Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at George Mason University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 26% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 85th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (VA wage index 1.21). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at George Mason University
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homeland Security | $90,956 | $143,972 | +105% | #1 of 33 | #1 | $21,479 |
| Computer Engineering | $87,466 | $117,942 | +8% | #42 of 189 | #100 | $25,500 |
| Systems Engineering | $84,942 | $114,815 | +9% | #6 of 11 | #7 | $20,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $78,800 | $110,754 | +20% | #78 of 459 | #120 | $21,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $82,175 | $103,074 | +2% | #77 of 258 | #206 | $25,000 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $68,049 | $97,049 | +13% | #32 of 126 | #51 | $17,250 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $73,570 | $96,467 | +5% | #68 of 318 | #231 | $24,113 |
| Physics | — | $96,138 | +25% | #12 of 107 | #26 | — |
| Civil Engineering | $75,822 | $93,856 | +8% | #27 of 233 | #135 | $20,787 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $63,981 | $93,533 | +0% | #62 of 118 | #98 | $23,594 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $67,291 | $91,132 | +20% | #107 of 796 | #231 | $20,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $78,365 | $89,878 | +1% | #370 of 966 | #775 | $13,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $62,989 | $88,080 | +6% | #121 of 452 | #202 | $20,000 |
| Economics | $53,024 | $87,548 | +6% | #120 of 368 | #171 | $19,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $55,147 | $85,224 | +25% | #78 of 1176 | #174 | $19,440 |
| Computer Science | $84,632 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | $50,304 | $77,681 | +19% | #31 of 209 | #58 | $20,504 |
| Mathematics | $54,711 | $77,519 | +11% | #96 of 309 | #155 | $24,750 |
| Geography and Cartography | $49,568 | $74,692 | +29% | #10 of 117 | #18 | $20,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $45,846 | $74,125 | +17% | #77 of 565 | #145 | $20,449 |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | $40,929 | $72,271 | +15% | #3 of 6 | #2 | $25,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $43,612 | $69,511 | +26% | #39 of 660 | #88 | $17,750 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $44,644 | $69,399 | +4% | #45 of 118 | #65 | $20,117 |
| Marketing | $49,223 | $69,210 | +-0% | #202 of 516 | #360 | $18,375 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $27,859 | $68,546 | +10% | #21 of 67 | #30 | $19,727 |
| Public Administration | $56,674 | $67,973 | +4% | #19 of 47 | #28 | $18,750 |
| Public Health | $37,025 | $65,358 | +11% | #44 of 215 | #87 | $20,500 |
| Sociology | $38,916 | $64,603 | +23% | #41 of 462 | #79 | $16,676 |
| Biology | $34,719 | $64,301 | +12% | #212 of 841 | #414 | $19,125 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences | $45,624 | $64,046 | -6% | #32 of 61 | #43 | $21,500 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $34,890 | $63,672 | +17% | #73 of 610 | #202 | $21,651 |
| Security Science and Technology | $42,100 | $63,182 | +9% | #13 of 45 | #26 | $23,251 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $45,151 | $62,727 | +11% | #32 of 137 | #71 | $20,500 |
| Psychology | $36,326 | $62,563 | +23% | #63 of 1027 | #163 | $17,625 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $40,114 | $62,383 | +29% | #16 of 137 | #34 | $20,000 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $45,140 | $61,565 | +27% | #6 of 172 | #16 | $25,000 |
| Sustainability Studies | $39,329 | $61,216 | +6% | #7 of 17 | #10 | $24,670 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $41,398 | $61,100 | +15% | #77 of 476 | #173 | $19,500 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $43,038 | $60,874 | +11% | #56 of 265 | #104 | $22,483 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $45,108 | $59,979 | +17% | #45 of 345 | #128 | $21,696 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | — | $59,024 | -17% | #179 of 253 | #221 | $28,000 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $40,105 | $58,931 | +18% | #20 of 90 | #30 | $19,500 |
| English Language and Literature | $33,173 | $56,071 | +15% | #114 of 576 | #208 | $18,750 |
| Social Work | $38,559 | $55,715 | +8% | #119 of 420 | #305 | $19,250 |
| Visual and Performing Arts | $31,941 | $54,703 | +31% | #4 of 68 | #13 | $21,125 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | — | $53,441 | -11% | #112 of 138 | #133 | — |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | $53,179 | — | — | — | — | $23,500 |
| History | $25,992 | $51,168 | +1% | #216 of 459 | #343 | $18,750 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $23,989 | $50,086 | +14% | #37 of 144 | #53 | $23,205 |
| Graphic Communications | $29,192 | $47,440 | +10% | #21 of 59 | #33 | $22,985 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The George Mason University Town Property Report
- Avg home value near campus: $814,749
- Avg rent near campus: $2,439/mo — vs ~$886/mo campus room rate
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 20121 (3.4% cap, Centreville)
Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.
Free — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
🏆 Where George Mason University Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $10,095 | $34,259 |
| Room | $7,970 | |
| Board | $5,550 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $33,748 | $59,330 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,197 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,383 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,296 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,394 |
| $110,001+ | $25,247 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from George Mason University's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at George Mason University?
How much does it cost to attend George Mason University?
What is the graduation rate at George Mason University?
Is George Mason University a good school?
- Outcomes (B+): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (B): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (C+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend George Mason University?
Is there rental demand near George Mason University?
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for George Mason University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to George Mason University
Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology