National university
#16 Best value colleges in the South in AmericaGeorge Mason University
Fairfax, VA · Public · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $17,915 a year
Median debt at graduation: $19,500 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best value colleges in America#52 of 674
- Best colleges for criminal justice in America#82 of 1,046
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in America#66 of 681
- Best value colleges in the South in America#16 of 153
- Best colleges for social work in America#72 of 605
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in America#114 of 950
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- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in America#74 of 598
- Best colleges for nursing in America#135 of 1,068
- Best colleges for accounting in America#148 of 1,132
- Best colleges for marketing in America#118 of 834
- Best colleges for business in America#240 of 1,563
- Best colleges for education in America#206 of 1,318
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#199 of 1,238
- Best colleges for finance in America#124 of 744
- Best colleges for psychology in America#264 of 1,418
- Most affordable colleges with strong academics in America#129 of 690
- Best colleges in America#344 of 1,829
- Best colleges for English in America#250 of 1,283
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#266 of 1,358
- Best test-optional colleges in America#300 of 1,481
- Best colleges for art and design in America#248 of 1,187
- Best colleges for history in America#263 of 1,247
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#262 of 1,215
- Colleges with the lowest student debt in America#149 of 684
- Best colleges for music in America#243 of 1,063
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#267 of 1,162
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#261 of 1,116
- Lowest net price for middle-income families in America#166 of 682
In Virginia
- Best colleges for criminal justice in Virginia#1 of 25
- Best value colleges in Virginia#1 of 20
- Best value colleges in the South in Virginia#1 of 20
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in Virginia#1 of 20
- Best colleges for social work in Virginia#2 of 15
- Most affordable colleges with strong academics in Virginia#3 of 20
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- Best colleges for education in Virginia#5 of 32
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in Virginia#4 of 24
- Best colleges for nursing in Virginia#6 of 33
- Best colleges for accounting in Virginia#5 of 27
- Best colleges for marketing in Virginia#3 of 15
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in Virginia#7 of 34
- Best colleges for music in Virginia#7 of 34
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Virginia#4 of 19
- Best colleges for mathematics in Virginia#8 of 38
- Best colleges for business in Virginia#10 of 47
- Best colleges for psychology in Virginia#9 of 41
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Virginia#9 of 38
- Best colleges for English in Virginia#9 of 38
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in Virginia#9 of 38
- Colleges with the lowest student debt in Virginia#5 of 21
- Best colleges for art and design in Virginia#8 of 33
- Best colleges for chemistry in Virginia#9 of 36
- Best colleges for history in Virginia#10 of 40
- Best colleges for computer science in Virginia#5 of 18
- Best colleges for finance in Virginia#3 of 10
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.68%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.86%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,274 · ACT 27.5
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.16 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$15,232
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $28,604 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 27,666 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 51% · Women 49% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 30% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 18% |
| Total students | 39,527 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $17,915 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $28,604 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $19,500 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 68% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 75% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 73% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 73% |
| First-year retention | 86% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $76,343 |
| Admission rate | 87% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $70 |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $2,015 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 30% |
| Average SAT | 1274 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 580–680 |
| SAT math | 580–680 |
| ACT composite | 25–30 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Exceptional · Top 6% (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Homeland Security | |
| Computer engineering | |
| Systems Engineering | |
| Computing and information science | |
| Electrical engineering | |
| Management science | |
| Mechanical engineering | |
| Physics | |
| Civil engineering | |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | |
| Accounting | |
| Nursing | |
| Finance | |
| Economics | |
| Business administration | |
| Chemistry | |
| Mathematics | |
| Geography | |
| Political science | |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | |
| Criminal justice | |
| International relations | |
| Marketing | |
| Neuroscience | |
| Public administration | |
| Public health | |
| Sociology | |
| Biology | |
| Other health professions and related clinical sciences | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | |
| Security science | |
| Hospitality management | |
| Psychology | |
| Writing and rhetoric | |
| Family and human development | |
| Sustainability Studies | |
| Liberal arts | |
| Natural resources and conservation | |
| Secondary education | |
| Allied health | |
| Linguistics | |
| English | |
| Social work | |
| Visual and performing arts | |
| Geology and earth science | |
| History | |
| Film and video | |
| Graphic communications | |
| Music | |
| Theatre | |
| Dance |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Anthropology, Area studies, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Business (general), Clinical laboratory science, Communication studies, Computer science, Design, Fine arts, Mathematics and Computer Science, Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other physical sciences, Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, Philosophy, Rehabilitation and therapy, Religious studies, Special education, Statistics, Teacher education.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Business | |
| Computer and information sciences | |
| Criminal justice and security | |
| Health professions | |
| Social sciences |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | Suburb |
| Part-time undergraduates | 19% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 17% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $15,725 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Atlantic 10 Conference |
| ROTC | Army · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 16 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 8%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 53%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $5,079IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 23% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)About 11 miles away |
| Town population | 25,026Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | WashingtonAbout 16 miles away |
| Typical weather | 33°F in January · 75°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Vienna, VA, about 4 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.04 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.01 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.00 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.06 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is George Mason University’s Compass Score?
- Excellent (grade A-). It ranks in the top 19% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does George Mason University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $17,915 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into George Mason University?
- George Mason University admitted 87% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do George Mason University’s graduates do?
- 68% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $76,343; the median federal debt at graduation is $19,500.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 232186
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (very high research)
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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