George Mason University

Fairfax, VA · founded 1949 · 39,000 students · public research university · Atlantic 10 Conference

Known for: GMU is Virginia's largest public research university, celebrated for its strong economics, law, and conflict resolution programs, and for its 2006 men's basketball Final Four run as a Cinderella team.

Rankings

U.S. News national: #159
QS World: #651
Times Higher Education: #351
Forbes: #237

Top programmes

Economics
Law
Conflict Analysis and Resolution
Computer Science
Business
Public Policy

Notable alumni

Anousheh Ansari — First female private space tourist and technology entrepreneur
Julius Genachowski — Former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission
Hoda Kotb — Co-host of NBC's 'Today' show
Carlos Santos — Professional soccer player for D.C. United and the Costa Rican national team
Myron Scholes — Nobel Prize-winning economist (affiliated, not a degree holder)
Michael L. Lomax — President and CEO of the United Negro College Fund
Ruth E. Carter — Academy Award-winning costume designer for 'Black Panther'

Traditions

Mason Day (annual spring concert)
Homecoming Week
Patriot Pack (student section at games)
International Week

If George Mason University were…

As a food: Chipotle burrito bowl — Accessible, customizable, gets the job done without pretense. You're here for practical sustenance—career prep, policy chops, a degree that pays the rent—not a Michelin experience. Reliable, diverse, and you can eat it i
As an athlete: Bradley Beal — DC-area star who's extremely talented and productive but never quite gets the national spotlight or championship glory. Does the work, racks up impressive stats, beloved locally, but overshadowed by flashier names. Solid
As a person alive today: Nate Silver — Data-driven, ideologically heterodox, thrives in the wonky policy-and-politics ecosystem. George Mason is the university of libertarian economists and public choice theory—Silver's probabilistic, contrarian, 'show me the
As a historical figure: James Madison — The university's literal namesake neighbor down I-81, but more importantly: architect of practical governance, Federalist Papers co-author, constitutional engineer. George Mason (the person) wrote the Virginia Declaratio
As a movie or TV show: Veep — Set in the DC political machine, full of ambitious strivers, policy wonks, and people leveraging proximity to power. George Mason students are extras in this world—interning, networking, learning the game. Cynical, funny
As a US president: Gerald Ford — Competent, underrated, didn't go to a flashy school, got the job done without much fanfare. George Mason is the policy-world workhorse—not glamorous, not Ivy, but you'll find its grads staffing agencies, drafting regs, a
As a city: Brussels — Not the most exciting capital, but it's where the policy machinery actually lives. Multilingual, diverse, full of bureaucrats and think-tankers, close to power but not the glamorous center. George Mason sits in the NoVA
As an element: Silicon — Not a precious metal, but absolutely essential to modern infrastructure. Abundant, practical, forms the backbone of the tech economy. George Mason is the silicon of higher ed—widespread, utilitarian, powering the policy
As a car: 2008 Honda Accord — A reliable commuter workhorse parked in Northern Virginia traffic, pragmatic and diverse as the DC suburbs it serves. GMU delivers accessible public education to policy wonks, first-gen strivers, and students who live of

Campus life

GMU has a sprawling, diverse campus in the Washington, D.C. suburbs with a strong commuter presence but growing residential life. The vibe is politically engaged and pre-professional, fueled by internships in the nation's capital. Campus events, over 350 student organizations, and Division I athletics provide social outlets.