George Mason University

https://www2.gmu.edu/

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2020 Undergraduate Tuition

$9,510

4.97% growth from 2019

2020 Average Net Price

$18,285

After Financial Aid

2018 Student Loan

2.58%

Default Rate

2020 Acceptance Rate

89.2%

21,198 Applicants

2020 Enrolled Students

38,541

67.5% Full-Time

2020 Graduation Rate

71.6%

2,180 Graduates

About

George Mason University is a higher education institution located in Fairfax County, VA. In 2020, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at George Mason University were Criminal Justice - Police Science (384 degrees awarded), Information Technology (353 degrees), and Other Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods (344 degrees).

In 2020, 10,415 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at George Mason University. 58.1% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 41.9% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (4,704 degrees), 2.8 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1682 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at George Mason University is $9,510, which is $−19,053 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,563).

Photo by Ron Cogswell

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at George Mason University is $9,510, which is $−19,053 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,563).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $18,285.

In 2020, 59% of undergraduate students attending George Mason University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 41% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$9,510

2020 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2020, the cost of tuition at George Mason University was $9,510. The cost of tuition at George Mason University is $−19,053 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,563).

This chart compares the tuition costs of George Mason University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$18,285

2020 Value

9.29%

1 Year Growth

In 2020 George Mason University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $18,285. Between 2019 and 2020, the average net price of George Mason University grew by 9.29%.

This chart compares the average net price of George Mason University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$12,105

Room and Board

$1,278

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at George Mason University was of $12,105 in 2020. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,278. The cost of room and board decreased by 2.58% between 2019 and 2020. The cost of books and supplies increased by 6.5% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at George Mason University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

59%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

41%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

59% of undergraduate students at George Mason University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2020. This represents a growth of 13.5% with respect to 2019, when 52% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at George Mason University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

2.58%

2018 Default Rate

157

Number of Defaults

In 2018 the default rate for borrower's at George Mason University was 2.58%, which represents 157 out of the 6089 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

George Mason University received 21,198 undergraduate applications in 2020, which represents a 8.41% annual growth. Out of those 21,198 applicants, 18,909 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 89.2% acceptance rate.

There were 38,541 students enrolled at George Mason University in 2020, and 68% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

George Mason University has an overall enrollment yield of 18.8%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

89.2%

Acceptance Rate in 2020

18,909

Accepted Out of 21,198

In 2020, the undergraduate acceptance rate of George Mason University was 89.2% (18,909 admissions from 21,198 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2019, which was 86.7%. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of applicants grew by 8.41%, while admissions grew by 11.5%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of George Mason University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

SAT Scores

68%

Submission Percentage

2,434

Scores Submitted

68% of enrolled first-time students at George Mason University in 2020 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

George Mason University has a total enrollment of 38,541 students. The full-time enrollment at George Mason University is 26,031 students and the part-time enrollment is 12,510. This means that 67.5% of students enrolled at George Mason University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at George Mason University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 40.4% White, 18.4% Asian, 13.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11% Black or African American, 4.09% Two or More Races, 0.153% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.145% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at George Mason University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (19.3%), followed by White Female (17.6%) and Asian Male (11.3%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (24%), followed by White Male (19.5%) and Asian Female (5.94%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

67.5%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at George Mason University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 38,541 students. The full-time enrollment at George Mason University is 26,031 and the part-time enrollment is 12,510. This means that 67.5% of students enrolled at George Mason University are enrolled full-time compared with 76.5% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at George Mason University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

86%

2020 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at George Mason University was 86%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (85%), George Mason University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at George Mason University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity

White
15,554
Asian
7,094
Hispanic or Latino
5,348

The enrolled student population at George Mason University is 40.4% White, 18.4% Asian, 13.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11% Black or African American, 4.09% Two or More Races, 0.153% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.145% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 50% White, 15% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.69% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1,833 students (4.76%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2020, 1691 more women than men received degrees from George Mason University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at George Mason University is white (4,704 degrees awarded). There were 2.8 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1682 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at George Mason University is Criminal Justice - Police Science (384 degrees awarded), followed by Information Technology (353 degrees) and Other Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods (344 degrees).

