tuition

Board of Visitors considers tuition increase for 2026-27 to fund infrastructure improvements and state mandates

Katarina Benson — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:07:11 +0000

Board of Visitors considers tuition increase for 2026-27 to fund infrastructure improvements and state mandates Katarina Benson Mon, 04/06/2026 - 13:07

91��’s Board of Visitors listened to public comments, toured the Fairfax Campus, extended negotiations for 91�� President Gregory Washington’s contract renewal through 2031, and considered a proposal to raise tuition and fees at the March 31 board meeting. The tuition and fees presentation is available in the BOV meeting materials. The video is here.

The proposal to raise tuition and fees about $500 per undergraduate student for the 2026-27 academic year to help offset rising costs and a longstanding funding disparity will be further discussed at the Finance and Land Use Committee meeting April 15 and will be voted on by the full board at their next meeting on April 30.

Enterprise Hall was among the buildings on the board's campus tour. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

George Mason is more than $7,000 per in-state student below the funding level mean of its five doctoral peer institutions in Virginia when state and tuition funding are combined. That disparity equates to $180 million in unrealized support.

The funding gap, a marked decline in graduate students because of changes in federal policy, state-mandated programs that require university funding, and rising utility and health care costs, among other factors, necessitate the increase, said Dan Stephens, interim senior vice president and chief financial officer. Stephens and Rose Pascarell, vice president for University Life, presented the proposal to the BOV.

The proposed tuition rate increase, both for in-state and out-of-state students, is $360 per undergraduate student and $504 per graduate student. That amounts to a 3.5% hike for in-state students and a 1.0% to 1.4% increase for out-of-state students. Law school tuition would remain flat.

The tuition increase would support infrastructure investments and compensation to attract and retain employees in Northern Virginia, the region of the state with the highest cost of living.

George Mason, named by Washington Monthly as “best bang for the buck” in Virginia and by the Wall Street Journal as the No. 1 public university in the state for best value and salary outcomes, has fewer employees per full-time student than any Virginia public doctoral university.

“According to the Federal Reserve, our nation's current inflation rate is landing between 3% to 4% across the board,” Stephens said, noting that George Mason did not raise in-state tuition last year. “So this means our proposed 3.5% increase aligns with the current inflationary drivers in our economy.”

Under the proposal, student fees would increase by $132 for in-state and out-of-state undergraduates and grad students—bumping the total from $3,924 to $4,056—and $98 for law students.

Mandatory student fees are used for student support and engagement services and programs, student health and well-being, on-campus employment, athletics, recreational programs, transportation services, and other student-focused programs.

The presentation that Stephens and Pascarell gave to the BOV mirrored the one they gave March 24 at a Student Government Tuition Town Hall. The March 31 BOV meeting included a public comment session for anyone who wished to weigh in on the proposed tuition increase in person or in writing.

“When you look at the whole package, Mason is low cost and very high value,” Pascarell said. “The mandatory student fees cover the ecosystem of services outside of the classroom that make the campus function. This is what makes Mason, Mason, for our students.”

Pascarell also shared the ways the university supports students with financial assistance.

BOV members and other university officials received a briefing and tour facilitated by Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Julie Zobel, in which they saw elements of the Fairfax Campus’ older facilities and capital project priorities. Stops included Southside Dining Hall, Planetary Hall, Enterprise Hall, Liberty Square residence hall, the Field House, and Spuhler Field.

The BOV also passed a resolution authorizing Rector Michael J. Meese to negotiate and execute a new contract for President Washington that would extend his employment to June 30, 2031. Per the resolution, Washington’s base salary would be $870,000 with annual consideration for a bonus of $125,000. He also would receive $50,000 annually as a stay bonus to be paid at the end of his term.

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Full details of the Regional Pricing Policy can be found on the Schar School website.

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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New Regional Pricing Policy for Incoming Master’s and Certificate Students Domiciled in D.C. or Maryland

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 17:47:53 +0000

New Regional Pricing Policy for Incoming Master’s and Certificate Students Domiciled in D.C. or Maryland Andrew J Schappert Mon, 08/07/2023 - 13:47

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Mark J. Rozell

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I am pleased to share an exciting announcement that marks a significant stride forward for our master’s and certificate programs at the Schar School of Policy and Government, as well as a reaffirmation of our commitment to public service, regional collaboration, and access to quality education.

Starting fall 2023, we are extending in-state equivalent tuition rates to incoming master’s and certificate students domiciled in the District of Columbia and the state of Maryland. This decision has been carefully considered and reflects our strong belief that our graduate educational opportunities should be accessible and affordable to our neighbors who play a crucial role in our shared federal and regional governance systems.

This initiative is designed as a profound investment in the regional workforce. We believe it will provide a platform for future leaders in government and policy to gain the skills, knowledge, and perspectives they need to serve effectively and innovatively. We envisage this policy will encourage more professionals from D.C. and Maryland to join our community, promoting diversity, cross-pollination of ideas, and strengthening our alumni network across the DMV area.

