You are considered a transfer student if you have enrolled at a college or university after graduating from high school.
George Mason University welcomes transfer applicants from the Commonwealth of Virginia and around the world. The transfer admission process at Mason is competitive. To be eligible to apply for transfer admission, students must meet the requirements and application deadlines.
The Office of Transfer Services is available to assist you with general questions about the application process, transfer credits, and admission eligibility.
NOTE: Accelerated BSN applicants are advised to review the selective admission School of Nursing information below.
Application Deadlines
| Deadline Type | Date |
|---|---|
| Fall Regular Admission and Fall GAA Application | March 1 |
| Mason Financial Aid | March 1 |
| Spring Regular Admission and Spring GAA Application | October 1 |
Transfer Admission Requirements
The Admissions Committee considers each transfer application individually, reviewing all grades received in courses attempted as well as the rigor of the applicant’s academic program. Transfer applicants may pursue one of two pathways to transition to Mason: Regular transfer admission or GAA admission. Competitive applicants present:
- 24 or more transferable semester hours earned at a U.S. college or university that holds recognized accreditation or from an international university recognized by that country’s Ministry of Education. Official transcripts from all previous institutions must be transmitted directly from the Registrar at your previous school(s) to the George Mason University Office of Admissions. We welcome electronic transcripts sent to: ugtrans@gmu.edu. Unofficial transcripts will not be processed. Transfer applicants who have enrolled in coursework at non-U.S. colleges or universities must meet additional international admission requirements.
NOTE: Applicants with Northern Virginia Community College transcripts are required to send a Parchment transcript. The Office of Admissions will not accept a paper transcript.
- Transfer applicants applying for regular admission with a 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA are given priority consideration. GAA applicants must present a minimum 2.85 GPA.
- English Composition and mathematics courses. The Admissions Committee seeks applicants who have completed at least one college-level transferable course in English Composition and mathematics prior to application to Mason. College Algebra is not accepted. Math courses equivalent to MATH 106, 108, 110, 111, 113, 125 or STAT 250 are recommended. The Admissions Committee will not review summer coursework in English and mathematics to qualify applicants for fall admission. VCCS/RBC students should review the Additional Information section.
- All applicants to George Mason University are reviewed for English language proficiency. If English is not your native language, please review Mason’s English proficiency requirement for admission.
- An optional resume may be helpful for the Admissions Committee if you have gaps (other than a summer term) in your post-secondary school enrollments.
- An optional essay offers you the opportunity to communicate aspects of your background that we can not glean from your transcripts.
- Applicants who are on active suspension or dismissal from any previous institution will not be offered admission to George Mason University.
Transfer applicants who have fewer than 24 hours of earned university-level credit must meet both freshman and transfer admission requirements. These applicants must also submit:
- Final secondary school transcript
Additional Information
English and Math Requirements for VCCS and RBC Applicants
Richard Bland College (RBC) and Virginia Community College System (VCCS) transfer applicants who do not pursue a transfer associate's degree will be considered for regular transfer admission.
Foundational English and math courses should be completed during the first two semesters of community college enrollment. If you place into English or math courses that require additional support, the Admissions Committee expects you to complete the required course sequence through continuous registration each fall and spring semester. Regardless of GPA, applicants who delay completion of English and math are less competitive for admission.
RBC applicants are advised to complete ENGL 101 and ENGL102 and one of the following math courses: MATH 110, 200, 217 or 251
VCCS applicants are advised to complete ENG 111 and ENG 112 and one of the following math courses: MTH 154, 155, 157, 245, 261, 263 or 288
English Language Proficiency Requirement
All Mason students must have a full command of academic English to be successful in their studies. For this reason, Mason requires applicants to demonstrate English proficiency for admission consideration.
Undergraduate applicants who have completed four years (grades 9-12) of college preparatory English at a U.S. secondary school or secondary school in Canada (excluding province of Quebec), Commonwealth Caribbean (Antigua, Barbados, Barbuda, Belize, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago), United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand with grades of C or better in each English course have demonstrated English proficiency. Applicants who hold a conferred bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or recognized university in Canada (excluding Quebec), Commonwealth Caribbean, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand have demonstrated English proficiency.
