Student Achievement

As highlighted in our strategic plan, student success is a top strategic priority at Mason. As an R1/Access institution, we seek to enable excellence in the production of knowledge at macro (public) and micro (individual) levels. From recruitment to graduation, Mason strives to provide a challenging and fulfilling academic experience coupled with curricular and co-curricular support.

The IPEDS 8-Year Graduation Rate, chosen as our Key Student Completion Indicator, reflects Mason’s mixed undergraduate population of first-time in college and transfer students. Additional key performance indicators, detailed below, are regularly examined to evaluate the degree to which we are achieving our goals. Disaggregation to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement is critical in that evaluation.

In the summary table below, you will find specific thresholds and targets for each indicator. Further down we invite you to explore this data in more detail in both trends and disaggregation. For questions, please contact us at oiep@gmu.edu.

IndicatorThreshold2024 Reporting Target
Full-time/Part-time First-Time and Transfer Cohorts 8-Year Graduation Rate72%74%
First-time, Full-time Freshmen 1-Year Retention Rate86%88%
First-time, Full-time Freshmen 6-Year Graduation Rate69.8%72%
Baccalaureate Degree Production4,9967,045
Baccalaureate Stem Enrollment29%40%
Graduate (Master & Doctorate) Enrollment9,03712,037
Virginia Community College Transfers to George Mason University1,8502,700
Full-time/Part-time First-Time and Transfer Cohorts 8-Year Graduation Rate KSCI
Reporting YearFall Entering CohortN8-Year Retention
2017-20182009-2010645472%
2018-20192010-2011642773%
2019-20202011-2012644074%
2020-20212012-2013646474%
2021-20222013-2014691974%
Threshold: 72%
Target Goal for 2024-25 Entering Cohort 2016-17: 74%
Cohorts are: First-time in College (Full-time and Part-time) Fall and Spring; Transfers (Full-time and Part-time) Fall and Spring
Additional Disaggregation
Underrepresented Minorities
Full-time/Part-time First-Time and Transfer Cohorts 8-Year Graduation Rate
Underrepresented Minorities
Year ReportedFall Entering
Cohort
Black/
African
American
Hispanic AmericanAmerican Indian/
Alaska Native/
Native Hawaiian or
Pacific Islander
2017-20182009-201070%73%73%
2018-20192010-201170%76%65%
2019-20202011-201272%75%72%
2020-20212012-201370%77%68%
2021-20222013-201472%75%61%
1st Generation
Full-time/Part-time First-Time and Transfer Cohorts 8-Year Graduation Rate
First-Generation
Year ReportedFall Entering
Cohort
8-Year Award Rate
2017-20182009-201074%
2018-20192010-201173%
2019-20202011-201273%
2020-20212012-201374%
2021-20222013-201474%
First-time in College & Transfer Year Round entering Cohorts
Pell Status
Full-time/Part-time First-Time and Transfer Cohorts 8-Year Graduation Rate
Pell Recipient
Year ReportedFall Entering
Cohort
8-Year Award Rate
2017-20182009-201074%
2018-20192010-201174%
2019-20202011-201274%
2020-20212012-201375%
2021-20222013-201475%
First-time in College & Transfer Year Round entering Cohorts
Gender
Full-time/Part-time First-Time and Transfer Cohorts 8-Year Graduation Rate
Gender
Year ReportedFall Entering
Cohort
FemaleMale
2017-20182009-201076%68%
2018-20192010-201176%70%
2019-20202011-201278%70%
2020-20212012-201378%70%
2021-20222013-201477%71%
First-time in College & Transfer Year Round entering Cohorts

