North Chesapeake Module, Room 11
4400 University Drive, MS 2E2
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444
Phone: 703-993-2484
Fax: 703-993-2490
(subject to change)
Approved tuition rates are available June 1. For more information, call Student Accounts at 703-993-2484, or go to studentaccounts.gmu.edu. Also, students are charged tuition rates according to their academic level; graduate rates vary.
| In-State Undergraduate | In-State Graduate | Out-of-State Undergraduate | Out-of-State Graduate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time (12–16 credits) | $3,420 | N/A* | TBA | N/A* |
| Per credit | $285 | $337 | TBA | $845 |
* Graduate students are charged by the credit.
These are applicable to all students and are subject to change:
| Application Fee, Undergraduate | $50 |
|---|---|
| Application Fee, Graduate | $70 |
| Lab Fee | $25 |
| AVT Arts Bus fee | $50 |
| AVT, SOM Course Fee (per credit) | $15 |
| VSITE, CVPA, SCS Course Fee (per credit) | $10 |
| Orientation/Undergraduate | |
| New Student Fee | $160 (nonrefundable) |
| Graduate New Student Fee | $60 (nonrefundable) |
| International Student Health Insurance Fee | $1366 |
Note: The new student fees are mandatory, non-refundable, one-time fees. Fees are charged to the account of every newly admitted, degree seeking student when registered for classes regardless of orientation attendance or enrollment status.
Payment is due the first day of classes. See the payment schedule in the Schedule of Classes. Payments received at the Cash Office by 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday will be considered in that day’s business. Check, Visa, and MasterCard payments made on Patriot Web must be completed by 10:30 p.m. to be considered in that day’s business. To confirm receipt of payment and balance due on account, go to patriotweb.gmu.edu. Allow ample time for processing payments.
Cash: At window only, Cash Office, SUB I, Room 104.
Check: Payable to George Mason University, with student ID number written on front. Third-party checks are not accepted. Checks must be payable in U.S. dollars.
MasterCard or Visa payments are accepted online through Patriot Web. Credit card payments can also be submitted by fax, using the fax payment authorization form. The form is available at studentaccounts.gmu.edu and the fax number is 703-993-2492.
Web: Patriot Web, patriotweb.gmu.edu online checks, MasterCard, or Visa
Window: Cash Office, SUB I, Room 104, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Drop Box: Outside Cash Office, SUB I, Room 104
U.S. Mail: George Mason University, Cash Office, 4400 University Drive, MS 2E1, Fairfax, VA 22030-4444. Postmarks are not considered proof-of-payment date.
The Mason semester payment plan is available for students who need to budget a minimum of $500 and wish to make two payments. Payments for Study Abroad, Global Education, and International Student Health Insurance cannot be deferred. A payment contract, available on the Student Accounts web site, must be submitted to the Cash Office with a down payment of one-half of the contract amount plus fee. The contract fee is $25 and non-refundable. Failure to pay the outstanding balance will result in a financial hold, a late fee up to $125, and normal university collection activity. Failure to pay may prevent students from being eligible to use this contract in future semesters. Please refer to studentaccounts.gmu.edu for up-to-date payment plan options.
Students using a third-party billing authorization will be charged a $25 processing fee. Students must provide the third-party authorization or government training voucher to the Student Accounts Office, North Chesapeake Module, Room 11, or fax to 703-993-2460 before the payment due date. Students are ultimately responsible for any defaults in payments by the sponsoring agency. Call 703-993-2484 for a copy of third-party billing requirements, or check the web at studentaccounts.gmu.edu.
A late registration fee of $125 is automatically assessed to students who add their first class for the semester on the first day of classes or after. It does not apply to students already enrolled prior to the start of classes who make schedule adjustments. Late registration fees are nonrefundable and will not be removed, regardless of enrollment status.
Failure to make any payment on or before the due date results in a late payment fee which is 10 percent of the balance due up to $125.
Registrations will not be canceled for nonpayment. Students must drop classes they do not plan to complete by the payment due date to avoid the late payment fee on those classes.
