University of Mary Washington vs Sonoma State
Nestled in the historic town of Fredericksburg, Virginia, University of Mary Washington (UMW) and Sonoma State University (SSU), located in the heart of California's wine country, offer distinct educational experiences. UMW, a public liberal arts university, boasts a selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 68%, while SSU, a public university with a diverse student body, welcomes a larger proportion of applicants with an acceptance rate of 80%. Both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate programs, with UMW excelling in fields like business, education, and nursing, and SSU standing out in areas such as environmental science, psychology, and art. While UMW's student body is predominantly female, SSU's student population is more evenly balanced between genders. With graduation rates of 78% and 65% respectively, both institutions are committed to student success and ensuring their graduates are well-prepared for their chosen careers. Explore the detailed comparison
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![]() Sonoma State University |
![]() University of Mary Washington |
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Overview |
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Location | Rohnert Park, California | Fredericksburg, Virginia |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 83.0% | 83.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 93.7% | 81.9% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
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Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | N/A | 1130 - 1320 |
ACT range | N/A | 26 - 31 |
Students submitting SAT score | 28.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 6.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 10,598 | 5,027 |
Total number of admissions given out | 9,934 | 4,118 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 822 | 654 |
Yield rate | 8.3% | 15.9% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$29,478
Out of state:
$41,358
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In state:
$28,790
Out of state:
$45,216
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Average net price | $7,055 | $21,901 |
Tuition |
In state:
$5,742
Out of state:
$17,622
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In state:
$8,678
Out of state:
$25,104
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,798
Meal plan:
$5,878
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Room/dormitory:
$7,126
Meal plan:
$5,192
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
68.0%
Average amount $8,547 |
87.0%
Average amount $8,030 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
21.0%
Average amount $4,719 |
40.0%
Average amount $5,085 |
Students taking out private loans |
0.0%
Average amount $18,070 |
7.0%
Average amount $14,177 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
6,587
Men 37.9% Women 62.1% |
3,660
Men 35.4% Women 64.6% |
Graduate students |
784
Men 31.1% Women 68.9% |
296
Men 30.7% Women 69.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 2.6% | 11.2% |
International students | 2.9% | 1.4% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 3,389 | 2,355 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Washington Colorado Arizona Utah | Virginia Maryland North Carolina New York Pennsylvania |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 20:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 59.9% | 68.0% |
Dropout rate | 30.5% | 6.9% |
Transferred out | 8.0% | 24.2% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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