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George Mason University

#382 in US ranking Fairfax, VA
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$26,910
Tuition & fees
$14,316
Avg. aid
$11,628
Receiving aid
79%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
87%
SAT range
1160–1360
ACT range
25–30

Outcomes

Graduation rate
68%
Median salary
$56,164
1 yr after graduation

What are the graduation rates for students at George Mason University?

Reported completion data show that 46% of George Mason's first-time, full-time bachelor's-degree students graduated within four years and 68% within six years. The longer window captures students who finish after the traditional four-year schedule; it does not mean the same students completed two separate degrees.

The reported first-year retention rate is 86%, meaning that most students in the measured first-time cohort returned the following fall. These federal reporting measures describe defined student cohorts, not every undergraduate: transfer, part-time, and returning adult students may follow different paths that are not captured in the headline first-time, full-time graduation rate. Program course sequencing, credit taken each term, and the use of transferred credit can all affect an individual timeline, but these figures alone cannot establish why a student did or did not graduate.

What is the earning potential for graduates at George Mason University?

College Scorecard field-of-study figures report median earnings about one year after completion for graduates in covered programs who meet the measure's federal-data criteria. They are not starting-salary offers, a forecast for every graduate, or a university-wide earnings guarantee.

In the field-level figures reported as of October 2026, the one-year median is $80,254 for computer engineering and $71,514 for computer science. Other examples include $63,950 for registered nursing, $32,267 for psychology, and $20,382 for dance. These differences should be interpreted alongside occupation, location, further study, and the type of work graduates seek - not as a ranking of educational value.

The measure covers an eligible group of federally aided graduates with earnings records, so it does not describe everyone who completed a program. It also records an early career point: some fields commonly require graduate education or licensure before a person enters their intended profession. Students comparing programs should consider later-career outcomes, program costs, and the occupations the credential qualifies them to pursue.

George Mason University Graduation Rate

Avg. graduation
68%
4-year graduation
46%
6-year graduation
68%

George Mason University Retention and Employment

First-year retention, full-time students
86%
First-year retention, part-time students
68%
Employed 1 year after graduation
95%

George Mason University Median Alumni Salary Over Time

1 year after graduation
$56,164
4 years after graduation
$78,425
5 years after graduation
$79,460
7 years after graduation
$86,415
10 years after starting college
$79,923

Alumni Salary for George Mason University Degrees

Degrees

Avg. salary

Accounting and Related Services

$56,805

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

$40,070

Anthropology

$23,524

Biology, General

$29,849

Biomedical/Medical Engineering

$46,303

Business Administration, Management and Operations

$49,321

Chemistry

$34,646

Civil Engineering

$64,934

Computer and Information Sciences, General

$69,322

Computer Engineering

$80,254

Computer Science

$71,514

Criminal Justice and Corrections

$40,661

Dance

$20,382

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

$25,883

Economics

$55,517

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering

$70,242

English Language and Literature, General

$28,330

Film/Video and Photographic Arts

$24,682

Finance and Financial Management Services

$52,937

Geography and Cartography

$46,150

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

$39,578

Graphic Communications

$26,474

Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other

$40,857

History

$22,998

Hospitality Administration/Management

$42,258

International Relations and National Security Studies

$39,409

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

$34,587

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services

$41,771

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

$57,420

Marketing

$46,771

Mathematics

$46,522

Mechanical Engineering

$61,988

Music

$27,836

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

$34,052

Neurobiology and Neurosciences

$31,574

Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution

$39,297

Political Science and Government

$42,975

Psychology, General

$32,267

Public Administration

$39,354

Public Health

$32,071

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

$63,950

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies

$39,051

Social Work

$33,725

Sociology

$35,119

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

$34,209

Sustainability Studies

$33,709

Systems Engineering

$71,876

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

$38,384

Visual and Performing Arts, General

$26,808

George Mason University Graduations Per Degree

BACHELOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

5626011163

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

191603794

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services

267221488

Health Professions and Related Programs

43151482

Social Sciences

230179409

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

200183383

Psychology

27375348

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

23997336

Engineering

75232307

Visual and Performing Arts

162117279

MASTER’S Degree

Women Men Total

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

361586947

Education

52096616

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

151166317

Health Professions and Related Programs

22759286

Public Administration and Social Service Professions

20074274

Social Sciences

93125218

Engineering

49112161

Psychology

10328131

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

8147128

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services

6048108

DOCTOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Education

30838

Social Sciences

131831

Health Professions and Related Programs

24630

Engineering

62329

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

141428

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

61925

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

17320

Psychology

8816

English Language and Literature/Letters

9211

Natural Resources and Conservation

7310

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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