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George Mason delivers strong career outcomes and regional impact for graduates

ckearney — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:56:43 +0000

George Mason delivers strong career outcomes and regional impact for graduates ckearney Mon, 04/20/2026 - 13:56

Recent 91�� graduates have secured strong career outcomes, with the Class of 2025 reporting a 92% positive outcome rate within six months of graduation, even amid a challenging and shifting economic landscape.

According to newly released data, graduates are finding employment in positions related to their fields of study and career goals, while continuing to play a key role in the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area labor market.

Key outcomes from the Class of 2025 include:

92% reported a positive career outcome within six months
81% remained in the Washington, D.C., region
74% are employed in positions aligned with their career goals
$73,000 median starting salary
50% remained employed with the same organization they worked for while they were students

George Mason graduates also pursued a range of post-graduation pathways, including continuing education and service (miliary and volunteer), reflecting the many avenues through which students achieve success.

Across these pathways, graduates entered a diverse mix of industries, led by education and health care, with strong representation in government and military roles, as well as technology and consulting.

“Our outcomes data mirror broader regional labor market trends,” said Saskia N. Campbell, executive director of University Career Services at George Mason. “These dynamics underscore the importance of equipping students with both technical expertise and adaptable human skills to succeed in a rapidly evolving job market.”

Shifts in the federal workforce were a significant factor in creating a more competitive job market for the Class of 2025, with some graduates taking longer to secure roles and choosing to remain in positions longer once employed.

As in previous years, George Mason graduates are highly sought after by large, well-established regional employers across the public and private sectors, including the Department of War, Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County Government, Inova Health System, MedStar Health, Amazon Web Services, Capital One, Google, IBM, Deloitte, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Northrop Grumman.

This strong performance aligns with broader national recognition of George Mason’s impact. The university ranked No. 1 in Virginia for upward mobility according to U.S. News & World Report and the Wall Street Journal, the latter of which also ranked George Mason No. 1 among Virginia and D.C. area public universities for salary outcomes. The Carnegie Foundation and American Council on Education recognized the university to the highest tier of Opportunity Colleges and Universities: Higher Access, Higher Earnings, for its commitment to accessibility, return on investment, and student success.

These outcomes reinforce George Mason’s role in preparing graduates to contribute to a dynamic and ever evolving regional workforce.

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George Mason Board of Visitors approves one-year, 3% tuition increase

ckearney — Mon, 13 May 2024 15:45:46 +0000

George Mason Board of Visitors approves one-year, 3% tuition increase ckearney Mon, 05/13/2024 - 11:45

The 91�� Board of Visitors voted to increase in-state tuition by 3% for 2024-25, consistent with guidance from the Commonwealth of Virginia for the current budget cycle.

George Mason, with campuses in the fifth-highest-cost region of the country, is making this tuition change as a necessity to keep up with inflation and compensate for lower state support. George Mason receives at least $6,000 less funding for each in-state student compared with the mean of its five doctoral peer institutions when state and tuition funding are combined.

In-state undergraduates will pay $297 more. In-state graduate students will pay $410 more, and in-state law students will pay $728 more. Out-of-state tuition also increases by $601, $803, and $994 for undergraduate, graduate, and law, respectively.

“With a lower cost of attendance than all but one of our doctoral peers, we are proud of our accessibility and affordability for commonwealth families,” said Deb Dickenson, executive vice president for finance and administration. “Parents and students want the student services to remain robust, and they recognize we need faculty and staff here to support students and the educational mission.”

Illustration by 91��. View an accessible version of infographic >>

George Mason puts its student tuition to good use—84% of every tuition dollar is spent on direct instruction, academic support, financial aid, and student services, and the remaining 16% also is devoted to services that benefit students, Dickenson said.

In addition, the BOV approved a 4.9% increase in board rates and a flat $300 increase across all Fairfax Campus rooms, a $570 total increase for most on-campus first-year students. These increases will offset higher costs of providing campus services and support expanded dining offerings for students.

Student fees will increase by 3%—$108 more for most students. Mandatory student fees fund student activities, student support services, student health services, emergency aid, athletic and recreational programs, student transportation, maintenance and operation of student facilities, and auxiliary services, including mail, vending, and card services.

“This campus is incredibly efficient,” George Mason President Gregory Washington said. “Any time a study is done, and they put our campus up against other campuses in the state and in the region, every single study I've seen has come back with data” favorable to George Mason. “We are very, extraordinarily frugal, but sometimes you just can't go below a certain level and still provide the necessary services that are needed for our students.”

The Virginia Legislature meets in a special legislative session on May 13 to consider the two-year commonwealth budget.

State investment in George Mason pays off for the commonwealth, Dickenson added. A recent study by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia found that 73% of in-state George Mason graduates stay in Virginia—3% higher than public four-year institutions in the state. For out-of-state George Mason students, 29% remain in Virginia after graduation, 9% higher than the state average.

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The Secret’s Out: A Mason education is accessible and affordable

ckearney — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 17:27:44 +0000

The Secret’s Out: A Mason education is accessible and affordable ckearney Thu, 08/05/2021 - 13:27

Earning a degree from 91�� is a wise investment. U.S. News & World Report, Forbes and Kiplinger’s all have recognized Mason as a “best value” in higher education.

We are more affordable than peer universities, and our location in the National Capital Region offers our students job and internship opportunities not available elsewhere. Eighty-seven percent of Mason alumni from the Class of 2020 report they are in positions related to their career goals.

The ability of Mason graduates to land good jobs is one reason why Mason’s student loan default rate (2.6%) is about one-third of the national average (7.1%) for U.S. four-year public universities.

And, according to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, five years after completing their degrees, Mason graduates earn higher salaries than graduates from Virginia’s other public universities.

So Mason students pay less. To earn more.

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George Mason delivers strong career outcomes and regional impact for graduates

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