George Mason University is a large public university located in Fairfax, Va. The university is named after American revolutionary, patriot, and founding father George Mason. The University enrolls over 30,000 students annually. U.S. News & World Report ranked George Mason University 1st in its new category of up-and-coming National Universities for 2009.
The main campus is located in Fairfax, Virginia and it covers 670 acres of land. The other campuses are located nearby in Arlington, Prince William County, and Loudoun County. GMU also has an international campus in Ras al-Khaimah and in the United Arab Emirates. The university offers more than 65 undergraduate degree programs and over 90 graduate programs.
GMU’s sports teams are nicknamed Patriots. They participate in the NCAA's Division I, and are members of the Colonial Athletic Association, or CAA.

The school is known for its programs in art studies and liberal arts.
George Mason is selective and does not offer open admission. Three quarters of students in 2007 had SAT verbal scores of at least 510. Half of math SAT scores of accepted students fell between 520 and 610.
George Mason has a tenure system for senior faculty. The full-time faculty at the school is well-paid, which often goes with faculty quality.
There are 30,276 students at George Mason (as of 2007).
The school offers students meal plans. George Mason values student athletics, and belongs to the Colonial Athletic Association.
The school reports its educational mission is:
"George Mason University will be an institution of international academic reputation providing superior education for students to develop critical, analytical, and imaginative thinking and to make well-founded ethical decisions. It will respond to the call for interdisciplinary research and teaching, not simply by adding programs but by rethinking the traditional structure of the academy. The university will prepare students to address the complex issues facing them in society and to discover meaning in their own lives. It will encourage diversity in its student body and will meet the needs of students by providing them with interdisciplinary and innovative undergraduate, graduate, and professional courses. The university will energetically seek ways to interact with and serve the needs of the student body. The university will nurture and support a faculty that is diverse, innovative, excellent in teaching, active in pure and applied research, and responsive to the needs of students and the community. The faculty will embody the university's interactive approach to change both in the academy and in the world. The university will be a resource of the Commonwealth of Virginia serving private and public sectors. It will be an intellectual and cultural nexus between Northern Virginia, the nation, and the world. (Adopted January 1991)"
More complete details are provided below.
George Mason University
4400 University Dr
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444
General Phone: (703) 993-1000
http://www.gmu.edu
| General Category | Degrees | Most Common Majors [see all] |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts | 1,952 | political science and government, interdisciplinary studies, speech and rhetoric, economics, English, international relations, history, liberal arts and humanities, ... |
| Education And Teaching | 1,014 | curriculum and instruction, special ed, educational administration, health teaching, school counseling, physical education teaching, education, ESL instruction, ... |
| Business And Management | 915 | business management, accounting, finance, marketing, business and related services, business administration, MIS |
| Engineering | 545 | various engineering courses, systems engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering courses, industrial engineering |
| Therapy And Counseling | 378 | psychology |
| Science | 361 | biology, biological and biomedical sciences, chemistry, geology, physics courses, physics, astronomy, biostatistics, ... |
| Family And Social Work | 285 | public administration, public policy analysis, social work, social service professions |
| Computer Science And Engineering | 280 | computer and info science, information science, computer engineering, software engineering |
| Nursing And Emergency Medicine | 279 | registered nursing, various nursing |
| Law | 213 | law, legal professions, legal research |
| Art Studies | 188 | visual and performing arts, art studies, arts management |
| Security And Law Enforcement | 165 | criminal justice and police |
| Media | 124 | communication and journalism, communication studies |
| Medicine | 67 | health professions, neuroscience, gerontology |
| Mathematics | 61 | mathematics, mathematics and computer science, statistics, mathematics and statistics |
| Music | 60 | music performance, music, various music studies |
| Drama And Performing Arts | 32 | drama, dance |
| Medical Administration | 19 | health care administration, health care facilities management |
| Religion And Philosophy | 14 | philosophy, religion |
| Medical Support And Technology | 10 | clinical lab tech |
| Nutrition And Exercise Therapy | 5 | athletic trainer |
| Science And Laboratory Technician | 4 | science tech |
Number of programs and degrees for George Mason in 2007:
| Degree Level | Total Awarded | Number of Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 3,726 | 50 |
| Master's degree | 2,544 | 54 |
| Postbaccalaureate certificate | 311 | 28 |
| First-professional degree | 206 | 1 |
| Doctor's degree | 181 | 16 |
| Post-master's certificate | 3 | 1 |
In 2007, George Mason had a total enrollment of 30,276 students (21,608 full-time equivalent).
