George Mason University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Radford, Virginia · Public · Open access
George Mason University is a public institution located in Radford, Virginia. For the most recent reporting cycle, George Mason University admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 91%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1061 and an ACT composite around 21. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $16,640 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether George Mason University is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What GPA does my child need for George Mason University?
George Mason University has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
SAT and ACT scores George Mason University typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 460–560, with an EBRW midpoint near 515. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 19–26. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
How much does George Mason University actually cost?
Published tuition is $12,286 for in-state students and $25,185 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $11,973 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $16,640 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 35% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
Other colleges in Virginia parents ask about
- University of Virginia-Main Campus17% acceptance
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University93% acceptance
- College of William and Mary89% acceptance
- James Madison University86% acceptance
- Old Dominion University82% acceptance
- Virginia Commonwealth University17% acceptance
- Washington and Lee University90% acceptance
- University of Richmond94% acceptance
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like George Mason University
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like George Mason University recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about George Mason University
What GPA do I need for George Mason University?
George Mason University has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does George Mason University typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 460–560, with an EBRW midpoint near 515. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 19–26.
How much does George Mason University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at George Mason University after grants and scholarships is $16,640 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is George Mason University realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, George Mason University is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.