A $25 returned check fee will be charged for each unpaid check returned by the bank. If the returned check results in an unpaid account, an additional late fee up to $125 may be charged and financial suspension will result.
Financial good standing and a university record clear of holds are required for students to receive academic services. Services, including but not limited to transcript issuance, diploma release, and class registration (add, drop, withdrawal etc.) will not be provided to students with a financial balance due or a hold of any kind on their record. Holds are based on outstanding obligations and may be financial. Examples include unpaid telephone charges, fines owed for traffic/parking violations, incomplete immunization records, fines owed to the Mason or Consortium libraries, and other administrative holds.
Failure to meet financial obligations to the university may result in the delinquent account being placed with a collection agency, the withholding of money from tax returns, and other collection procedures. Students are responsible for costs incurred by the university to collect delinquent accounts.
Students are required to pay full or partial tuition for courses they drop after the last day to drop with full tuition refund, including drops to change from one section of a course to another section. For more information, see the tuition liability dates in the Academic Calendar in the Schedule of Classes. In cases where tuition liability is less than the payments on the student’s account, a refund of the overpayment may be requested. A refund request form is available via the Student Accounts web site and Student Accounts Office. The university will mail check refunds payable to the student; credit card refunds are credited back to the card that was used for the original payment.
Students not enrolled in a credit-bearing course, but whose academic department certifies that they are pursuing an activity related to George Mason matriculation, can retain active status by having the Registrar’s Office process a registration for the Special Registration course(ZREG 200). A $45 fee is charged for this course, and students must pay this fee before the Registrar’s Office will process the registration. Written approval of the student’s advisor or instructor and the academic department chair is required. This special registration allows students to retain their library and computer privileges, receive a student ID, and buy a parking decal. Students must have active status to apply for or receive a degree, take an exam, or participate in cooperative education. Students pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree must maintain continuous enrollment. For more information, see the “Graduate Policies” section in the Academic Policies chapter.
Health insurance is required for all F-1 and J-1 visa holders, and nonpayment may result in class cancellation. The health insurance fee is deducted from all payments received by the university before funds are applied to tuition or other charges. For more information, see the Admission of International Students section in the Admissions chapter.
Private music instruction is arranged through the Department of Music on a fee-paying basis. A half-hour lesson (1 credit) is $164.50; an hour lesson (2 or 3 credits) is $329. Note that this fee is subject to change.
To be eligible for in-state tuition, a student must have been domiciled in Virginia for at least one full year before the semester for which in-state tuition is sought, or qualify through statutory exception. A person establishes domicile by demonstrating physical presence and the intention to remain indefinitely in accordance with Virginia domicile guidelines. Copies of the guidelines and other applicable state laws are available from the Office of the Registrar or at registrar.gmu.edu/students/domicile.
Domicile classification is determined at the time of a student’s admission. To be considered for in-state status when applying to the university, students must file an application for in-state rates.
New and currently enrolled students classified as out-of-state who believe they qualify for in-state tuition after being admitted must file a domicile appeal form with the Office of the Registrar no later than the first day of classes for the semester in which in-state rates are sought. Appeal forms are available from the Office of the Registrar and at registrar.gmu.edu/students/domicile.
Students whose appeals are denied have the right to seek further review of their status by the Office of the Registrar or the Third Level Domicile Appeals Committee. These requests must be filed in a timely manner as stated in denial letters. Forms are available from the Registrar’s Office and the web site. In addition, students should be aware that university procedures for appealing domicile decisions have been established pursuant to state law and are subject to change. Out-of-state students with an appeal pending at the time of tuition billing are responsible for payment at that rate. Students subsequently determined to be in-state may request reimbursement of overpayment from the Office of Student Accounts. Also, any student who fraudulently or knowingly provides false information in an attempt to evade payment of out-of-state tuition will be charged out-of-state tuition for each term or semester attended, and may be subject to dismissal from the institution.
For more information regarding in-state eligibility, contact Domicile Administration in the Registrar’s Office in North Chesapeake Module, Room 8, phone: 703-993-2464, e-mail: domicile@gmu.edu.
