Key Facts

George Mason University's students, faculty, staff, and alumni go beyond the desire to know and understand, striving to make a difference.

George Mason is Ranked a Top 50 Public University

per the Wall Street Journal

George Mason is the largest public research university in the Commonwealth of Virginia with over 40,000 students from all 50 states and 130 countries.

George Mason boasts a nearly 90% admission rate for undergrads, a testament to its commitment to access and impact in the community.

George Mason’s six-year graduation rate is well above the national average, with no disparity based on ethnicity or economic status.
Currently, about one in four George Mason students is in the first generation of their family to attend college, and 34% of George Mason students qualify for federal Pell Grants, which are awarded to undergraduates with exceptional financial need.

Nearly 3,000 of George Mason’s incoming students in fall 2024 were transfer students, including more than 900 students in George Mason’s award-winning ADVANCE transfer pathway program with Northern Virginia Community College.

#1 in Virginia for Economic Diversity

per the New York Times

Best in Virginia for Social Mobility

U.S. News and World Report

85 percent of graduates

report positive career outcomes within six months

George Mason offers 132 degree programs at the master’s, doctoral, and professional level, and more than 100 graduate-level certificates. Eight of our graduate programs have been designated as best in Virginia.
George Mason drives economic growth in the region. In a survey of recent graduates, 85% are employed in Virginia, Maryland, or Washington, D.C.
85% of those surveyed had a positive career outcome at or within 6 months of graduation, meaning they were employed, continuing education, or serving in the military or with a volunteer organization.
George Mason is conveniently located within a few hours of all the major economic and cultural centers on the East Coast of the United States. We host 500+ employers through recruitment networking events, Career Fairs, and the On-Campus Interviewing Program.
George Mason graduates earn a median starting annual salary of $70,000, among the highest starting salaries of graduates from Virginia public universities.

George Mason's Antonin Scalia Law School is among the top 10 public law schools in the country.

#1 Online College in Virginia

per Affordable Colleges Online

One of the youngest R1 ranked universities

George Mason is a nationally ranked R1 research university. Total research funding for 2024 was $262 million, doubling its research expenditures over the last five years.

The Fuse building, opening in 2025 at Mason Square in Arlington, will create a place where students, faculty, entrepreneurs, and tech powerhouses can come together to learn, develop, and grow together.

Cutting-edge research conducted at George Mason has led to groundbreaking advancements in cancer detection, treatment of Lyme disease, concussion protocols, and COVID-19 early detection.

The National Science Foundation ranks George Mason 10th among U.S. public universities in research growth over the past decade.
George Mason is No. 1 in the DMV in entrepreneurship, human rights law, public policy administration, and more, according to EduRank.
George Mason is nationally recognized for its work in cybersecurity and is a leader in Virginia in quantum science education and research, robotics, autonomous systems, and AI education and research.

Our students gain experience through research, fieldwork, internships, service learning, study-abroad programs, and alternative spring breaks.

George Mason is ranked 25th nationally among public institutions and 1st in Virginia for innovation, per U.S. News and World Report.

200+ Study Abroad Programs

ranging from spring breaks to year-long excursions

22 Division 1 Athletics Teams

George Mason is home to 34 club sports with more than 800 participants every year. There are also 25 intramural activities with more than 2,800 participants.

George Mason has more than 230,000 square feet of indoor athletics facility space available free to students, along with faculty and staff memberships.

George Mason is one of just four Division I schools in the nation to boast a perfect 100 on the Athlete Ally's Athletic Equality Index. Campus Pride Index rates Mason as a "best of the best" university, one of only 30 institutions nationwide and the only one in Virginia to gain that distinction.

Partnerships with entities like Starship Robot and BurnAlong bring the latest technology straight to our students, enhancing their university experience in ways that focus on their well-being as well as convenience and time efficiency.
George Mason is now No. 8 nationally and No. 8 among public institutions in FIRE's free speech rankings.

#1 Ranked Pep Band

in the US, per the NCAA