George Mason University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in
George Mason University, a public university in Virginia, reports a 87% acceptance rate and sits in the accessible band. In practice that means it admits most qualified applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.
Use this page to see what George Mason University weighs, where it ranks among Virginia schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1260, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
What do students study at George Mason University?
Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.
Will I get into George Mason University?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into George Mason University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into George Mason University?
Your odds at George Mason University are not the same as its 87% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for George Mason University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is George Mason University hard to get into?
George Mason University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 87% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
What GPA do you need to get into George Mason University?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at George Mason University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. George Mason University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
Your chances at George Mason University by GPA and SAT
Estimated chance of admission at George Mason University for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).
What are my chances at George Mason University with a 3.1 GPA and a 1260 SAT?
About 98% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1260 SAT, the middle of George Mason University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1360 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.
Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/george-mason-university.
How to get into George Mason University
Built from George Mason University's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.
There is no formula that guarantees a spot at George Mason University, but the applicants who get in tend to do the same four things. Here is what the numbers say each one looks like.
CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at George Mason University carries about a 3.04 core GPA and a 1310 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.
The admitted middle 50% is 1160 to 1360 SAT (25 to 30 ACT). Submit a score at 1260 or higher; below 1160, apply test-optional if the policy allows.
George Mason University rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.
Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by George Mason University's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www2.gmu.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.
How many students apply to George Mason University, and how many get in?
George Mason University admitted 20,057 of the 22,579 students who applied for fall 2023, which works out to 88.8%. 4,451 enrolled. Only about 22% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. George Mason University enrolls about 27,752 undergraduates in total, 49% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 16 to 1.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for George Mason University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at George Mason University scored between 1160 and 1360 on the SAT (average 1274). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 25 to 30. A score above 1360 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1160 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. George Mason University is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.
What George Mason University looks for
What George Mason University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
The factors that carry the most weight at George Mason University are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from George Mason University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at George Mason University
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.
How much does George Mason University cost after financial aid?
George Mason University's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $28,604 per year. Tuition and fees are $14,220 for VA residents and $38,688 for out-of-state students, a $24,468 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $17,915 a year, and it ranges from $11,942 for families earning under $30,000 to $25,894 for families earning over $110,000. 30% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.
What do George Mason University graduates earn, and how many graduate?
Ten years after enrolling, the median George Mason University student who received federal aid earns $76,343 a year, up from $60,536 at six years. 68% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 86% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $19,500; 31% of undergraduates take federal loans.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.
How George Mason University compares in Virginia
George Mason University ranks #18 most selective of 28 schools in Virginia in our database.
Among the 28 Virginia schools we track, George Mason University ranks #18 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Washington and Lee University (14%) and University of Virginia (17%) sit nearby, which makes Virginia a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.
Similar to George Mason University
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
Applicants targeting George Mason University often weigh Boise State University, North Carolina Central University, and Southern Illinois University, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What is George Mason University's acceptance rate?
George Mason University admitted 20,057 of 22,579 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 88.8% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 22% of admitted students enrolled.
What SAT score do you need for George Mason University?
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1160 to 1360 on the SAT and 25 to 30 on the ACT. A score above 1360 is in the top quarter of admits. George Mason University is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.
Is George Mason University test-optional?
Yes. George Mason University reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.
How much does George Mason University cost after financial aid?
The average net price at George Mason University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $17,915 a year against a sticker price of about $28,604. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $11,942 on average.
What do George Mason University graduates earn?
Median earnings ten years after entering George Mason University are $76,343 a year among students who received federal aid, and 68% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).
What does George Mason University value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, George Mason University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does George Mason University favor in-state applicants?
As a public university, George Mason University generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.
How can I improve my chances at George Mason University?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at George Mason University specifically.
What are the admission requirements for George Mason University?
George Mason University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.