George Mason University (GMU, Mason, or George Mason) is a public research university located in Northern Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. Initially founded as a branch of the University of Virginia in 1949, it became an independent institution in 1972.

The university recognizes 500 student groups as well as 41 fraternities and sororities. In 2016, the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education released new listings that included George Mason in the “Highest Research Activity” (R1) category

Mason offers undergraduate, master’s, law, and doctoral degrees. The student-faculty ratio is 16:1 and the average class size ranges from 25 to 35 students.The university enrolls 34,904 students, making it the largest university by head count in the Commonwealth of Virginia