George Mason University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Fairfax, VA

$9,510

Avg in-state tuition

$32,970

Avg out-of-state tuition

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About George Mason University

School Type: Public

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Military Friendly: YesMilitary-friendly schools are Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, offer the Yellow Ribbon Program, and have a dedicated point of contact to support veterans, military service members, and their families. Explore our college guide for service members and veterans to learn more.

George Mason University is a large public university located on a suburban campus in Fairfax, Virginia. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 27,104, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 89%. The university offers 71 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 72%, and a student-faculty ratio of 17:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $9,510, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $32,970.

BestColleges.com

Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a high acceptance rate.

This school accepts students at a higher rate than other schools. High acceptance schools welcome 51-100% of all applicants.

89% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

86% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

72% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Considered (not required)

High school transcript Required

High school rank Considered (not required)

Letter of recommendation Considered (not required)

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Required

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Yes

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 24-30

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 1100-1300

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of more than 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

39k

Students enrolled

96%

Online student enrollment

17:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold
International Online classes are available for students around the world. Check Bold

Demographics

White

40%

Asian

18%

Hispanic

14%

Black

11%

Non-U.S. Citizen

7%

Unknown

5%

Two or more races

4%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

52%

Socio-economic diversity

29% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

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Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

51

Total Online Enrollment

36,902

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

81% On-campus

19% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates X Bold Not offered

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's Check Bold 14% online

Graduate Certificate Check Bold 29% online

Master's Check Bold 23% online

Doctorate X Bold Not offered

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $9,510 $32,970
Graduate $12,594 $33,906

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,278
On-campus room and board $12,090
On-campus other expenses $3,596
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $12,786
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $6,572
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $4,670

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $26,474 $49,934
Off-campus without family $30,146 $53,606
Off-campus with family $15,458 $38,918

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

33%

State Grant Aid

37%

Institution Grant Aid

34%

Pell Grant

29%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $5,170
State Grant Aid $3,556
Institution Grant Aid $9,284
Pell Grant Aid $4,690

Financial Outlook

$20k

Average student debt after graduation

$47k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I without football

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Golf
  • Lacrosse
  • Rowing
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming Diving
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball
  • Wrestling
  • All Track Combined

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies

BA

MA

DOC

2

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

3

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

4

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

5

Communications Technologies/Technicians And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

6

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

7

Education

BA

MA

DOC

8

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

9

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

10

Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

11

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

12

Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

13

History

BA

MA

DOC

14

Legal Professions And Studies

BA

MA

DOC

15

Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities

BA

MA

DOC

16

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

17

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

BA

MA

DOC

18

Natural Resources And Conservation

BA

MA

DOC

19

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies

BA

MA

DOC

20

Philosophy And Religious Studies

BA

MA

DOC

21

Physical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

22

Psychology

BA

MA

DOC

23

Public Administration And Social Service Professions

BA

MA

DOC

24

Security And Protective Services

BA

MA

DOC

25

Social Sciences

BA

MA

DOC