We are immensely proud of this new initiative and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on our school and the broader region. We believe that this new policy reflects the essence of our institution: to serve the community, foster leadership, and promote collaboration in our increasingly interconnected world.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we navigate these exciting changes together. We look forward to welcoming our future cohorts of graduate students from D.C. and Maryland and witnessing the contributions they will make to our school and the world of policy and government.

Mark J. Rozell

Founding Dean

Schar School of Policy and Government

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Mason proposes $300 tuition increase and 3% fee increase for the upcoming academic year

ckearney — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 14:32:42 +0000

Mason proposes $300 tuition increase and 3% fee increase for the upcoming academic year ckearney Tue, 04/18/2023 - 10:32

91�� is recommending a $300 tuition increase for the 2023-24 academic year, but the in-state undergraduate tuition increase will be eliminated pending Virginia General Assembly approval of the university’s broader funding requests in the pending state budget.

About one-third of the proposed tuition increase would fund additional financial aid for Mason students. The increase would also help offset escalating operational expenses. Contractual costs for janitorial services, utilities, dining, landscaping, construction and other services are increasing by 4% to 13% for 2023-24, said Deb Dickenson, executive vice president for finance and administration.

Dickenson presented the budget proposal Tuesday, April 4, at a Board of Visitors public comment session, livestreamed on GMU-TV from Merten Hall.

The university also is recommending a 3% increase ($111) in mandatory student fees to help fund student activities, health services, transportation, and other student services.

The BOV is expected to vote on the budget proposal May 4. The Virginia General Assembly has not yet approved a state budget.

The largest and most diverse public university in the state, Mason has the fifth-lowest tuition of the state’s six doctoral universities and receives the least state financial support per student among those universities. Mason has increased tuition twice in four years, though the 2022-23 academic year increase was credited for in-state undergraduate students.

Mason’s portion of student financial aid has increased from 10% in 2013 to 26% in 2023, almost quadrupling as a dollar amount during that time. Sixty-five percent of Mason students receive some form of financial aid.

Dickenson noted many statistics that quantify how Mason serves the region and state and meets higher education objectives set forth by commonwealth leaders—a 90% admission rate, a 70% six-year graduation rate, an undergraduate population that is 24% first generation, with 40% of undergraduates in STEM fields. Also, 66% of Mason undergraduates settle in Virginia. Applications for fall are up 11% compared with last year.

“What we’re providing at Mason is an accessible university that is highly affordable, with this incredible growth in our degrees and programs,” Dickenson said. “That’s what makes us so unique and such an asset for the commonwealth and for our students.

“In all of our achievements, we are meeting all of the [the state’s] goals for higher education with growth in degrees, enrollment, and graduate success. Those are very important impacts on our community, Virginia economy, and our students, and also our faculty and staff.”

In addition to financial aid, the proposed tuition increase would fund new academic programs and student services, and programs to improve retention and graduation through coaching and advising resources, mental health services, career service support, and other areas.

Two students at the meeting offered comments on tuition. No members of the university community submitted written comments related to the tuition and student fee proposals, first discussed at the Feb. 23 BOV meeting and then at a student tuition town hall March 21.

“Mason is providing a high-quality education and student experience to more Virginia residents at a lower price point, with fewer overall resources than our Virginia peers,” said René Stewart O’Neal, vice president for strategic budgeting and planning, during her part of the April 4 presentation to the BOV.

“We’re a great value, but it’s increasingly challenging to leverage our resources to support our institutional priorities. A tuition increase is necessary for us to have the resources we need to cover our core mission.”

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BOV actions solidify university’s future

ckearney — Mon, 09 May 2022 20:30:05 +0000

BOV actions solidify university’s future ckearney Mon, 05/09/2022 - 16:30

In This Story

Gregory Washington

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

With the Virginia General Assembly still finalizing the state budget, the 91�� Board of Visitors has approved two budget scenarios for 2022-23 that reflect the slightly different proposals currently under consideration in Richmond.

Each of the Mason budgets approved May 5 includes a 3% tuition increase that in part will fund additional student financial aid and more competitive compensation for faculty and staff.

The approved Mason budgets call for no increase in Mandatory Student Fees and a $490 increase in room and board in response to increasing expenses at the university.

The tuition increase for undergraduate, graduate, and professional/law students raises in-state undergraduate tuition by $285 and out-of-state undergraduate tuition by $989. One-third of the increase, an estimated $5 million, will be reallocated to financial aid. About 65% of Mason undergraduates receive some form of aid.

Mason’s tuition increase is lower than that of its peer universities in Virginia, and Mason’s in-state undergraduate tuition in 2021-22 was the second lowest among the state’s six doctoral universities, despite Mason receiving the least per-student state financial support among those universities.

Mason faculty and staff salaries continue to lag state peers. State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) salary data for 2019-20 found that Mason faculty, for example, ranked 19th out of 26 institutions for overall average salary.

The state covers about half of the university’s approved salary adjustments and Mason funds the other half through tuition revenues.

The increase in room and board is in reaction to inflation, including increasing food costs and other factors. Room and board at Mason is about 7 to 15% lower than at other universities in the Washington, D.C., region, said Carol Kissal, senior vice president for administration and finance.