Students in the Freshman Class:
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Men | 44% |
| Women | 56% |
| Full-Time | 98% |
| Part-Time | 2% |
Students By Class:
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 57% |
| Graduate | 41% |
| First Professional | 2% |
| Race | Percent |
|---|---|
| White | 55% |
| Black | 8% |
| Hispanic | 6% |
| Asian | 13% |
| American Indian | 0% |
| Unknown | 13% |
| (Foreign Students) | 6% |
Students by Age:
| Age | Percent |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | 1% |
| 18-19 | 14% |
| 20-21 | 18% |
| 22-24 | 20% |
| 25-29 | 20% |
| 30-34 | 9% |
| 35-39 | 6% |
| 40-49 | 7% |
| 50-64 | 4% |
| 65+ | 0% |
Incoming (Freshman) Students by Place of Residence:
(From available data sampling)
| Residence | Percent |
|---|---|
| Virginia | 78% |
| Maryland | 4% |
| New Jersey | 3% |
| State unknown | 3% |
| Pennsylvania | 2% |
| New York | 2% |
| (International Students) | 1% |
| Massachusetts | 1% |
| Washington, DC | 1% |
| New Hampshire | 1% |
| Connecticut | 1% |
Retention Rates (2007):
| Group | Returning From Previous Year |
|---|---|
| Full-Time | 85 % |
| Part-Time | 67 % |
George Mason offers campus housing for 4,400 of its 21,608 (full-time) students.
(Please refer to our profile of Fairfax, Virginia for details about the area surrounding the campus. Also see our list of other Virginia Colleges).
The school offers students a meal plan with 19 meals per week.
Acceptances:
| Group | Applicants | Accepted | Percent Accepted | Enrolled | Percent of Accepted Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 13,563 | 7,467 | 55% | 2,229 | 30% |
| Men | 6,177 | 3,174 | 51% | 976 | 31% |
| Women | 7,385 | 4,293 | 58% | 1,253 | 29% |
Standardized Test Scores:
| Test | 25th Percentile | 75th Percetile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT Verbal | 510 | 600 |
| SAT Math | 520 | 610 |
| ACT Verbal | 20 | 26 |
| ACT Math | 20 | 25 |
| ACT Composite | 21 | 25 |
Application Requirements:
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| GPA | required |
| Class Rank | recommended |
| High School Record | required |
| College Prep Program | recommended |
| Recommendations | recommended |
| Formal Demonstration of Competence | not required |
| Standardized Tests (SAT and/or ACT) | required |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting SAT | 90% |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting ACT | 18% |
| TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | required |
Expenses and Financial Aid:
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-state tuition and fees | $ 6,840 |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $ 19,728 |
| Room and board | $ 7,020 |
| Room charge | $ 4,000 |
| Board (meal plan) charge | $ 3,020 |
| Books and supplies | $ 850 |
| Other expenses | $ 2,664 |
Financial Aid:
George Mason participates in Federal Title IV financial aid programs. (The school's OPE ID is 374900)
George Mason has a tenure system for faculty.
