Fairfax, VA · Clery Act 2023 · Public

George Mason University

According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 39,527-student campus.

2.23
Incidents / 1k students
#2,074
Rank of 3,050
#48
VA rank
39,527
Enrolled students

Data updated June 2026

The verdict

George Mason University reports 2.23 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #2,074 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 67% of ranked campuses its size.

2.23
incidents / 1,000 students
#2,074
of 3,050 ranked nationally
67%
report fewer incidents than this campus
28
on-campus incidents, 2023

Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).

Reporting-period change

What changed in 2023

-2 reported incidents

George Mason University decreased from 30 to 28 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.

This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.

See national reporting-year changes

George Mason University is a Public institution located in Fairfax, VA, enrolling approximately 39,527 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 78 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within VA, it ranks #48 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →

With 39,527 enrolled students, this campus sits in the large research university bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.

The most frequently reported category at George Mason University is "Motor Vehicle Theft" with 22 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in VA averaging 4.06 incidents per 1,000 students, George Mason University reports 45% fewer incidents per student.

Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 0 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 54 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. No Department of Education Clery Act enforcement actions are recorded against this institution.

Safety Score

2.23 /1K students

incidents per 1,000 enrolled

National Rank

#2074

See peer comparison

State Rank (VA)

#48

within state peers

Incidents (2023)

28

across 11 crime categories

Where George Mason University sits among ranked U.S. campuses

On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students

2 safer than 33% of 1,807 ranked campuses

0–1: 874 ranked campuses (48%). Below this entry. 1–2: 281 ranked campuses (16%). Below this entry. 2–3: 186 ranked campuses (10%). This entry sits in this band. 3–4: 135 ranked campuses (7%). Above this entry. 4–5: 84 ranked campuses (5%). Above this entry. 5–6: 71 ranked campuses (4%). Above this entry. 6–7: 36 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 7–8: 37 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 8–9: 103 ranked campuses (6%). Above this entry. This campus 0 9 every ranked campus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023

Safety percentile vs. peers

George Mason University percentile rank 32.0%
National median

Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #2074 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.

Reporting density vs peer median

George Mason University reports 45% fewer incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.

Academic & Financial Profile

Tuition & Costs

In-State Tuition
$14,220
Out-of-State Tuition
$38,688
Avg Net Price
$17,915
Median Debt
$19,500
Pell Grant Recipients
30%
How does this cost rank in VA? →

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
87%
SAT Average
1274
SAT Math Range
580–680
ACT Average
28
ACT Range
25–30

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate
69%
Retention Rate
86%
Median Earnings (6yr)
$60,536
Median Earnings (10yr)
$76,343
Loan Repayment (3yr)
80%

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.

Enrollment scale

How campus size shapes the safety figures

With 39,527 enrolled students, George Mason University is in the largest 2% of the 5,673 institutions in this dataset with a reported enrollment. The safety score above already normalizes reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students, so compare it with similarly sized campuses instead of treating a higher raw count as evidence that a campus is less safe. Use the annual crime table to see what was reported, then use the peer comparison to judge the rate against schools of a similar scale. A lower reported rate is not a guarantee of individual safety or a measure of reporting quality.

Crime Statistics by Year

11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus only

George Mason University: on-campus incidents by year

Rising 40% (20 → 28 incidents)

1520253035 202120222023 20 28 ▲ +40.0%
Crime Type 202320222021
Aggravated Assault 223
Arson 100
Burglary 134
Fondling 4104
Incest 000
Motor Vehicle Theft 1363
Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter 000
Negligent Manslaughter 000
Rape 696
Robbery 100
Statutory Rape 000

Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents

Fire Safety

Year Fires Inj. Deaths Cat I Cat II
2023 0 0 0 0 0

Arrests & Disciplinary Actions

54 category-year records
Disposition26%47%27%ArrestsDisciplinary referralsNo action
54 reported records
Category Year Arrests Discipline
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 0 0
Drugs 2023 3 80
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 0 0
Liquor 2023 10 106
Weapons 2023 0 0
Weapons 2023 0 0
Weapons 2023 0 0
Weapons 2023 0 0
Weapons 2023 0 0
Weapons 2023 0 0
Drugs 2022 0 0
Drugs 2022 0 0

George Mason University vs peer institutions

Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment

Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).

Selected

VA

George Mason University

2.23 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#2,074
Enrollment
39,527
Data year
2023

Similar Institutions

The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL · 39,622 enrolled
Safety Score 2.78
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Baton Rouge, LA · 39,418 enrolled
Safety Score 5.58
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · 39,707 enrolled
Safety Score 10.17
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · 39,241 enrolled
Safety Score 1.40
Miami Dade College
Miami, FL · 39,139 enrolled
Safety Score 0.38

Closest by National Rank

Institutions ranked nearest George Mason University nationally (rank #2074), regardless of size or state.

University of South Carolina-Upstate
Spartanburg, SC
National Rank #2073
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA
National Rank #2075
The College of New Jersey
Ewing, NJ
National Rank #2072
Boston University
Boston, MA
National Rank #2076
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR
National Rank #2071

Frequently Asked Questions

Is George Mason University safe?
George Mason University has a safety score of 2.23 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #2,074 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at George Mason University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does George Mason University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in VA.
Does George Mason University have fire safety data?
Yes. George Mason University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. No fires were reported in the most recent year.

Understanding George Mason University's Safety Profile

George Mason University in Fairfax, VA enrolls 39,527 students and has a safety score of 2.23 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #2074 nationally.

Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents decreased from 30 in 2022 to 28 in 2023.

Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. No fires were reported in the most recent year, indicating effective fire prevention measures.

What this means for you

George Mason University's 2.23 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.

Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.

Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.