Graduate Admissions and Aid

•    Complete the online graduate application.
•    A non-refundable application fee.
•    The application will require you to upload unofficial transcripts. Two official copies of transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended will be required if admitted to the program.
•    Résumé/CV.
•    A Goals Statement. The goals statement should answer the question: "How has your past experienced prepared you to engage in conflict, and how will this program equip you for your future?" There is no length requirement.
•    Two Letters of Recommendation. These letters can be from faculty, colleagues, or supervisors who can attest to your ability to perform well in this professional program.

•    Complete the online graduate application. Graduate Certificate options can be found under the Degree Programs tab.
•    A non-refundable application fee.
•    The application will require you to upload unofficial transcripts. Two official copies of transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended will be required if admitted to the program.
•    Résumé/CV.
•    A Goals Statement. The goals statement should answer the question: "How has your past experienced prepared you to engage in conflict, and how will this program equip you for your future?" There is no length requirement.
•    One Letter of Recommendation. This letter can be from a faculty, colleague, or supervisor who can attest to your ability to perform well in this professional program.

•    Complete the online graduate application. 
•    A non-refundable application fee.
•    The application will require you to upload unofficial transcripts. Two official copies of transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended will be required if admitted to the program.
•    Résumé/CV.
•    A Goals Statement. The goals statement should answer the question: "How has your past experienced prepared you to engage in conflict, and how will this program equip you for your future?" There is no length requirement.
•    Three Letters of Recommendation. These letters can be from faculty, colleagues, or supervisors who can attest to your ability to perform well in this professional program.

International Transcript Evaluation

All transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be translated into English, if applicable, and submitted for evaluation to the Mason Office of Admissions. Mason will provide evaluation service free of charge for all international transcripts. However, during peak application times, more time may be needed to process applications requiring a Mason evaluation. If you are concerned that Mason will take too long with your evaluation, you can use an outside agency to conduct your evaluation.  Any outside agency must be a NACES recognized U.S. evaluation service at their own expense.  For more information, please visit https://www.naces.org/members.  If you decide to use an external evaluation service, GPA and Degree equivalences must be included with your course-by-course evaluation. The Office of Admissions has final authority on all evaluations. Evaluations are used for internal purposes and are not released to applicants.  

English Language Proficiency

George Mason University requires all applicants to provide proof of English proficiency through a standardized test. It is required of all applicants unless they have earned a bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States, Canada (excluding province of Quebec), Commonwealth Caribbean (Antigua, Barbuda, Belize, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago), United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. If you have earned your degree from outside of this list of countries, you will be required to submit scores from an English proficiency test. This requirement is a George Mason University-wide policy, and we are not able to waive it. Students have four options for submitting scores: a TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson, or Duolingo.  For additional information, please visit https://www2.gmu.edu/admissions-aid/apply-now/how-apply/international/english-proficiency-requirements

Minimum scores required for each exam:
•    TOEFL: 88 points, minimum of 20 points in each section
•    IELTS: 6.5 total band score
•    Pearson: minimum score of 59
•    Duolingo: 120 minimum score
*Applications without English proficiency scores will not be reviewed.

For all other international application questions, please visit the Catalog.
 

Mason is a public institution, offering a world-class education from a highly-ranked research university for reasonable tuition rates. Tuition is set each year in May by George Mason University’s Board of Visitors.

Online Tuition Rate Discount for Out-of-State Students:

The Carter School Online Tuition Rate now applies to all out-of-state students enrolled in an online Graduate Certificate or Master’s Program – a discount of nearly 50% off the in-person rate for out-of-state students!

In-Person Discount for DC and MD Residents:

The Carter School is now offering a 15% discount – per credit – for MD and DC residents for in-person Graduate Certificate or Master’s programs.

 *These offers are mutually exclusive and do not apply to other programs at George Mason University.   These discounts cannot be combined with other tuition discounts.  Proof of residency will be required. 

A detailed estimate of the cost of attendance to our university can be found here. 

For more information on tuition and fees, please contact George Mason’s office of Student Accounts.

As a public institution in Virginia, George Mason is considered a top value in education, offering a world-class education at affordable tuition rates. The University and the Carter School support students as they apply for prestigious awards, such as the Fulbright, Boren, and many other grants, scholarships, and fellowships. George Mason is committed to assisting students by providing opportunities for financial support, such as grants, work-study positions, loans, and other financial aid options. 

To apply for a Mason Graduate Fellowship, please visit the Mason Provost's website for Graduate Fellowships.

Additional information about financial assistance can be found at Mason’s Office of Student Financial Aid.

As a student at the Carter School, you may be eligible for federal financial aid. 

Application:
To apply for need-based federal assistance, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  George Mason University provides more information about applying to the FAFSA .

Deadline:
To receive priority consideration for these funds, FAFSA forms should be received by the federal processor on or before March 1. 

Students seeking federal financial aid alone are not required to submit GRE scores for review. For other questions regarding need-based federal financial aid assistance, please contact Mason's Office of Student Financial Aid.
 

The Carter School offers a select number of merit-based scholarships for high-achieving students with strong academic credentials. 

A list of graduate scholarships can be found on the Carter School’s Scholarships and Funding page.

Additional grants and fellowships may be found through the Provost's Office:  
 

George Mason University and the Carter School are proud to welcome veterans, active duty service members, guardsmen, reservists, and their dependents to our community. Through our dedicated Office of Military Services, you will be connected to a variety of services, including counseling and advising on benefits, academic and admissions requirements, and career transition guidance. 

George Mason University offers several services and benefits to eligible veterans and military students, including the Yellow Ribbon Program and Post-9/11 GI Bill®:

Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty
Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
Chapter 32: Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
Chapter 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill®
Chapter 35: Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEAP)
Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve
Chapter 1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

Discover more information from George Mason’s Office of Military Services.