary Washington College Low
  • Roanoke College Low
  • HBCU
  • Mary Washington College No
  • Roanoke College No
  • % White
  • Mary Washington College 70%
  • Roanoke College 82%
  • % Asian
  • Mary Washington College 4%
  • Roanoke College 1%
  • % Black
  • Mary Washington College 6%
  • Roanoke College 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Mary Washington College 8%
  • Roanoke College 4%
  • % Native American
  • Mary Washington College 0%
  • Roanoke College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Mary Washington College 0%
  • Roanoke College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Mary Washington College 5%
  • Roanoke College 4%
  • % International
  • Mary Washington College 1%
  • Roanoke College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Mary Washington College 6%
  • Roanoke College 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Mary Washington College 88%
  • Roanoke College 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Mary Washington College 10%
  • Roanoke College 32%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Mary Washington College Yes
  • Roanoke College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Mary Washington College No
  • Roanoke College No
  • Meal Plan
  • Mary Washington College Yes
  • Roanoke College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Mary Washington College Yes
  • Roanoke College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Mary Washington College No
  • Roanoke College No

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA with Roanoke College in Salem, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Mary Washington is larger than Roanoke College based on total student enrollment (3,826 students vs. 1,804 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Mary Washington is located in Fredericksburg, VA (Small Suburban setting); Roanoke College is in Salem, VA (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Mary Washington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Roanoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Mary Washington 13:1; Roanoke College 11:1.

Mary Washington College vs. Roanoke College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mary Washington College or Roanoke College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Mary Washington than Roanoke College ($21,800 vs. $26,044).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Mary Washington are 7.3% lower than at Roanoke College ($14,250 vs. $15,366).
  • Roanoke College is 160% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mary Washington College (about $23,428 more per year; $38,068.00 vs. $14,640.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 38.1% higher at Roanoke College than at University of Mary Washington (about $10,508 more per year; $38,068.00 vs. $27,560.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Roanoke College than at University of Mary Washington (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Roanoke College students is 168.7% larger than aid received by University of Mary Washington students ($28,188 vs. $10,491).

Mary Washington College vs. Roanoke College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mary Washington College or Roanoke College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Roanoke College and Mary Washington College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Mary Washington (1270) is 70 points higher than at Roanoke College (1200).
  • Incoming Mary Washington College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at Roanoke College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Mary Washington 1170/1370; Roanoke College 1090/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Mary Washington 27/31; Roanoke College 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mary Washington College - Test optional; Roanoke College - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Mary Washington College students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Roanoke College (3.56).
  • Roanoke College has a higher acceptance rate (83.1%) than Mary Washington College (79.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at Mary Washington College vs. 9.7% at Roanoke College.

Mary Washington College vs. Roanoke College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mary Washington College and Roanoke College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Mary Washington's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Roanoke College's (69%).
  • Graduates from University of Mary Washington earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than Roanoke College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,500 vs. $51,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Mary Washington graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Roanoke College graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Mary Washington College graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Roanoke College graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More Mary Washington College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Roanoke College students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.