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George Mason University

George Mason University is a public campus in suburban Fairfax, VA. International students are a visible presence at George Mason University — 5.3% of its 27,752 undergraduates come from outside the U.S.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$12,197

family income
under $30k

$13,383

$30–48k

$16,296

$48–75k

$20,394

$75–110k

$25,247

over $110k

Average net price

$17,9152023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at George Mason University rose from $12,520 (2008) to $17,915 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$12,520
2009	$12,791
2010	$14,760
2011	$16,229
2012	$18,305
2013	$18,738
2014	$19,245
2015	$19,479
2016	$19,779
2017	$20,321
2018	$21,048
2019	$19,551
2020	$18,581
2021	$17,385
2022	$18,287
2023	$17,915

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$28,6042024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at George Mason University rose from $16,533 (2009) to $28,604 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$16,533
2010	$17,286
2011	$19,818
2012	$20,589
2013	$22,332
2014	$23,212
2015	$23,607
2016	$24,347
2017	$25,196
2018	$25,871
2019	$26,773
2020	$25,717
2021	$25,643
2022	$26,268
2023	$26,972
2024	$28,604

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$3,768	$12,612
2001	$3,792	$12,696
2002	$4,416	$13,716
2003	$5,122	$14,952
2004	$5,448	$15,816
2005	$5,880	$17,160
2006	$6,408	$18,552
2007	$6,840	$19,728
2008	$7,512	$22,476
2013	$9,908	$28,592
2014	$10,382	$29,960
2015	$10,952	$31,598
2016	$11,300	$32,582
2017	$11,924	$34,370
2018	$12,462	$35,922
2019	$12,564	$36,024
2020	$13,014	$37,410
2021	$13,119	$36,579
2022	$13,401	$38,983
2023	$13,815	$39,397

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

George Mason University reports published tuition by residency: $14,220 in-state versus $38,688 out-of-state — a $24,468 gap that makes state lines part of the decision. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

George Mason University reports 27,752 undergraduates. This total does not establish class sizes for a particular subject.

67.8% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at George Mason University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

67.8%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at George Mason University rose from 48.5% (entered 1991) to 67.8% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	48.5%
1992 cohort	52%
1993 cohort	48.6%
1994 cohort	48.1%
1995 cohort	47.3%
1996 cohort	49.5%
1997 cohort	48.6%
1998 cohort	52.8%
1999 cohort	52.9%
2000 cohort	55.6%
2001 cohort	58.3%
2002 cohort	60.9%
2003 cohort	63.6%
2004 cohort	63.4%
2005 cohort	64.5%
2006 cohort	65.9%
2007 cohort	66.7%
2008 cohort	66.9%
2009 cohort	69.2%
2010 cohort	69.9%
2011 cohort	70.9%
2012 cohort	70%
2013 cohort	70.7%
2014 cohort	71.6%
2015 cohort	70.1%
2016 cohort	70.6%
2017 cohort	69.3%
2018 cohort	67.8%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$11,000	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$11,000	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$11,000	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$11,000	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$10,750	$4,374
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$10,930	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$11,000	$3,755
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$11,000	$4,500
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$11,550	$5,112
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$11,625	$4,169
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$11,359	$4,308
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$11,625	$5,000
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$13,625	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$15,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$16,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$18,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$19,250	$6,250
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$19,500	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$19,500	$7,000
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$19,500	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$20,000	$9,000
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$20,000	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$19,750	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$19,500	$8,750

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$60,536

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$68,053

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$76,343

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

George Mason University admitted 22,074 of 25,234 applicants in Fall 2024. The 87.5% rate describes that application pool.

87.5%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $13,815 in-state tuition · 2023–24 27,752 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1160–13601600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

George Mason University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For George Mason University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 580–680 and Math was 580–680 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1160–1360 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	580	640	680
SAT Math	580	630	680
ACT Composite	25	28	30

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

In the Fall 2024 cycle, George Mason University received 25,234 applications and admitted 22,074 (87.5%), with 4,464 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

87.5%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	68.1%
Fall 2002	65.9%
Fall 2003	66.1%
Fall 2004	68.6%
Fall 2005	68.8%
Fall 2006	61%
Fall 2007	55%
Fall 2008	62.7%
Fall 2009	63.3%
Fall 2010	51.7%
Fall 2011	52.8%
Fall 2012	65.8%
Fall 2013	62%
Fall 2014	66.6%
Fall 2015	79.7%
Fall 2016	81%
Fall 2017	81.3%
Fall 2018	81.1%
Fall 2019	86.7%
Fall 2020	89.2%
Fall 2021	91.3%
Fall 2022	90%
Fall 2023	88.8%
Fall 2024	87.5%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1160–1360Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	970	1170
Fall 2002	990	1210
Fall 2003	1000	1210
Fall 2004	990	1200
Fall 2005	1000	1210
Fall 2006	1010	1210
Fall 2007	1030	1210
Fall 2008	1020	1210
Fall 2009	1030	1250
Fall 2010	1050	1240
Fall 2011	1050	1250
Fall 2012	1050	1250
Fall 2013	1050	1250
Fall 2014	1050	1250
Fall 2015	1040	1250
Fall 2016	1060	1250
Fall 2017	1100	1290
Fall 2018	1120	1320
Fall 2019	1110	1320
Fall 2020	1100	1300
Fall 2021	1140	1350
Fall 2022	1140	1350
Fall 2023	1140	1340
Fall 2024	1160	1360

