George Mason Board of Visitors approves modest tuition and fees increase for 2026-27

The George Mason University Board of Visitors voted Thursday to increase tuition for the 2026-27 academic year, a response to rising utility costs, and the decades-long gap in state funding when compared with the university's peers.

The increase, both for in-state and out-of-state students, is $360 per undergraduate student and $504 per graduate student. That works out to 3.5% more for in-state students and 1.0% to 1.4% more for out-of-state students. Law school tuition did not increase.

A financial presentation can be found in the board materials.

Of the six doctoral universities in Virginia, George Mason was the only one to not raise in-state tuition last year. Even with the increase, George Mason remains well below most peers' current tuition rates. Many of George Mason's peers are considering or have already voted to increase tuition for 2026-27.

"We do know that an increase presents a challenge for any student, and this is an area the whole leadership team takes seriously," George Mason University President Gregory Washington said. "We remain a great value for people in the commonwealth and in the region." Washington also noted that George Mason is the only large Opportunity University between Maine and Florida, the designation from Carnegie and ACE that reflects its strong return on investment for its students.

Many universities are facing a series of financial challenges, including a decline in graduate students and international students who cannot secure visas to enter the county. Rising utility and health care costs and a responsibility to finance partially funded state-mandated programs, like compensation increases and the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, strains the university's resources and hinders long-term strategic investments.

For the current academic year, 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 gap equates to $180 million less in financial resources. George Mason's in-state undergraduate tuition currently is $4,000 below the mean of five doctoral peer institutions.

The BOV also voted to raise student fees by 3.5%-$132 for in-state and out-of-state undergraduates and graduate students and $98 for law students. Mandatory student fees support student engagement services and programs, student health and well-being, on-campus employment, athletics, recreational programs, transportation services, and other student-focused programs that contribute to the university's welcoming environment.

The university offers many programs that support students who need financial assistance.

George Mason is known for its affordability and efficiency. The university was 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 value and salary outcomes. George Mason also has fewer employees per full-time student than any Virginia public doctoral university.

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.

A recap of the April 30 meeting will be published Thursday, May 7.