Tenure Status of Faculty (2007):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Tenured | 420 | 176 |
| Non-tenured, but on tenure track | 143 | 117 |
| Non-tenured and not on tenure track | 216 | 230 |
Salaries for full-time faculty:
Full-Time Faculty (2007):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | calendar year | 20 | $177,671 | 3 | $151,433 |
| Associate professor | calendar year | 10 | $95,116 | 11 | $95,492 |
| Assistant professor | calendar year | 6 | $68,550 | 14 | $83,900 |
| Instructor | calendar year | 2 | * | 8 | $67,641 |
| All faculty total | calendar year | 38 | $131,733 | 36 | $89,456 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Full-Time Faculty (2007):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | academic year | 233 | $129,057 | 60 | $111,609 |
| Associate professor | academic year | 188 | $86,164 | 131 | $79,132 |
| Assistant professor | academic year | 166 | $72,774 | 176 | $65,672 |
| Instructor | academic year | 23 | $58,299 | 53 | $55,347 |
| All faculty total | academic year | 610 | $97,853 | 420 | $75,130 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Athletic Conferences:
| Sport | Conference |
|---|---|
| Basketball | Colonial Athletic Association |
| Baseball | Colonial Athletic Association |
| Track | Colonial Athletic Association |
Students on Athletic Scholarships (2007):
| Sport | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 77 | 94 | 171 |
| Basketball | 11 | 17 | 28 |
| Baseball | 26 | 0 | 26 |
| Track | 6 | 8 | 14 |
| All Other Sports | 34 | 69 | 103 |
ART STUDIES
Art/Art Studies, General
Arts Management
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Accounting
Business Administration and Management, General
Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other
Business, Management, Marketing & Related Support Services, Other
Finance, General
Management Information Systems, General
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Computer Engineering, General
Computer Software Engineering
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Information Science/Studies
DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS
Dance, General
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
EDUCATION AND TEACHING
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
Curriculum and Instruction
Education, General
Educational Leadership and Administration, General
Health Teacher Education
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
Special Education and Teaching, General
Teacher Education/Profess Development, Levels & Methods, Other
Teaching English as Second/Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor
ENGINEERING
Civil Engineering, Other
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
Engineering, Other
Industrial Engineering
Systems Engineering
FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK
Public Administration
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other
Public Policy Analysis
Social Work
LAW
Law (LLB, JD)
Legal Professions and Studies, Other
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies, Other
LIBERAL ARTS
Anthropology
Area Studies, Other
Creative Writing
Economics, General
English Language and Literature, General
English Literature (British and Commonwealth)
Foreign Languages and Literatures, General
Geography
History, General
Humanities/Humanistic Studies
International Relations and Affairs
Latin American Studies
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
Political Science and Government, General
Political Science and Government, Other
Sociology
Speech and Rhetorical Studies
Technical and Business Writing
MATHEMATICS
Mathematics and Computer Science
Mathematics and Statistics, Other
Mathematics, General
Statistics, General
MEDIA
Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION
Health/Health Care Administration/Management
Hospital and Health Care Facilities Administration/Management
MEDICAL SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist
MEDICINE
Gerontology
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
Neuroscience
MUSIC
Music Performance, General
Music, General
Music, Other
NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Nursing, Other
Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)
NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY
Athletic Training/Trainer
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy
Religion/Religious Studies
SCIENCE
Astronomy
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Biostatistics
Chemistry, General
Geology/Earth Science, General
Physical Sciences
Physics, General
Physics, Other
SCIENCE AND LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
Science Technologies/Technicians, Other
(Details are provided further down on this page.)
What Sets George Mason Apart:
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of students (vs. all colleges) | Top 1% | ![]() ![]() |
| Number of degree programs (vs. all colleges) | Top 2% | ![]() ![]() |
| Salaries of full-time faculty (vs. all colleges) | Top 4% | ![]() ![]() |
| Degrees concentrated in limited number of degree programs (vs. all colleges) | Top 12% | ![]() |
| % students 40 years or older (for colleges of its size and type) | Top 12% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in liberal arts (vs. colleges with similar degree levels) | Top 14% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in computer science and engineering (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 17% | ![]() |
| Faculty/student ratio (full-time) (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 18% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in art studies (vs. all colleges) | Top 19% | ![]() |
Notable:
Accepts some high school credits
Grants credits for AP courses
Offers distance learning
Career counseling
Career services
Student employment services
On-campus day care
Option to study abroad
Offers part-time study
On-campus library
Offers campus housing
Offers a board (meal) plan
Tenure system for quality teaching
Has ROTC (army, air force)
Offers athletic scholarships
NCAA athletic conference member
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