George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
87.5%
Acceptance Rate
$14,220
Avg Cost (In-State)
$38,688
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
68.6%
Graduation Rate
27,752
Total Enrollment
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
January 15
Early Deadline
November 1 (Early Action)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
1
Letters of Rec
1
Application Fee
$80
Interview
Not required
Essays: One personal essay required through Common Application, 250-650 words
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$60,536
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$76,343
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
69%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | $78,800 | $110,754 | 735 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | $43,612 | $69,511 | 439 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | $68,049 | $97,049 | 392 |
| Psychology, General. | $36,326 | $62,563 | 310 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | $41,398 | $61,100 | 288 |
| Biology, General. | $34,719 | $64,301 | 252 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $55,147 | $85,224 | 250 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. | $40,114 | $62,383 | 237 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Federal Work-Study
Varies (hourly wages, typically $10–$20/hr)
federalStudents with financial need who want to earn money through part-time employment while enrolled.
Deadline: Varies by school (apply via FAFSA)
Learn more ↗Federal Pell Grant
Up to $7,395/year
federalUndergraduate students with demonstrated financial need (determined by FAFSA EFC).
Deadline: June 30 (FAFSA deadline for current award year)
Learn more ↗Dell Scholars Program
$20,000 over 4 years + laptop + textbook credits
nationalStudents who have participated in an approved college-readiness program, demonstrate financial need, and have a minimum 2.4 GPA.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Coca-Cola Scholars Program
$20,000
nationalHigh school seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA who demonstrate leadership and community service.
Deadline: October 31
Learn more ↗Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship
Up to $55,000/year
nationalHigh-achieving high school seniors with financial need (family income under $95,000). Minimum 3.5 GPA.
Deadline: November 18
Learn more ↗Siemens Competition (now part of Regeneron ISEF)
Up to $100,000
activityHigh school students who compete in regional and national ISEF-affiliated science fairs.
Deadline: Varies by regional fair
Learn more ↗Regeneron Science Talent Search
Up to $250,000 (top award)
activityHigh school seniors who complete an independent science, math, or engineering research project.
Deadline: November (registration opens in June)
Learn more ↗Gates Scholarship
Full cost of attendance (last-dollar funding)
nationalPell-eligible high school seniors who are Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, or Native American with a minimum 3.3 GPA.
Deadline: September 15
Learn more ↗Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
$1,000 – $10,000 (Gold Medal Portfolio awards)
activityStudents in grades 7–12 who submit original works of art or writing in 29 categories.
Deadline: December (varies by region)
Learn more ↗Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 87.5% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
87.48%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
87.5% acceptance
Both admit around 88% of applicants, with 19k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Boise State University
Boise, ID
87.2% acceptance
Both admit around 87% of applicants, with 18k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA
87.9% acceptance
Both admit around 88% of applicants, with 22k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC
81.8% acceptance
Similar selectivity (82% vs 88%) but out-of-state cost runs $9k — meaningfully less than $39k.
Georgia State University-Perimeter College
Atlanta, GA
90.8% acceptance
Similar selectivity (91% vs 88%) but out-of-state cost runs $10k — meaningfully less than $39k.
Georgia Gwinnett College
Lawrenceville, GA
95.5% acceptance
Similar selectivity (96% vs 88%) but out-of-state cost runs $14k — meaningfully less than $39k.
Reaches above this college
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL
53.2% acceptance
Same s setting in the South, but more selective (53% vs 88%) — a stretch target if George Mason University is already on your list.
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA
51.6% acceptance
Same s setting in the South, but more selective (52% vs 88%) — a stretch target if George Mason University is already on your list.
Baylor University
Waco, TX
51.3% acceptance
Same s setting in the South, but more selective (51% vs 88%) — a stretch target if George Mason University is already on your list.
Safer alternatives
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA
99% acceptance
Same s setting in the South, but higher admit rate (99% vs 88%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, MS
99.1% acceptance
Same s setting in the South, but higher admit rate (99% vs 88%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Southeastern Louisiana University
Hammond, LA
99.3% acceptance
Same s setting in the South, but higher admit rate (99% vs 88%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
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