The most specialized majors across all degree types at George Mason University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are English (356 degrees awarded), Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (1,069 degrees), and Education (1,363 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at George Mason University are Elementary & middle school teachers (1,857,313 people), Software developers (486,349 people), Secondary school teachers (442,984 people), Other managers (381,540 people), and Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (378,953 people).

The most specialized majors at George Mason University are English (356 degrees awarded), Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (1,069 degrees), Education (1,363 degrees), Communication Technologies (59 degrees), and Social Sciences (777 degrees).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at George Mason University are Surgeons, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, Physicians, and Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at George Mason University are Elementary & secondary schools (3,054,321 people), Computer Systems Design (677,943 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (566,505 people), Legal services (318,551 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (270,550 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by George Mason University.

Most Common

Criminal Justice - Police Science
384 degree-majorss awarded
Information Technology
353 degree-majorss awarded
Other Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods
344 degree-majorss awarded

In 2020, the most common bachelors degree concentration at George Mason University was Criminal Justice - Police Science with 384 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at George Mason University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

4,362

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2020

6,053

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2020

In 2020, 4,362 degrees were awarded to men at George Mason University, which is 0.721 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (6,053).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at George Mason University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2020, 341 degrees were awarded to men at George Mason University in Information Technology, which is 3.44 times more than the 99 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2020, 403 degrees were awarded to women at George Mason University in Curriculum & Instruction, which is 7.07 times more than the 57 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

47%

100% Completion Time

70%

150% Completion Time

In 2020, 47% of students graduating from George Mason University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 70% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 72% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (81%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at George Mason University is Female and Asian (81% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.4%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 2.29% of graduates (50 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
4,704 degrees awarded
Asian
1,682 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
1,249 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at George Mason University is white (4,704 degrees awarded). There were 2.8 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1682 degrees).

2.89% of degree recipients (301 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic

White Female
2,724 degrees awarded
White Male
1,980 degrees awarded
Asian Female
912 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at George Mason University is white female (2,724 degrees awarded). There were 1.38 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1,980 degrees).

Operations

George Mason University has an endowment valued at nearly $138M, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $8.37M (6.07%), compared to the 3.43% average return ($10.5M on $307M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2020, George Mason University had a total salary expenditure of $975M. George Mason University employs 496 Associate professors, 438 Assistant professors, and 376 Professors. Most academics at George Mason University are Male Associate professors (259), Male Professors(257), and Female Associate professors (237).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at George Mason University are: Business and Financial Operations, with 530 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 404 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 364 employees.

Endowment

$138M

2020 Endowment

38.3%

growth from 2019

George Mason University has an endowment valued at about $138M, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The endowment of George Mason University grew 38.3% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $168M lower than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at George Mason University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$123M - Federal
$2.63M - State
$1.89M - Local

As of 2020, George Mason University received $123M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $2.63M from state grants and contracts, and $1.89M from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$446M

2020 Salaries

8.02%

growth from 2019

In 2020, George Mason University paid a median of $446M in salaries, which represents 45.8% of their overall expenditure ($975M) and a 8.02% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 5.11% growth from 2018 and a 6.22% growth from 2017.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 238M (42.6% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$151M

Instructional Salaries

1,399

Number of Employees

In 2020, George Mason University paid a total of $151M to 1,399 employees working as instructors, which represents 33.9% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $70.3M (29.6%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Associate professor

Most Common Instructor

496 Employees

Business and Financial Operations

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

530 Employees

In 2020, the most common positions for instructional staff at George Mason University were Associate professor with 496 employees; Assistant professor with 438 employees; and Assistant professor with 376 employees.

In 2020, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at George Mason University were Business and Financial Operations with 530 employees; Office and Administrative Support with 404 employees; and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 364 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic

Male Associate professor
Male Professor
Female Associate professor

In 2020, the most common demographic for instructional staff at George Mason University was Male Associate professor with 259 employees, Male Professor with 257 employees, and Female Associate professor with 237 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at George Mason University.