George MASON IS ALL TOGETHER DIFFERENT
In just 50 years, George Mason University has become Virginia’s largest, most diverse, and highest-ranked university for innovation and social mobility by rejecting the traditional university model of exclusivity. George Mason welcomes all who are prepared for the academic rigor of an R1 research university, educating Patriots in a research-intensive environment and graduating them at rates that surpass the national norm. Nearly nine in ten George Mason graduates report advancing their careers within just six months of graduation, prepared to meet the greatest possibilities and most pressing challenges the world has ever faced.
George Mason didn’t achieve this incredible success by being like all the others. We did it by being All Together Different.
More Than $230 Million in Research Funding
George Mason is among only 146 universities in the United States designated as a Carnegie Research 1 (R1) institution. The collaborative research of our faculty, students, and alumni serves as a driving force for innovation, prosperity, and well-being in the commonwealth and beyond.
Location
Located just outside Washington, D.C., George Mason’s beautiful 677-acre residential campus in Fairfax, Virginia, is home to the most diverse student body in the state. Our physical presence extends across Virginia and beyond, with Mason Square, our campus in Arlington; the Science and Technology Campus in Manassas; the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation in Front Royal; and our overseas campus in Songdo, South Korea. As a George Mason student, you will have access to a powerful regional presence with a global reach.
Freshman Application Requirements
We take a holistic approach to reviewing each application with great care. These are the factors we evaluate:
- Cumulative high school GPA in a rigorous curriculum
- Secondary school report and counselor recommendation letters
- Extracurricular activities and community service participation
- Optional, but strongly encouraged, personal statement and supplemental essay
- For Honors College applicants, a supplemental essay
Certain majors in the College of Engineering and Computing, College of Visual and Performing Arts, and School of Nursing have additional admission requirements.
George Mason Is Score Optional
We’ve been a test-optional institution for the SAT and ACT since 2007. That’s because we understand some students may not wish—or are unable—to submit standardized test scores as part of their application if these do not adequately reflect their academic achievements or predict their potential.
Freshman Application Deadlines
Start Your Application Today
We proudly accept nearly 90 percent of undergraduate applicants because we believe in inclusivity over exclusivity.
International Application Requirements
WE THINK ALL TOGETHER DIFFERENT
George Mason’s reputation for bold innovation is on full display across our colleges and schools, with academic programs that are intentionally created and shaped to directly address the needs of our communities.
- College of Education and Human Development
- College of Engineering and Computing
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- College of Public Health
- College of Science
- College of Visual and Performing Arts
- Costello College of Business
- Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
- Schar School of Policy and Government
George Mason's Honors College
In the Honors College, your motivation will be rewarded with unique academic and social opportunities that enhance your college experience. Selected from the most outstanding students invited to the Honors College, University Scholars receive scholarships covering the full cost of tuition over four years.
Voice Your Values
Zayd found his voice at George Mason by working with student organizations and faculty mentors. As a public administration major, he led students participating in Mason Lobbies for three years and received national recognition for his work advocating for the needs of first-generation students like himself on Capitol Hill. The opportunities he found both provided a wealth of professional experience and also helped him discover what he valued most and how to give back to his community.
Faculty
Our prime location puts us at the crossroads of government, industry, and research, which attracts engaged and dedicated faculty members who lead in their fields. Our faculty includes U.S. Congress members, U.S. Supreme Court justices, business leaders, artists, and successful entrepreneurs from all backgrounds.
Online
Mason Online allows students to take select classes remotely while at home, stationed abroad, or traveling. These courses maintain the same rigor and integrity as their campus-based counterparts, providing an active and collaborative learning environment with greater flexibility to fit your needs.
George Mason’s business, computer science, economics, psychology, and teaching undergraduate programs are ranked in the top 100 nationally by U.S. News & World Report.
AACSB Accredited
Our Costello College of Business is accredited by AACSB International—the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The college is among only 25 percent of AACSB-accredited business schools worldwide accredited in both business and accounting.
George Mason is ranked No. 4 in the world for entrepreneurship by EduRank.
WE WELCOME ALL TOGETHER DIFFERENT
George Mason’s students hail from all 50 states and 130 countries, representing the broadest spectrum of origins, identities, circumstances, and experiences. Together, our students can see the world more completely, think more creatively, and learn more effectively. More than that, the shared perspectives among Patriots lead to the creation of new knowledge and solutions that would be impossible to achieve otherwise.
We are one of only 47 universities in the nation to earn a five-star rating from the Campus Pride Index.
First-Gen+ Center
The First-Gen+ Center serves as an accessible starting point for first-generation, undocumented, refugee, and limited-income students and their families.
Our undergraduate students come from many different communities, meaning you’ll live and work alongside students who are both similar and different from you, with ample opportunities to learn from one another along the way.
Find Your Community at George Mason
Our student-led organizations are some of the truest indicators of our diversity of thought, interests, and goals. Every year, George Mason and our students host thousands of events on campus. These include dance classes, theatrical and musical performances, sports competitions and watch parties, movie screenings, comedy shows, and so much more.