Undergraduate students who have established Virginia domicile and eligibility for in-state tuition will be subject to a surcharge if they exceed 125 percent of the credits required to complete a degree. The surcharge will be determined by the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia.
The following courses and credit hours shall be excluded in calculating the 125 percent credit threshold: remedial courses; transfer credits from another college or university that do not meet degree requirements for general education courses or the student’s chosen program of study; advanced placement or international baccalaureate credits that were obtained while in high school or another secondary school program; and dual enrollment, college-level credits obtained by the student prior to receiving a high school diploma.
Office of Housing and Residence Life
Ground floor of Potomac Heights
Phone: 703-993-2720
Web: housing.gmu.edu
The university offers a variety of housing options to meet the diverse needs of students living on campus. Upper-class students may choose from traditional-style residence halls, suites, apartments, and townhouses. The university requires freshmen living on campus to live in Presidents Park or University Commons, which have traditional-style residence hall rooms that accommodate four, three, or two students. The estimated housing costs for the 2008–09 academic year are approximately $3,410 to $7,410 per year. Housing rates are subject to change; actual rates will be available early in the spring 2008 semester on the Office of Housing and Residence Life web site. All students in housing must provide a prepayment, which is applied to the spring semester rent. Housing assignments, including single rooms, are made on a priority and space-available basis.
Students living on campus are required to sign an academic (two-semester) year contract. Releases from the contract are granted only in cases of unforeseen hardship and carry a financial penalty. For more information, contact the Office of Housing and Residence Life, which is located on the ground floor of Potomac Heights in the wing closest to the Aquatic and Fitness Center.
SUB II, Room 2014
Phone: 703-993-3300
Web: www.gmu.edu/univ_ctr/services/dining
Meal Plan Office
SUB II, Lower Level, Room 1013
Phone: 703-993-2870
Web: www.gmu.edu/univserv/allunivcard
Dining Services offers a variety of food options for students living on campus or commuting to any of the three Mason campuses. The Dining Services locations on the Fairfax Campus include a brand new resident dining facility, Southside Dining, which will open in fall 2008 and offer alfresco dining and a first floor take-out window; Damon’s, Damon’s Express, Jazzman’s, and Chik-fil-A in SUB I; and several options including a food court featuring national names such as Charlie Chiang’s Ya-Ya’s, Burger King, and Taco Bell Express in the Johnson Center. Dining Services units are also located on the Arlington and Prince William Campuses.
For the 2008–09 academic year, meal plans for students living on campus range from approximately $2,470 to $3,450 per year (rates are subject to change). A variety of meal-plan options are available for resident students, off-campus students, faculty, and staff.
Meal Plan Office
SUB II, Lower Level, Room 1013
Phone: 703-993-2870
Increases in meal plans may be made at any time; however, the last day to decrease mandatory meal plans coincides with the last day to add classes. Seniors with 90 credits or students living in the townhouses, apartments, Liberty Square, or Potomac Heights are not required to have a meal plan. Changes must be made at the Meal Plan Office, located on the lower level in SUB II, 703-993-2870.
Sandy Creek Parking Office
Phone: 703-993-2710
Web: www.gmu.edu/univserv/parking
Students who park their vehicles on university property must register them with Parking Services and pay a fee for a parking permit. Permits are available on an annual, semester, or summer basis. For permit sales, fine payments, special requests, or problems, go to the Sandy Creek Parking Office. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. For more information, read the Parking Policy section in the General Policies chapter of this catalog, or go to www.gmu.edu/univserv/parking for current information and rates.
Office of Student Financial Aid
South Chesapeake Module
E-mail: finaid@gmu.edu
Phone: 703-993-2353
Fax: 703-993-2350
Web: financialaid.gmu.edu
The Office of Student Financial Aid provides a variety of services to help students finance their education. They include counseling, referral and information resources, and financial assistance. Student financial aid awards consist of grants, loans, and work-study. Awards are based primarily on financial need, although there are some alternative resources available for those who may not qualify for need-based aid.
