Founded in 1949 as a regional branch of the University of Virginia and gaining independent university status in 1972, George Mason University is a major public research university located in Fairfax, Virginia. Spanning a modern 817-acre main campus in Fairfax alongside regional campuses in Arlington and Manassas, Mason is the largest public research university by enrollment in Virginia. You can examine its rapid growth, constitutional namesake, and expansion on the George Mason University Wikipedia historical entry.
When you attend George Mason, you enter a fast-growing, innovative research institution located just 15 miles from downtown Washington, D.C. Living in Northern Virginia gives you direct access to federal government agencies, international embassies, corporate technology corridors, and national policy think tanks.
Premier Academic Programs
George Mason hosts ten specialized colleges and schools delivering accredited undergraduate and graduate instruction:
- Schar School of Policy and Government: Leading public policy school located in Arlington, specializing in international security, public administration, and political strategy.
- Antonakakis (Antonin Scalia) Law School: Top-ranked law school located in Arlington, world-renowned for law and economics, intellectual property, and constitutional law.
- Costello College of Business: Focuses on government contracting, finance, business analytics, and entrepreneurship. Explore degree options on the Costello College of Business portal.
- College of Engineering and Computing: Delivers instruction in cybersecurity engineering, artificial intelligence, software design, and civil infrastructure.
- College of Public Health: First college of public health in Virginia, focusing on epidemiology, health administration, and community health.
"Freedom and Learning serves as George Mason University's official motto, inspiring open scholarly debate and civic engagement."
Campus Culture and Mascot
Your daily student experience centers on Wilkins Plaza, the Johnson Center, and Mason Square. School spirit revolves around The Patriot, the official mascot representing George Mason Patriots athletic teams competing in NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference sports. You can read about the mascot history and spirit traditions on the official George Mason Patriots Athletics portal. Cheering inside EagleBank Arena for basketball games and joining over 500 student clubs creates a vibrant campus community.
Research Infrastructure and Public Policy Research
George Mason operates an R1 doctoral research enterprise credited with two Nobel Prizes in Economics:
- Mercatus Center: World-renowned university-based market economics research center evaluating public policy and regulation.
- Center for Secure Information Systems (CSIS): Pioneer in cybersecurity research, hardware encryption, and threat intelligence. Learn more via George Mason Research Operations.
- Institute for Biohealth Innovation: Interdisciplinary research center advancing infectious disease therapeutics and neuroscience.
Notable Alumni Legacy
You walk in the footsteps of Nobel laureates, public servants, corporate executives, and media figures, including:
- James M. Buchanan and Vernon L. Smith: Nobel laureates in Economics who conducted groundbreaking public choice and experimental economics research at Mason.
- David Lindahl: Technology executive and former Assistant Secretary of Energy.
- Denise Turner Roth: Former Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).
- Tyler Cowen: Renowned economist, author, and professor who directs the Mercatus Center at Mason.
George Mason provides generous financial aid packages and merit scholarship coverage for domestic and international students. Review full admission standards and application steps on the official George Mason Admissions portal.