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

25–30Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	19	23
Fall 2005	20	24
Fall 2006	20	25
Fall 2007	21	25
Fall 2008	23	27
Fall 2009	23	27
Fall 2010	23	28
Fall 2011	23	28
Fall 2012	23	28
Fall 2013	24	28
Fall 2014	23	28
Fall 2015	23	29
Fall 2016	24	29
Fall 2017	24	30
Fall 2018	24	30
Fall 2019	24	30
Fall 2020	24	30
Fall 2021	25	30
Fall 2022	25	31
Fall 2023	25	30
Fall 2024	25	30

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

27,752Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at George Mason University rose from 13,925 (Fall 2002) to 27,752 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	13,925
Fall 2003	16,551
Fall 2004	16,844
Fall 2005	17,529
Fall 2006	17,812
Fall 2007	17,927
Fall 2008	18,139
Fall 2009	19,130
Fall 2010	19,623
Fall 2011	20,194
Fall 2012	20,067
Fall 2013	21,324
Fall 2014	21,678
Fall 2015	22,308
Fall 2016	23,179
Fall 2017	24,395
Fall 2018	25,508
Fall 2019	26,013
Fall 2020	26,514
Fall 2021	26,339
Fall 2022	26,447
Fall 2023	27,083
Fall 2024	27,752

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

86%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at George Mason University has held near 86% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	82%
Fall 2003 cohort	81%
Fall 2004 cohort	82%
Fall 2005 cohort	86%
Fall 2006 cohort	85%
Fall 2007 cohort	84%
Fall 2008 cohort	85%
Fall 2009 cohort	86%
Fall 2010 cohort	87%
Fall 2011 cohort	86%
Fall 2012 cohort	87%
Fall 2013 cohort	88%
Fall 2014 cohort	87%
Fall 2015 cohort	87%
Fall 2016 cohort	88%
Fall 2017 cohort	87%
Fall 2018 cohort	86%
Fall 2019 cohort	86%
Fall 2020 cohort	84%
Fall 2021 cohort	85%
Fall 2022 cohort	87%
Fall 2023 cohort	86%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about George Mason University

Faculty pay at George Mason University averages $173,832 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes George Mason University as a primarily nonresidential campus — most of its 27,752 undergraduates live off campus, and 86% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

George Mason University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1160–1360 — their midpoint is above the VA four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on George Mason University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How George Mason University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

George Mason University87.5%

Virginia median79.8%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

George Mason University$14,220

Virginia median$21,650

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

George Mason University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

George Mason University$76,343

Virginia median$53,453

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

George Mason University, Virginia and national reference values
Metric & basis	George Mason University	Virginia median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	87.5%	79.8%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$14,220	$21,650	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$76,343	$53,453	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For George Mason University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

George Mason University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 51 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Homeland Security	$143,972
Computer Engineering	$117,942
Systems Engineering	$114,815
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$110,754
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	$103,074
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods	$97,049
Mechanical Engineering	$96,467
Physics	$96,138
Civil Engineering	$93,856
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	$93,533
Accounting and Related Services	$91,132
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$89,878
Finance and Financial Management Services	$88,080
Economics	$87,548
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$85,224
Chemistry	$77,681
Mathematics	$77,519
Geography and Cartography	$74,692
Political Science and Government	$74,125
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution	$72,271
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$69,511
International Relations and National Security Studies	$69,399
Marketing	$69,210
Neurobiology and Neurosciences	$68,546
Public Administration	$67,973
Public Health	$65,358
Sociology	$64,603
Biology, General	$64,301
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other	$64,046
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$63,672
Security Science and Technology	$63,182
Hospitality Administration/Management	$62,727
Psychology, General	$62,563
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies	$62,383
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services	$61,565
Sustainability Studies	$61,216
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	$61,100
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	$60,874
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$59,979
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	$59,024
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services	$58,931
English Language and Literature, General	$56,071
Social Work	$55,715
Visual and Performing Arts, General	$54,703
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences	$53,441
History	$51,168
Film/Video and Photographic Arts	$50,086
Graphic Communications	$47,440
Music	$46,765
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	$45,656
Dance	$36,901

These 51 fields listed for George Mason University measure earnings after completion. The $76,343 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 20 additional George Mason University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does George Mason University report?

George Mason University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1160–1360 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is George Mason University's acceptance rate?

87.5% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 22,074 admitted from 25,234 applicants.

How much does George Mason University cost?

In-state tuition is $14,220; out-of-state students pay $38,688. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does George Mason University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $76,343. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Virginia

Ferrum College — 89% admitted
Eastern Mennonite University — 100% admitted
Liberty University — 99% admitted
Longwood University — 90.2% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.