More information about the tuition and room and board adjustments is available in the May 5 meeting board materials. Mason held a public comment session on April 5 for members of the university community to participate in the budget discussion. At that time, the BOV also extended by two weeks the deadline for written submissions from the university community about the 2022-23 tuition proposal. The board received 21 written submissions, mostly from students.

The BOV members in attendance also voted to conditionally approve a name change for the College of Health and Human Services to the College of Public Health, and to extend the contract of Mason President Gregory Washington to June 30, 2027.

Changing the name of the College of Health and Human Services to the College of Public Health is conditional on two external approvals—one from an accrediting body, the Council on Education for Public Health, and the second from SCHEV.

CHHS Dean Germaine Buck Louis said the name change would reflect the college’s longstanding mission to improve public health. The College is in its final transition to becoming a College of Public Health.

The BOV also voted to extend Washington’s contract for two years through June 30, 2027.

Washington, who accepted the presidency in February 2020, before the pandemic, and began his presidency on July 1, 2020, had to delay some of his planned objectives to lead a successful COVID management plan at the university.

“I appreciate this strong vote of confidence from the board, people who have dedicated their expertise and energy to serving our students and 91��,” Washington said. “This extension provides assurances that I will have the runway to execute our vision for Mason, and I look forward to working with all stakeholders to achieve our goals.”

“What this means is stability for the next five years,” said Mason Rector Jimmy Hazel, who as vice rector co-chaired the search committee that recommended the hiring of Washington. “We’ve had to meet many challenges these last two years, but we’re ready to come out strong with a new vision. And we have the leadership to get us there.”

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91�� Board of Visitors to consider 2022-2023 tuition at May meeting; public comment period extended

ckearney — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 16:27:55 +0000

91�� Board of Visitors to consider 2022-2023 tuition at May meeting; public comment period extended ckearney Mon, 04/11/2022 - 12:27

The 91�� Board of Visitors (BOV) will consider a new tuition proposal for the 2022-2023 academic year as part of strategic and budget planning to help fulfill the vision for inclusive excellence. To encourage Mason community engagement, Board Rector Jimmy Hazel has extended the deadline for written comments to April 22, allowing more time for feedback before the board votes on the proposal this May as part of the FY 2023 budget. Written comments may be submitted online.

Carol Dillon Kissal, Mason senior vice president for administration and finance, announced the budget proposal at a BOV public comment session Tuesday, April 5, in Merten Hall. The tuition proposal seeks to balance Mason’s commitment to educational access for all students and faculty excellence for a Tier One research university.

“Our mission is academic excellence and student success, which we balance with affordability to ensure everyone has a path to a college degree,” Kissal said, noting that Mason’s proposed hike is projected to be at the low end for Virginia peer universities. “While modest, tuition increases pave the way for student success through investments in financial aid, competitive compensation for teachers, and the operational infrastructure necessary for enhanced research, innovation, and student support services.”

In May, the University will recommend a 3% tuition increase for the 2022-23 academic year, which would provide more financial aid for students in need and improve faculty and staff salaries. The proposal does not increase mandatory student fees.

Undergraduate tuition for the 2021-22 school year was unchanged from the previous year. The proposed tuition increases would cost in-state undergraduates $285 more per academic year, while out-of-state undergraduates would pay an additional $989. The increase would apply to all in-state and out-of-state undergraduate, graduate, and law students.

Mason’s 2021-22 tuition is the second most affordable among the state’s six doctoral universities, even though Mason receives the least per-student state financial support among those universities.

Mason currently receives $6,662 per student compared with per-student allotments of $7,622 for Virginia Tech, $8,436 for Old Dominion, $9,357 for Virginia Commonwealth, $9,988 for the University of Virginia, and $10,951 for William & Mary.

Kissal said one-third of the proposed tuition increase, an estimated $5 million, would be reallocated to financial aid for the neediest Mason students. About 65% of Mason undergraduates receive some form of aid.

Another portion of the tuition increase would support faculty and staff salaries, which continue to lag behind peer universities in Virginia. The state covers about half of the university’s approved salary adjustments, while Mason funds the other half through tuition revenues.

Mason officials say the salary disparity, in a high cost-of-living area and competitive job market, affects recruitment and retention of faculty and staff necessary for the largest and most diverse public university in Virginia.

“Our biggest asset is our people,” Kissal said. “Faculty and staff are the ones who shape our students’ education, experience and opportunities, so competitive compensation is critical to ensuring Mason offers them the best and brightest, particularly for those who may not have access to a college degree without our support.”

Using 2019-20 salary data from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), Mason faculty ranked 19^th out of 26 institutions for overall average faculty salary. Earlier this year, Mason completed a market and equity analysis of faculty salaries and began a multi-year investment to improve competitiveness. A similar analysis of staff compensation is also under way with results expected in 2023.

The next BOV meeting will be May 5 in Merten Hall, Room 1201. The public is welcome to attend. The meeting will also be livestreamed at bov.gmu.edu/live.

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