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George Mason University

4400 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030

Website: George Mason University

Photos:

The Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study is located on the Fairfax campus.
The Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study is located on the Fairfax campus.
[source]
George Mason University Army ROTC
[source]

George Mason University School Description

George Mason University, located in the heart of Northern Virginia's technology corridor near Washington, D.C., is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in a range of academic fields. With strong undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering, information technology, biotechnology and health care, Mason prepares its alumni to succeed in the workforce and meet the needs of the region and the world.

Mason professors conduct groundbreaking research in areas such as cancer, climate change, information technology and the biosciences. Mason’s Center for the Arts brings world-renowned artists, musicians and actors to its stage. Its School of Law is recognized by “U.S. News and World Report” as one of the top 40 law schools in the United States.

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George Mason University

From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

George Mason University (often referred to as GMU or Mason) is a large public university with a main campus in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the City of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County.

Named after American revolutionary, patriot, and founding father George Mason, the University was founded as a branch of the University of Virginia in 1957 and became an independent institution in 1972. Recognized for its strong law, economics, nursing and public policy programs, the University enrolls over 30,000 students, making it the second largest university in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

History

George Mason University is named after American revolutionary, patriot, and founding father George Mason. The University traces its roots back to the 1950s when the Virginia legislature passed a resolution, in January 1956, to establish a branch college of the University of Virginia in Northern Virginia. In September 1957 the new college opened its doors to seventeen students, all of whom enrolled as freshmen in a renovated elementary school building at Bailey's Crossroads. John Norville Gibson Finley served as Director of the new branch, which was known as University College.

The City of Fairfax, Virginia, then the Town of Fairfax, purchased and donated of land to the University of Virginia for the college's new location, which was referred to as the Fairfax Campus. In 1959, the Board of Visitors of UVA selected a permanent name for the college: George Mason College of the University of Virginia. The Fairfax campus construction planning that began in early 1960 showed visible results when the development of the first of Fairfax Campus began in 1962. In the Fall of 1964 the new campus welcomed 356 students.

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Read the full entry on Wikipedia

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location:
Mid-Atlantic
Setting:
Large Town Setting
Type:
Public
Size:
Very Large (+10,000 Undergrad)
Mascot:
Patriots
Nicknames:
GMU, Mason

Students & Campus Life

Undergraduate Enrollment:
18,091
On Campus Housing:
Available
Full Time Students:
98%
Athletic Programs:
Available
More Students & Campus Life

Expenses

Average Tuition:
$ 19,728
Students Receiving Aid:
52%
More Expenses & Financial Aid

Admissions

Application Fee:
$ 50
Selectivity:
Highly Selective
More Admissions

George Mason University Degree Programs

Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Learn more about Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Master’s Degree Programs

Learn more about Master’s Degree Programs

George Mason University Students & Campus Life

General

Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 98%
Part-Time 2%
Men vs. Women
Women 57%
Men 43%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 58%
Other 15%
Asian 14%
African-American 7%
Hispanic 6%

Geography

In State vs. Out-of-State
In-State 78%
Out-of-State 22%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
Virginia 78%
Pennsylvania 2%
New Jersey 2%
New York 2%
Maryland 2%
Percent of Students International: 5%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 21%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: Yes

Athletics

Member of: NAA, NCAA
Sports Include: Basketball (Colonial Athletic Association)
Baseball (Colonial Athletic Association)
Track (Colonial Athletic Association)

George Mason University Expenses (Tuition & Fees)

Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) In-State Out-of-State  
Published Tuition and Fees:
 $ 6,840 $ 19,728  
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
 $ 5,035 $ 17,923  
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads:
 $ 1,805 $ 1,805  
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
 $ 2,748 17%  
State and Local Grants:
 $ 3,478 28%  
Institutional Grants:
 $ 6,064 11%  
Student Loans:
 $ 3,833 40%  
Any Aid:
   52%  

George Mason University Admissions

Acceptance Rate: 55% (Highly Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 90%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 510, Math: 520
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 600, Math: 610
ACT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting ACT Scores: 18%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Composite: 21, Verbal: 20, Math: 20
Top 75th Percentile: Composite: 25, Verbal: 26, Math: 25

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Application Fee: $ 50.00
Formal Demonstration of Competencies: Not Required
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Recommended
High School GPA: Required
High School Rank: Recommended
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Recommended
TOEFL: Required
Test Scores: Required

College Advice on George Mason University

Yahoo
RandomQuestions..
RandomQ...