The office has a comprehensive listing of various scholarship opportunities for students to research on the financial aid web page. Students are encouraged to review the scholarship information early and frequently to meet deadlines, since the listings are updated often.
Located in South Chesapeake Module, the office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Financial aid counselors are assigned to students alphabetically based on students’ last names and are available daily by appointment.
To apply for financial aid, each year new and currently enrolled students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). George Mason’s federal school code for the FAFSA is 003749. Priority consideration for all sources of financial aid is given to those students whose financial aid applications are on file with the Office of Student Financial Aid by March 1. To meet this priority filing date, students should file the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1. The FAFSA can be filed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov or a paper copy can be obtained from the office.
Financial aid for summer is generally limited to students who have remaining Federal Pell Grant or federal loan eligibility. Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid for specifics regarding eligibility. The summer aid application is available online and in the office on April 1.
All students receiving financial aid must be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program for at least half-time in any given semester; maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the Office of Student Financial Aid, in accordance with federal guidelines (see below); and be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.
All aid recipients are responsible for becoming familiar and complying with applicable federal and state laws, university regulations, Mason student aid information resources, and the student aid satisfactory academic progress policy. This policy is detailed in the glossary section of the home page of financialaid.gmu.edu and in the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Federal legislation governing the administration of federal programs requires colleges and universities to define and enforce standards of progress for students receiving or applying for financial aid. To comply with this legislation, the Office of Student Financial Aid has established a formal satisfactory academic progress policy. For detailed information, go to the Student Financial Aid home page at financialaid.gmu.edu or contact the Office of Student Financial Aid.
The university administers the following federal, state, and other aid programs:
Federal programs: These include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS), Federal Perkins Loan Program, Federal Subsidized Stafford Loans, Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, and Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (FPLUS). For more information, refer to the Student Guide for Federal Financial Aid, which is available in the Office of Student Financial Aid, or go to the Student Financial Aid home page at financialaid.gmu.edu.
State programs for undergraduate Virginia residents: Eligibility for all state programs is based on results received from the FAFSA. State grant funds are limited, so adherence to the March 1 priority filing date is critical.
Virginia Commonwealth Award: This program is open to undergraduate students who have demonstrated financial need, are enrolled at least half time, and are domiciliary residents of Virginia.
Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP): This program is a component of the Virginia Commonwealth Award Program that is open to students who demonstrated academic achievement in high school. VGAP awards are renewable for up to four years.
College Scholarship Assistance Program (CSAP) Grant: This program uses a combination of federal and state funds to provide additional assistance to students who are enrolled at least half time, are Virginia residents, and who demonstrate significant financial need.
Graduate student assistance: Assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships exclusive of the federal financial aid programs identified earlier are administered by the individual graduate programs. Students interested in pursuing graduate assistantships, fellowships, or scholarships should contact their graduate program.
Mary E. Ferguson Emergency Loan Program: Currently enrolled students may borrow funds for legitimate emergencies, excluding tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Emergency loans must be repaid within 30 days; overdue payments result in a late charge of $5 for each 30 days past due. Failure to repay the loan within 30 days without requesting an extension for a reasonable justification will result in financial suspension. Students financially suspended for nonpayment of an emergency loan are ineligible for any future emergency loans. Application is made through the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Doug Beaman Emergency Loan Program: The George Mason University Alumni Association established an emergency loan fund through which students may borrow up to $100 with repayment due within 30 days. The program is available to all students, with priority given to children of alumni. Application is made through the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Lisa Kenaga Memorial Student Emergency Loan Fund: The Office of Student Financial Aid has established an emergency loan fund through which currently enrolled students may borrow funds for legitimate emergencies, excluding tuition and fees. Emergency loans must be repaid within 30 days with a $10 processing fee; overdue payment results in a late charge of $5 for each 30 days past due. Failure to repay the loan within 30 days without requesting an extension for a reasonable justification results in financial suspension. Students financially suspended for nonpayment of an emergency loan are ineligible for future emergency loans. Application is made through the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Please see the Reserve Officer Training Corps section in the Academic Programs and Resources chapter.