George Mason University

Overview of George Mason University

---

Undergraduate students will find a full roster of departments and majors that include areas such as business, healthcare administration, and criminal justice. GMU also supports students in nearly any STEM subject, the arts, primary and secondary education, and social sciences, too.

GMU also provides top programs for graduate students that span the full spectrum of academic and professional interests, including creative writing, STEM, economics, business, healthcare, and more. In fact, GMU's political science program is geographically positioned to allow graduates entry to top positions in federal government, including the upper reaches of the State Department.

When George Mason University students have down time, the campus provides many fun, healthy ways to blow off steam. Students participate in club sports, intramural leagues, and outdoor adventures such as camping or rock climbing. Club sports include lacrosse, rugby, fencing, and tons more. The intramural leagues include a full raft of traditional sports but also e-sports, for those who prefer a controller to sweat socks.

Top Rankings For George Mason University

---

Admissions

---

Tuition Cost & Financial Aid

---

A George Mason education is a terrific value, but the upfront cost is not cheap. In-state students who live on campus are projected to pay $29,166 for all of their expenses, including room and board. Students who opt for off-campus living pay a bit more at $32,000. Meanwhile, out-of-state students pay over $55,000 for all costs, including off-campus housing.

To offset these costs, student receive an average of $5,000 in general federal grants and more than $4,500 in Pell grants. Scholarships and student loans also help offset the cost of the education. The average institutional grant or scholarship is over $8,500 and the average amount in student loan aid is just north of $8,000.

Thus, while a George Mason degree is not necessarily cheap for even in-state students, there are ample resources available that allow students access to the tremendous resources available on that campus.

Sticker Price

---

Academics

---

It's difficult to measure a school's academic merits. However, when we examine the relevant statistics such as the retention and graduation rates in addition to the student/faculty ratio, a picture comes into view. The retention rate shows how many incoming first-year students return for a second year. In the case of George Mason University, the retention rate is a solid 87%. That indicates that not only do incoming students find great value at GMU, but that each student will have continuity in their peer group.

The graduation rate demonstrates that students are completing their degrees as well as cohesion in the student body. Since George Mason University graduates 71% of its students, there's a great chance that the friends one makes in the freshman dorms will be there in a cap and gown to receive an esteemed GMU sheepskin right next to you.

Given that George Mason is the largest public university in Virginia, boasting over 26,000 undergraduate students, their favorable student-to-faculty ratio is rather surprising. At GMU, there are an average of 17 students to each faculty member. Thus, each student has the opportunity to engage with the top minds in their field and find enrichment in even the most dense material.

Student Population Total

---

Outcome & Salary

---

George Mason graduates often start out their careers doing quite well. The ten highest earning degrees are in STEM, business, and healthcare fields. These degrees start students off earning somewhere between $49,000 and $69,000 each year. The top earners are typically from the Computer Science Department, which also happens to be one of the most popular bachelor's degrees.

Given the high quality of academic work at George Mason, many students are able to continue their studies in top graduate programs. However, many decide to easily start careers in the DC area, which not only offers great opportunities in federal government, but elsewhere in the booming tech sector, among many others in the region.

Photos & Videos

---