Question: Does going to a more renown college reallly make a difference in the job market??

I've a friend who's going to George Mason University (the unknown mid-Major in the NCAA Mens Basketball championship last year) but her parents are trying to convince her to go to Virginia Tech... She's a Computer Information Technology major, if it helps. IT major with concentration in Network Administration and Security.
33 months ago
zxc
zxc

Best Answer

Depends on what she wants to do after graduation. If she stays at Mason she should look into the Information Assurance area within IT.... They are relatively well known for that given their proximity and 'buy in' from local government agencies/contractors. VT is certainly going to expose her to a wider variety of top companies AND agencies upon graduation but, as I said, if she is into security GMU might not be bad....
Dramageek
Dramageek

Question: What do you think about George Mason University?

I'm considering going to George Mason if accepted. I'm ttnrested in their drama department. Are they any good? Is there anything about this school that makes it really great? If you know of any other affordable universityies with great acting programs, let me know. I'm looking for a small but good theater department.
41 months ago
Steven K
Steven K

Best Answer

It all depends on what you want out of a program. GMU has some great stuff going for it. The corridor between Baltimore on the north extreme to Richmond on the southern extreme has a great deal of theatre, an active region is good. Also GMU is paired with the Theatre for the First Amendment. This is a great plus, you will be working wiht union professionals, getting training and guidance from those who have gone through what you are going through and made it to a professional level. That all being said, I do not know much about the quality of the work done there, or the facutly, but that is always subjective anyway. Best thing to do is visit the campus and talk to the other students, see what they are getting out of the program and what they would suggest. As a response to the first poster, IU has a wonderful program for grad students, watch out for teh great MFA program schools while looking for undergrad, it usually means alot of opportunities to do very little, the school has to give the MFA candidates first crack at most roles and opprotunities, thus making the undergrads second class.
Yucifer
Yucifer

Question: Thoughts on george mason university?

i'm looking for infor on location, reputation, student happiness... I've already read all the rankings
43 months ago
Samantha
Samantha

Best Answer

My cousin went to GMU and ended up transferring for a number of reasons, but he was pretty happy there with the academics. It's a pretty good school - well-respected and their football team is pretty decent these days, so that's a perk.
sui_19
sui_19

Question: Howard - , George Washington -, George Mason - University - which one is the best? Are they good at all?

How would you rate each of them?
45 months ago
Taranto
Taranto

Best Answer

Except for their location, these are three very different schools. George Washington is a top tier private university. US News ranks it number 53 in their list of top national universities and rates their admissions as "More Selective." Howard is the best of the HBSs (historically black schools). US News rates it as selective and ranks it in the lower end of the top 100 national universities. George Mason is a decent state university ranked in the third tier of national universities. You have to be pretty good to get there -- but there are lots of better alternatives. The third tier is made up of lots of state universities that aren't the best state schools in their state (e.g., UNC Greensboro isn't as good as UNC-Chapel Hill, Illinois State isn't as good as U of Illinois). Virginia has two state schools that are better than George Mason -- U of Va and William and Mary. GM has the advantage of being in suburban DC. If you are looking at these schools, you ought to consider the University of Maryland as well.
WaymarBob
WaymarBob

Question: Is George Mason University a liberal or conservative institution?

48 months ago
insaneslv
insan...

Best Answer

George Mason University is somewhat of a liberal institution. The teachers vary with the subject. Some are more biased than others. Most know better than to bring up political arguments in class unless it is a political class. We have had some free speech issues on campus but they have been worked out for now.

Photos

  • The Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study is located on the Fairfax campus.
    The Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study is located on the Fairfax campus. [source]
  • George Mason, (1725-1792) for whom the University is named.
    George Mason, (1725-1792) for whom the University is named. [source]
  • The almost completed northeast sector, May 2008.
    The almost completed northeast sector, May 2008. [source]
  • Another view of the northeast sector
    Another view of the northeast sector [source]
  • The new Volgenau School of Information Technology and Engineering building, which is scheduled to open in early 2009.
    The new Volgenau School of Information Technology and Engineering building, which is scheduled to open in early 2009. [source]
  • Liberty Square, an upperclassmen residence area which opened in 2003
    Liberty Square, an upperclassmen residence area which opened in 2003 [source]
  • President's Park
    President's Park [source]

Videos

  • George Mason University Army ROTC
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George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
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