Our study-abroad programs give you the opportunity to experience different cultures while studying at prestigious host institutions. Eligible first-year students can study abroad as early as their second semester with the help of our Global Gateway program.
Find Your Opportunities
Having grown up in Turkey before moving to Oakton, Virginia, Berk chose George Mason because the diverse campus provided a welcoming environment for him to pursue his research interests. Faculty support and resources in his bioengineering program helped Berk find opportunities to conduct research with the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in nearby Washington, D.C., while working as a George Mason ambassador helped him get out of his comfort zone and find a family of fellow students.
WE WORK ALL TOGETHER DIFFERENT
University Career Services, our nationally recognized career center, takes an industry-focused approach as it serves more than 24,000 students annually through workshops and campuswide career fairs.
Accenture • Amazon • Bristol Myers Squibb • Capital One • CDC • Deloitte • Disney • Fairfax County Public Schools • FDA • FEMA • GM • IBM • KPMG • Marriott • Microsoft • MITRE • NASA • NIH • NORC • Peraton • Rand Corporation • Rockstar Games • Special Olympics • The World Bank • U.S. Army
George Mason Provides an Affordable Education
Many Patriots receive some form of financial aid, such as grants, scholarships, work-study employment, or loans. Our Office of Student Financial Aid has a team of dedicated professionals available to help you and your family.
Learn about All Your Financial Aid Options at George Mason
Applying for Financial Aid
To be eligible for need-based aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year you attend George Mason.
Ineligible for the FAFSA?
Virginia residents who are ineligible for the FAFSA, including undocumented students and those with DACA status, should complete the Virginia Alternative State Aid Application (VASA) instead. The VASA priority deadline for freshman students is February 1.
Estimated Costs
Learn to Lead
Zainab never imagined herself as a role model, but George Mason provided her with opportunities to step up. Working with fellow students from the Early Identification Program, Collective Organizations of South Asia, and her graphic design program, Zainab developed a community and found herself becoming a leader that her peers recognized and admired. The support and sense of purpose she received from this community and her faculty mentors inspired her to pursue work in Washington, D.C., to make graphic design more inclusive and accessible for all.
WE EXPERIENCE ALL TOGETHER DIFFERENT
Housing
Feeling connected to the campus community is a crucial part of the full George Mason experience. That’s why our more than 40 residence halls offer on-campus, communal-style options and Residential Learning Communities that place you at the center of student life. Plus, your resident advisor will be available the entire time to provide the resources and guidance necessary for making George Mason your second home.
Dining
Mason Dining offers something for every palate or dietary need. Allergen-free, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, and kosher options are readily accessible, and our dietitians are available for free consultations to discuss your unique needs. With more than 30 dining locations across our campuses, some open 24 hours a day, you’ll have the flexibility to eat what you want, when you want.
Campus Safety
We are committed to both individual and community safety. Our Mason Alert text notification system provides immediate updates and safety information. You will also have access to an array of safety features through the RAVE Guardian smartphone app. Our Department of Police and Public Safety employs more than 135 full- and part-time personnel, ready to assist you on campus 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Health and Wellness
We’re serious about the health and well-being of our students. Care is readily available through Student Health Services, and individual and group therapy can be booked through Counseling and Psychological Services. Throughout the school year, our Center for the Advancement of Well-Being organizes campuswide initiatives to help you stay mindful and thrive. Patriots also have 24/7 access to TimelyCare, a virtual mental health and well-being platform designed specifically for college students.
Transportation
George Mason makes it easy for you to get where you need to go. With free access to Fairfax City’s CUE bus system and university-run shuttles connecting our campuses and the Washington, D.C., Metro system, you can reach unprecedented cultural and professional opportunities. When you’re on campus, our biking and e-scooter infrastructure guarantees you’ll never have trouble making it to class on time.
We play all together different
George Mason Works Hard and Plays Harder
Our 22 men’s and women’s NCAA Division I athletic teams are all part of the elite Atlantic 10 Conference and have collectively brought home 35 national championship titles. Show your Patriot Pride by cheering on our men’s and women’s basketball teams and chanting the fight song with the Green Machine—our one-of-a-kind pep band led by the charismatic Doc Nix!
3 State-of-the-Art Fitness Centers
With more than 230,000 square feet of recreational space, our centers offer something for everyone, including an Olympic-sized pool, weight training equipment, and dozens of group exercise classes.
33 Club Sports
More than 1,000 students participate in men’s, women’s, and co-recreational organizations competing against other universities regionally, nationally, and even internationally.
19 Intramural Sports
With more than 2,800 participants, our intramural programs offer team, individual, and dual sports, as well as nontraditional options at both the recreational and competitive levels.
3 Varsity-Level Esports Squads
In addition to competing nationally, George Mason’s esports student organization hosts community game nights and tournaments. Each year, they work with several other programs to host GAMEmason, a two-day gaming convention on the Fairfax Campus featuring industry speakers, educational sessions, and more.
Division I Teams
Men's
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Indoor Track and Field
- Outdoor Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Women's
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Lacrosse
- Rowing
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Indoor Track and Field
- Outdoor Track and Field
- Volleyball