First-time/Full-time Freshmen 1-Year Retention Rate
Reporting YearFall Entering CohortN1-Year Retention
201120102,57887.2%
20122011264486.3%
201320122,68187.3%
201420132,99287.6%
201520143,04687.2%
201620153,15487.5%
201720163,17587.8%
201820173,44286.7%
201920183,66486.4%
202020193,07486.0%
202120203,42883.6%
202220213,84385.2%
Threshold: 86%
Target Goal for 2024-25 for 2023 Cohort: 88%
Additional Disaggregation
Underrepresented Minorities
First-time/Full-time Freshmen 1-Year Retention Rate
Underrepresented Minorities
Reporting YearFall Entering CohortBlack/
African
American
Hispanic AmericanAmerican Indian/
Alaska Native/
Native Hawaiian or
Pacific Islander
2011201092.288.288.2
2012201185.484.392.9
2013201288.187.583.3
2014201390.888.378.9
2015201483.388.078.9
2016201583.287.0100.0
2017201690.389.680.0
2018201784.385.40.0
2019201881.385.5100.0
2020201985.185.785.7
2021202077.883.7100.0
2022202182.983.485.7
1st Generation
First-time/Full-time Freshmen 1-Year Retention Rate
First-Generation
Reporting YearFall Entering
Cohort
One Year Retention
2011201086.8
2012201185.0
2013201284.6
2014201386.8
2015201486.5
2016201587.2
2017201685.9
2018201785.2
2019201883.6
2020201984.2
2021202082.4
2022201183.7
Pell Status
First-time/Full-time Freshmen 1-Year Retention Rate
Pell Recipient
Reporting YearFall Entering
Cohort
One Year Retention
2011201087.6
2012201185.5
2013201286.1
2014201386.3
2015201485.1
2016201585.4
2017201687.1
2018201785.9
2019201884.0
2020201985.4
2021202084.0
2022202086.9
Gender
First-time/Full-time Freshmen 1-Year Retention Rate
Gender
Reporting YearFall Entering
Cohort
FemaleMale
2011201089.185.2
2012201187.984.6
2013201289.185.3
2014201388.886.2
2015201488.186.1
2016201588.786.1
2017201688.986.6
2018201788.285.0
2019201888.384.4
2020201988.084.0
2021202084.582.6
2022202186.484.2

First-time, Full-time Freshmen 6-Year Graduation Rate
Reporting YearFall CohortN6-Year Graduation Rate
201620102,57869.8
201720112,64470.8
201820122,68170.0
201920132,99270.8
202020143,04671.7
202120153,15470.2
202220163,17570.5
202320173,442
202420183,664
202520193,074
Threshold: 69.8%
Target Goal for 2024 for 2018 Cohort: 72%
Additional Disaggregation
Underrepresented Minorities
First-time, Full-time Freshmen 6-Year Graduation Rate
Underrepresented Minorities
Reporting YearFall Entering
Cohort
Black/
African
American
Hispanic AmericanAmerican Indian/
Alaska Native/
Native Hawaiian or
Pacific Islander
2016201073.769.070.6
2017201171.962.292.9
2018201265.366.366.7
2019201374.069.547.4
2020201469.272.152.6
2021201565.270.657.1
2022201669.368.460.0
20232017
20242018
20252019
1st Generation
First-time, Full-time Freshmen 6-Year Graduation Rate
Underrepresented Minorities
Reporting YearFall Entering
Cohort
Black/
African
American
Hispanic AmericanAmerican Indian/
Alaska Native/
Native Hawaiian or
Pacific Islander
2016201073.769.070.6
2017201171.962.292.9
2018201265.366.366.7
2019201374.069.547.4
2020201469.272.152.6
2021201565.270.657.1
2022201669.368.460.0
20232017
20242018
20252019
Pell Status
First-time, Full-time Freshmen 6-Year Graduation Rate
Pell Recipient
Reporting YearFall Entering
Cohort
6-Year Graduation Rate
2016201068.7
2017201166.8
2018201267.8
2019201366.9
2020201471.5
2021201565.6
2022201667.5
20232017
20242018
20252019
Gender
First-time, Full-time Freshmen 6-Year Graduation Rate
Gender
Reporting YearFall Entering
Cohort
FemaleMale
2016201074.464.9
2017201176.264.9
2018201275.464.2
2019201375.465.4
2020201476.766.0
2021201574.665.3
2022201674.566.2
20232017
20242018
20252019

