George Mason University is Virginia's largest public research university, in Fairfax, 25 minutes from Washington, DC. It is best known for computer science, cyber security, public policy, economics, business and law, with the federal government and Northern Virginia's tech corridor as employers. Choose it for a policy or technology degree next to the US capital's job market.
Fairfax, United States
Official website: gmu.edu
#1001
R1 — very high research activity
Home to two Nobel Prize-winning economists
Over 40,000 students — Virginia's largest public university
$30,000 – $40,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$18,000 – $24,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on gmu.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
MS Data Analytics Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
MS Information Systems
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
MS Cyber Security Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
Master of Public Policy (Schar School)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
Northern Virginia — Amazon's HQ2, federal agencies and the largest cyber security cluster in the US nearby.
Schar School of Policy and Government — a top-ranked public affairs school near the capital.
Economics — two Nobel laureates and a leading centre for public choice theory.
Fuse at Mason Square — a new innovation district in Arlington beside Amazon HQ2.
Graduates join Amazon, Booz Allen Hamilton, Capital One, Northrop Grumman, Deloitte and federal agencies.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Cyber security and computing alumni work at federal contractors across Northern Virginia.
Public policy graduates enter Congress, think tanks and the World Bank.
Undergrad
15 Jan 2027
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
1 Oct 2026
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 677-acre Fairfax campus is a suburban site with a central pond, the Johnson Center student hub and residence halls, with shuttles to the Metro and campuses in Arlington and Manassas.
Fairfax is a Northern Virginia suburb 25 minutes from Washington, DC, with a huge tech and government job market. Rent is high for the region, though below central DC.
Form I-20 issued by George Mason
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
For fall 2027 undergraduate entry, Early Action closes 1 November 2026 and Regular Decision closes 15 January 2027; spring 2027 entry closes 1 October 2026. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most computing and engineering master's closing between January and May.
Undergraduates can start in fall (late August) or spring (January). Most master's programmes, including computer science, data analytics engineering, information systems, cyber security and public policy, admit for both fall and spring. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. The Office of International Programs and Services issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, data analytics engineering, information systems, cyber security engineering and public policy attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 88 or IELTS 6.5, and the GRE for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is holistic, with an acceptance rate around 90%.
George Mason offers limited merit scholarships to international undergraduates, considered automatically if you apply by the Early Action deadline; need-based aid is not available. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which are common in computing, engineering and the Schar School.
