William & Mary has a reputation as an elite academic institution. The university was No. 10 in U.S. News & World Report (2019) rankings of the top public schools in the country. ... 5 in Best Undergraduate Teaching among public institutions in the country according to U.S. News & World Report (2019) as well.

What is special about William and Mary?

W&M is famous for its firsts: the first U.S. institution with a Royal Charter, the first Greek-letter society (Phi Beta Kappa, founded in 1776), the first student honor code, the first college to become a university and the first law school in America.

Why is it called William and Mary?

Named in honor of the reigning monarchs King William III and Queen Mary II, the college is the second oldest college in the United States.