All other applicants are required to show proficiency either by examination scoring or by taking at least two college-level English Composition courses in the United States and meeting minimum scores set by Mason to be considered for admission. Decisions regarding English proficiency are the sole discretion of the George Mason University Office of Admissions. Individual programs reserve the right to set higher minimum scores.
Examinations and Scores
The university will not accept any examination scores that are more than two years old as verification of English language proficiency including
TOEFL iBT
- Undergraduate: 80 or higher, minimum of 18 in each subsection. Our testing code is 5827.
IELTS
- Undergraduate: 6.5 or higher on the academic exam, with a minimum of 6.0 in each subsection. Institutional code is NOT required.
Pearson Academic Test of English
A minimum score of 59
SAT I
Critical Reading score of 450 or higher (old exam). Evidence-based Reading and Writing score of 500 or higher (new exam). Mason’s SAT testing code is 5827. Undergraduate applicants only.
ACT
A score of 20 or higher on both the English and Reading section. Mason’s ACT testing code is 4357. Undergraduate applicants only.
University-Level English Composition Courses
Completion of English Composition I & II with grades of C or higher in each course at a college or university with US regional accreditation. ESL and remedial English courses are not accepted. The Admissions Committee makes the final decision about the acceptability of all English composition courses used to determine English proficiency for admission.
For those not achieving English proficiency at the time of admission, INTO Mason offers English language and Pathway programs.
Second Bachelor’s Degree or Post-Baccalaureate Admission
Applicants holding a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or an international university recognized by that country’s Ministry of Education may pursue an additional bachelor’s degree or Post-Baccalaureate Certificate at Mason. The intended major must be in a field of study distinctly different than the first degree. Second-degree applicants are considered transfer applicants and are subject to the same competitive admissions review as first-degree applicants.
After admission, students work with the appropriate academic program to develop an approved contract or course of study of at least 30 credits beyond the first degree, taken after admission to the second degree, to meet university residency requirements. Some academic programs will have more stringent requirements. This contract will detail college-level and major requirements that must be met to satisfy graduation requirements.
Selective Admission Majors
Admission to the University and the academic major is usually simultaneous. Certain majors have additional requirements
Applied Computer Science, B.S.
Admission to the Computer Science major is contingent upon the completion of two foundational courses. One in computer science and one in math before applying to Mason.
Applicants must present the equivalent of ONE of the following CS courses with a grade of A or B:
- CS 112 (4) Intro to Computer Programming
- CS 211 (3) Object-Oriented Programming
And ONE of the following MATH courses with a grade of A or B:
- MATH 113 (4) Calculus I
- MATH 114 (4) Calculus II
- MATH 125 (3) Discrete Mathematics
Art and Visual Technology, B.F.A.
Effective fall 2023, applicants to the Art and Visual Technology, B.F.A are required to present a minimum 2.85 cumulative GPA.
Bachelor of Applied Science, B.A.S.
Admission to the Bachelor of Applied Science major is contingent upon the conferral of the appropriate A.A.S. degree for the intended concentration.
Bachelor of Individualized Study, B.I.S.
Admission to the B.I.S. degree program is contingent upon admission to George Mason University as an undergraduate transfer student. Eligibility requirements specific to the BIS Program include:
- age 25 years or older;
- prior accumulation of at least 12 semester hours of transferable college credit;
- a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or greater in previous higher education coursework,
- the applicant must not have a current suspension from another institution.
Bioengineering, B.S.
Transfer applicants must have completed the equivalent of MATH 113 Calculus I (4 credits) and Math 114 Calculus II (4 credits) with grades of A or B in each MATH course before applying to Mason.
Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, B.S.
Transfer applicants must have completed the equivalent of MATH 113 Calculus I (4 credits) and Math 114 Calculus II (4 credits) with grades of A or B in each MATH course before applying to Mason.
Computer Game Design, B.F.A.
Admission to Computer Game Design is contingent upon the submission of two writing samples for faculty review. Additionally, applicants may submit optional artwork samples.
Computer Engineering, B.S.
Transfer applicants must have completed the equivalent of MATH 113 Calculus I (4 credits) and Math 114 Calculus II (4 credits) with grades of A or B in each MATH course before applying to Mason.
Computer Science, B.S.
Admission to the Computer Science major is contingent upon the completion of two foundational courses. One in computer science and one in math before applying to Mason.
Applicants must present the equivalent of ONE of the following CS courses with a grade of A or B:
- CS 112 (4) Intro to Computer Programming
- CS 211 (3) Object-Oriented Programming
And ONE of the following MATH courses with a grade of A or B:
- MATH 113 (4) Calculus I
- MATH 114 (4) Calculus II
- MATH 125 (3) Discrete Mathematics
Cyber Security Engineering, B.S.
Transfer applicants must have completed the equivalent of MATH 113 Calculus I (4 credits) and Math 114 Calculus II (4 credits) with grades of A or B in each MATH course before applying to Mason.
Dance, B.F.A.
Admission to the Dance major is contingent upon the successful completion of a dance audition.
Electrical Engineering, B.S.
Transfer applicants must have completed the equivalent of MATH 113 Calculus I (4 credits) and Math 114 Calculus II (4 credits) with grades of A or B in each MATH course before applying to Mason.
Film and Video Studies, B.A.
Admission to the Film and Video Studies major is contingent upon the successful completion of a portfolio review
Information Technology, B.S.
Effective Spring 2023, transfer applicants to Information Technology are required to present
- A 2.85 cumulative GPA
- English Composition equivalent to ENGH 101. VCCS ENG 111 or 112 with grades of a C or higher.
- A math course transferable as Mason Core or Pre-Calculus with a grade of C or higher. VCCS transfers must choose one of the following courses: MTH 154, 167, 245, 261, or 263. MTH 245 and MTH 261 are recommended.
BSIT Transfer Credit
Admitted VCCS students who complete any of the following courses with grades of A or B will receive the direct transfer credit equivalency. Transfer equivalencies are awarded individually.
- ITD 256 = IT 214
- ITE 170 = IT 213
- ITP 120 = IT 106 or ITP 150 = IT 109
Admitted BSIT transfers with a C grade in any of these courses will receive elective credit, IT ----.
Mechanical Engineering, B.S.
Transfer applicants must have completed the equivalent of MATH 113 Calculus I (4 credits) and Math 114 Calculus II (4 credits) with grades of A or B in each MATH course before applying to Mason.
Music, B.A., B.M.
Admission to the Music major is contingent upon the successful completion of a music audition.
Nursing, B.S.N.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program requires two applications, the University admission application and a separate School of Nursing application. Transfer applicants must first apply to Mason before submitting the School of Nursing application.
The Accelerated and Traditional B.S.N. programs begin with fall semester enrollment. Transfer applicants are required to apply for fall admission to Mason and to the School of Nursing between December 1 and January 15.
Transfer students who wish to enroll in supplemental courses may apply for spring transfer admission by October 1 for January enrollment. Admission to the spring semester requires spring course enrollment. Incorrect applications will not be processed nor will admission be deferred to the fall semester.
If you apply for spring and do not enroll, a new transfer application and application fee are required for fall enrollment in the School of Nursing.
Prospective Nursing majors are strongly encouraged to participate in a School of Nursing admission information session before applying. If you are uncertain about how to apply, email the Office of Admissions for assistance before applying. Nursing is a selective admission major.
All students interested in the Nursing major are responsible for understanding and meeting the deadlines and requirements of B.S.N. admission.
Systems Engineering, B.S.
Transfer applicants must have completed the equivalent of MATH 113 Calculus I (4 credits) and Math 114 Calculus II (4 credits) with grades of A or B in each MATH course before applying to Mason.
Theater, B.A., B.F.A.
Admission to the Theater major is contingent upon the successful completion of a theater audition or portfolio review.