George Mason University
Fairfax, VA, USA

Tuition, Cost & Aid

Affordability and Cost

Average Net Price Average net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from federal, state or local governments, or the institution. Other sources of grant aid are excluded. Aid awarded anytime during the full aid year is included.

Average net price is generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state or local government, or institutional grant and scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance. Total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state), books and supplies and the weighted average room and board and other expenses.
$18,285
Calculate your net cost
Average Net Price By Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30k
$14,781
$30k - $48k
$15,979
$48k - $75k
$19,066
$75k - $110k
$22,013
$110k+
$24,730
Tuition
In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.
$13,401
Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school.
$37,566
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
  • (amount for on-campus room, board and other expenses * # of students living on-campus.
  • + amount for off-campus (with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus with family
  • + amount for off-campus (not with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus not with family)
divided by the total # of students. Students whose living arrangements are unknown are excluded from the calculation. For some institutions the # of students by living arrangement will be known, but dollar amounts will not be known. In this case the # of students with no corresponding dollar amount will be excluded from the denominator.
$13,120
Books and Supplies
$1,278
Tuition Payment Plan
Yes
Financial Aid: visit page
Financial Aid Email: [email protected]

Aid & Grants

0
100
57%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
30%
Average Aid Per Year
$9,908
Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
30%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$5,170
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$9,284
Students receiving state aid
37%
Average State Grant Aid Per Year
$3,556
Students receiving federal aid
33%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$5,170
Total Needs Based Scholarships/Grants Total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to all undergraduates from the federal government, state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the institution.
$91,503,632
Total Non-Need-Based Scholarships/Grants
$37,814,062

Student Loans

Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
47%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$7,950
Students receiving federal loans
45%
Average Federal Loans Per Year
$5,182
Average Other Loans Per Year
$17,132
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$16,231
Loan Default Rate
1%
US National: 7%
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$191

What Students Are Saying

The campus is so amazing and the people that are within the Mason community make the money so worth the spending! Especially given that it feels like home [and better] and the people you meet really do become family!
Tahina from Richmond, VA
It's a little pricey if you are an out-of-state student, but it's worth the money for your experiences that you gain!
Sherita from Logan Township, NJ
Everyone rants and raves how close George Mason is to D.C. and how inexpensive Mason is compared to the universities in D.C. During my second semester I went into Washington D.C. just about every weekend. I had to venture into the capital city for several of my classes and I was in complete awe how easy and fast it took to get there. There are so many opportunities in Washington D.C. and going to Mason helps brings those opportunities to its students, without the higher tuition.
Sabel from Virginia Beach, VA
You get the most out of your money if you decide to come to school at Mason. Mason is not too expensive at all; even though college overall is expensive Mason is quite affordable. It's proximity to Washington, D.C. gives it another asset that makes the experience worthwhile. D.C. has some of the nation's nicest museums and also is a great place to go if you're looking for a good night out on the town. The education you get at Mason will ensure you that when you graduate with your degree you will have all the necessary skills and more to exceed and excel in your career choice.
from VA
The opportunities that are offered at George Mason are worth any sum of money. Being in the D.C. area, working with professionals, having fun on campus, and being in a great academic environment are all things you couldn't pass up, so why wouldn't George Mason be worth it?
Dakota from Poway, CA
If you are out-of-state and don't have a large amount of scholarship money, it may be a financial risk to make GMU your choice. On the other hand if you are in-state or are financially secured through scholarships then I encourage you to choose Mason. One of the downturns is that some classes require you to purchase brand new books so that you receive a new online code to log into the online portion of the course. The codes from used books are not recyclable. So in some cases you may not be able to buy the cheaper used books. Compared to other schools of the same or lesser quality, the education and career connections are well worth the price.
from Fairfax, VA
Personally I think going to Mason is worth the money because it is an accredited university with a reputation that is only moving forward. With this said, it is up to you to make it worth your money. As a student you have to make yourself go to class and keep your grades up. Certain classes here do take attendance, but as it is at all colleges, it is up to you to attend.
Julia from Ellicott City, MD