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House, George Mason CDP, Fairfax County, VAPhoto: Ser Amantio di Nicolao · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near George Mason

George Mason is a college town: 54 of every 100 residents are students

George Mason University (32,320 students on campus) is inside the town, and Northern Virginia Community College (48,232) is 3.5 miles from the center, in Wakefield. Across Virginia, 7 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.

College town54% of residents are studentsGeorge Mason UniversityNorthern Virginia Community College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of George Mason. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
15
141,576 students on campus
Nearest college
0.3 mi
George Mason University
Residents in college
54%
Above VA (7%)
Nearest community college
3.5 mi
Northern Virginia · $5,891 tuition
Nearest public university
0.3 mi
George Mason University · $14,220 in-state
Students on campus in George Mason
32,320
next to 9,937 residents

What stands out about college in George Mason

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college town54 of every 100 George Mason residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Virginia.Two colleges within 3.5 milesGeorge Mason University admits 87% of applicants. Together they have 80,552 students on campus.In-state price at George Mason UniversityLiving in Virginia, George Mason University charges $14,220 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $38,688. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 3.5 miles awayNorthern Virginia Community College in Annandale: tuition and fees $5,891 a year for Virginia residents.
Town & gown

What it’s like to live in George Mason

How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.

54 of every 100 George Mason residents are in college (VA: 7).

32,320students on campus at George Mason University, next to 9,937 residents (dorm students count as residents)
358college students live in George Mason households rather than dorms
20.8median age · VA 39.0
19%of homes rented · VA 33%
$2,426median rent · 54% above the state
George MasonGeorge Mason, VA
Cost of living$2,426/mo median rentDSafetyCrime reported to the FBIHealthCDC estimatesAJobs & incomeIncome, jobs, getting aroundA−HandbookTrash day, parking, who to call

How students change George Mason’s other numbers

Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →

Jobs & income A−

Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 5.9% of George Mason residents are below the poverty line, 4.7% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 3 points either way). 22% of the students themselves are below the line. In college towns, the Jobs & income grade uses the rate without students and leaves unemployment out.

Cost of living D

The Cost grade leaves out the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent wherever students are a quarter of residents or more (54% here): it would mostly measure student incomes.

Health A

CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and George Mason’s median age is 20.8 (Virginia 39.0), so the adult figures describe a young population.

Safety

Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.

Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of George Mason

12 private colleges within 14.4 miles, two public colleges within 14.9 miles, and Northern Virginia Community College 3.5 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miNorthern VirginiaGeorge Mason UniversityGeorge Washington UniversityGeorge Mason
University or collegeCommunity college
George Mason UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 32,320 on campus · In George Mason87%admitted$18knet price68%graduate$76kearningsNorthern Virginia Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 48,232 on campus · 3.5 mi · Annandale$10knet price33%graduate$54kearningsTuition and fees: $5,891 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Arizona College of Nursing-Falls ChurchUniversity or college · For-profit · 284 on campus · 5 mi · Falls Church100%admitted$39knet price$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.Virginia University of Integrative MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 251 on campus · 6.9 mi · ViennaGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of the Potomac-VA CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 547 on campus · 7 mi · FALLS CHURCH50%graduate$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Chamberlain University-VirginiaUniversity or college · For-profit · 540 on campus · 7 mi · Vienna90%admitted$33knet price100%graduate$92kearningsEarnings are reported for all 15 campuses that file with it.Standard Healthcare Services-College of NursingUniversity or college · For-profit · 719 on campus · 7.3 mi · Falls Church28%admitted$36knet price66%graduateColumbia CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 231 on campus · 7.3 mi · Vienna$10knet price80%graduate$22kearningsMarymount UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,811 on campus · 10.6 mi · Arlington93%admitted$29knet price54%graduate$68kearningsWashington University of Science and TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,008 on campus · 12 mi · Alexandria7%admitted67%graduateGeorgetown UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 17,465 on campus · 13.4 mi · Washington, DC13%admitted$41knet price95%graduate$103kearningsAmerican UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 11,897 on campus · 13.6 mi · Washington, DC62%admitted$42knet price75%graduate$77kearningsWesley Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 378 on campus · 13.7 mi · Washington, DCGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.George Washington UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 21,060 on campus · 14.4 mi · Washington, DC47%admitted$37knet price84%graduate$91kearningsUniversity of the District of ColumbiaUniversity or college · Public · 3,833 on campus · 14.9 mi · Washington, DC$11knet price33%graduate$44kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where George Mason’s median household income ($150,341) falls.

Northern Virginia Community College3.5 mi · Annandale · sticker $17,153 · tuition $5,891$16,630a year
George Mason UniversityIn George Mason · sticker $28,604$25,894a year
Marymount University10.6 mi · Arlington · sticker $57,184$30,618a year
Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing7.3 mi · Falls Church · sticker $41,939$41,243a year
Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church5 mi · Falls Church · sticker $42,280$42,280a year
American University13.6 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $76,058$53,673a year
George Washington University14.4 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $83,856$55,337a year
Georgetown University13.4 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $88,741$57,403a year
Chamberlain University-Virginia7 mi · Vienna · sticker $45,594—a year
Columbia College7.3 mi · Vienna · sticker $13,440—a year
University of the District of Columbia14.9 mi · Washington, DC · sticker $20,437—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of George Mason: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →George Mason UniversityNorthern VirginiaAmerican UniversityGeorge Washington UniversityUniversity of the District of Columbia
Northern Virginia Community College33% graduate$54k earnings$11k typical debt
George Mason University68% graduate$76k earnings$20k typical debt
George Washington University84% graduate$91k earnings$20k typical debt
Georgetown University95% graduate$103k earnings$16k typical debt
American University75% graduate$77k earnings$23k typical debt
University of the District of Columbia33% graduate$44k earnings$25k typical debt
Marymount University54% graduate$68k earnings$25k typical debt
University of the Potomac-VA Campus50% graduate$35k earnings*$9k typical debt
Chamberlain University-Virginia100% graduate$92k earnings*$21k typical debt
Columbia College80% graduate$22k earnings$8k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: University of the Potomac-VA Campus (2); Chamberlain University-Virginia (15).

Majors

What students study in George Mason

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at George Mason University, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 18%Computer science 15%Public safety 8%Social sciences 7%Health professions 7%Psychology 6%Everything else 38%

Biggest programs

Computer and Information Sciences, General761 graduates a year
$111k4 yrs out
Psychology, General383 graduates a year
$63k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections362 graduates a year
$70k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities292 graduates a year
$61k4 yrs out
Biology, General285 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing206 graduates a year
$90k4 yrs out
Political Science and Government180 graduates a year
$74k4 yrs out
Public Health178 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in George Mason

Is George Mason a college town?

Yes. 54 of every 100 George Mason residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 7 across Virginia. George Mason University has 32,320 students on campus, next to 9,937 residents.

What colleges are in George Mason?

George Mason University is inside the town. Northern Virginia Community College is 3.5 miles from the center, in Wakefield.

Why is George Mason’s poverty rate so high?

Students who live off campus count in the Census figures. 5.9% of residents are below the poverty line; leaving college students out, 4.7% are (ACS 2020–24, give or take 3 points).

What is the closest community college to George Mason, and what does it cost?

Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, 3.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,891 a year for Virginia residents; the federal net price, $9,919, counts housing and food at full cost.

How hard is it to get into George Mason University?

George Mason University admitted 87% of applicants in the Scorecard’s latest year; the middle half of admitted students scored 1,160–1,360 on the SAT.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of George Mason. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →