Updated – May 17, 2024:
Due to delays in this year’s FAFSA, George Mason continues to accept new student application fees.
Prospective students who need additional time or assistance in making a college decision should contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@gmu.edu. Students who need help completing the FAFSA or understanding their financial aid package should contact the Mason Student Services Center or check out Mason’s FAFSA Simplification page.
Original article – February 21, 2024:
George Mason University will extend the deadline for admitted freshmen to submit their application fee and confirm their spot in the Class of 2028 from May 1, 2024 to May 15, 2024.
This decision follows the U.S. Department of Education’s recent announcement that higher education institutions will not begin receiving student financial aid information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) until mid-March. This delay has caused a ripple effect, delaying the development of financial aid packages that determine which college students ultimately choose to attend college. This delay is the result of significant changes the federal government made to the FAFSA to streamline the student aid application process.
The Department of Education currently plans to begin sending FAFSA data to schools in mid-March, and Mason expects to send out aid letters in the weeks following.
“We are extremely grateful to all of our students who are considering joining the Mason family,” said David Burge, Mason’s vice president for enrollment management. “Like other universities in the region, we We want to make sure they have time to consider admission.” We can provide them with offers they may be eligible for and help them make the best college decision for them and their family. ”
The deadline extension is part of Mason’s commitment to providing quality, affordable educational opportunities. Sixty-six percent of Mason’s students receive financial aid, and Mason’s loan default rate is 0.8 percent, significantly lower than the national default rate of 2.3 percent. Mason graduates are in a better position than other graduates to pay off their educational investments.
Mason also enhances communication with students who have applied for admission by notifying them when their FAFSA has been accepted by a college.
Mason hosted the first of three Spring Spotlight Days for incoming students on Monday, February 19th, and approximately 300 students registered for the event. Mason’s largest admitted student open house, the annual Spring Preview, will be held on April 7th.
Accepted students can submit a deposit as soon as they are ready.
Mason welcomed a record freshman class last fall with more than 4,500 new students and nearly 11,000 freshmen, making it the first university in state history to enroll more than 40,000 students. The number of new students from the Commonwealth reached a record high of 3,500.
For more information, please visit our Freshman Next Steps and FAFSA Simplification pages.
