William & Mary is a public university located in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded by Royal Charter in 1693, it is the second-oldest institution of higher learning in the country. In addition to its long history of excellent liberal arts education, William & Mary also demonstrates a strong commitment to undergraduate research. The school has a student body of roughly 8,800 graduate and undergraduate students with an 11-to-1 student/faculty ratio. U.S. News and World Report ranks the university fifth in Best Undergraduate Teaching. Known as “the alma mater of the nation,” William & Mary has educated three American presidents: Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Tyler — with Washington serving as its first American chancellor.