Office of Student Financial Aid
Located in Student Union Building 1 on the first floor (suite 1100)
You can also fill out a form online on their “Contact Financial Aid” page
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Undergraduate students must submit their FASFA by February 1, (March 1st for transfer students) and all required other documents by March 1st, each year. FAFSAs received after February 1 are considered late and will not be given priority consideration but will be reviewed for other federal sources of financial aid.
FAFSA must be reapplied every year
You should always apply to FAFSA as soon as possible. The application is open on October 1st. The application will determine the amount of aid you will receive for the next academic year.
Department’s Scholarship
Each college department has various scholarships throughout the year. Be sure to check their website for the application due dates.
The application portal opens on February 1st. The Mason Scholarship Application matches current Mason students (undergraduates, graduates, and admitted transfers) with Foundation Scholarships based on the data submitted in the application and academic record. The application process may vary by college or department.
Additional Mason scholarship information can be found here.
The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program is a need-based program that provides part-time employment opportunities to eligible students to help meet the costs of post-secondary education. Based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) results, eligible students are awarded an allotment that may be earned through part-time employment in FWS-approved positions either on or off campus.
There are many Federal Work Study positions on-campus/remotely. You can find these opportunities on Handshake! Each semester, you are given a specific amount for your FWS position. If you run out of the amount before the semester ends, you can also reach out to the Financial Aid office about your circumstances and request that you qualify for an additional award. Extension requests are not guaranteed; however, it doesn’t hurt to try 🙂
Get Started on Applying for Federal Work-Study Positions On-Campus
Log in to Handshake – using your Mason Patriot Pass credentials
Complete Your Profile – add your work/volunteer experiences, skills, and interest
Financial Aid for Undocumented Students
The Virginia Alternative State Aid Application (VASA)
An alternative application for students who are ineligible for FAFSA
VASA is a financial aid application for Virginia students who are undocumented, nonimmigrant, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients
Mason’s priority deadline for VASA submission is February 1st.
*The VASA application determines eligibility for Virginia need-based financial assistance and does not quality students for federal aid. Students who are eligible to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are strongly urged to complete it to qualify for federal and state need-based aid. The VASA application should only be completed by Virginia residents who are ineligible for FAFSA funding.
George Mason University’s Undocumented Scholars Award
The Undocumented Scholars Award was established in 2016 through student advocacy and a consortium of donors in order to provide educational programming, scholarships, and emergency assistance to students whose immigration status might otherwise hinder them from accessing higher education.
Eligibility: Current degree-seeking Mason student who identifies as undocumented, or has protected statuses such as DACA, TPS, or have asylum status pending.
Application open from Mar. 15 – May 31
Submit your application on the Mason Academic Works website: go.gmu.edu/UndocumentedScholars
Complete the General Application
Complete the “Undocumented Scholars Award” application
If you have any questions about the application or your eligibility, contact fgng@gmu.edu