Baccalaureate Degree Production
Reporting Year*Bachelor degrees
2014-20154,996
2015-20165,127
2016-20175,312
2017-20185,521
2018-20195,668
2019-20205,813
2020-20216,173
2021-20226,174
2022-2023
2023-2024
2024-2025
Threshold: 4,996
Target Goal for 2024-2025: 7,045
*Reporting award year is Summer, Fall, Spring (July 1 through June 30)

Additional Disaggregation
Underrepresented Minorities
Baccalaureate Degree Production
Underrepresented Minorities – % of Total
Reporting YearBlack/
African
American
Hispanic AmericanAmerican Indian/
Alaska Native/
Native Hawaiian or
Pacific Islander
2014-20159%12%1%
2015-201610%12%1%
2016-201710%13%1%
2017-201810%14%1%
2018-201910%16%1%
2019-202010%15%<1%
2020-202110%15%<1%
2021-202210%15%<1%
2022-2023
2023-2024
2024-2025
1st Generation
Baccalaureate Degree Production
First-Generation
Reporting Year% of Total
2014-201522%
2015-201618%
2016-201721%
2017-201823%
2018-201934%
2019-202032%
2020-202131%
2021-202227%
2022-2023
2023-2024
2024-2025
Pell Status
Baccalaureate Degree Production
Pell Recipient
Reporting Year% of Total
2014-201540%
2015-201640%
2016-201739%
2017-201840%
2018-201941%
2019-202042%
2020-202142%
2021-202243%
2022-2023
2023-2024
2024-2025
Gender
Baccalaureate Degree Production
Gender – % of Total
Reporting YearFemaleMale
2014-201557%43%
2015-201656%44%
2016-201755%45%
2017-201855%45%
2018-201955%45%
2019-202053%47%
2020-202153%47%
2021-202253%47%
2022-2023
2023-2024
2024-2025

Baccalaureate STEM Enrollment
FallTotal Undergraduate
Enrollment
STEM Enrollment% of Total
201421,6716,54630%
201522,4227,38833%
201623,3717,86134%
201724,6338,73435%
201825,7989,55037%
201926,32010,20339%
202026,92710,52139%
202126,78910,21538%
202226,94810,17438%
Threshold: 29%
Target 2024: 40%
Additional Disaggregation
Underrepresented Minorities
Baccalaureate STEM Enrollment
Underrepresented Minorities
Black/
African American
Hispanic AmericanAmerican Indian/
Alaska Native/
Native Hawaiian
or Pacific Islander
Fall% of Total% of Total% of Total
20149%10%1%
20159%11%1%
20169%11%1%
201710%11%<1%
201810%12%<1%
201910%12%<1%
202010%12%<1%
202111%12%<1%
202211%13%<1%
1st Generation
Baccalaureate STEM Enrollment
First-Generation
Fall% of Total
201427%
201530%
201631%
201733%
201830%
201927%
202025%
202122%
202221%
Pell Status
Baccalaureate STEM Enrollment
Pell Recipient
Fall% of Total
201441%
201542%
201642%
201743%
201842%
201942%
202040%
202130%
202228%
Gender
Baccalaureate STEM Enrollment
Gender
FemaleMale
Fall% of Total% of Total
201435%65%
201536%64%
201635%65%
201735%65%
201836%64%
201935%65%
202036%64%
202136%64%
202236%64%

Graduate (Master & Doctorate) Enrollment
FallMastersDoctorateTotal
20147,0222,2649,286
20156,7952,2459,040
20166,8782,1889,066
20176,8832,1549,037
20187,0502,1389,188
20197,1732,1569,329
20207,4582,2029,660
20217,6482,2199,867
20227,8732,26610,139
Threshold: 9,037
Target for Fall 2024: 12,037
Additional Disaggregation
Underrepresented Minorities
Graduate (Master & Doctorate) Enrollment
Underrepresented Minorities – Black/African American
FallMastersDoctorateTotal
20149%6%8%
20159%7%9%
201610%7%9%
201711%8%10%
201811%7%10%
201910%8%10%
202011%8%10%
202111%7%11%
202211%8%10%
Graduate (Master & Doctorate) Enrollment
Underrepresented Minorities – Hispanic American
FallMastersDoctorateTotal
20147%4%7%
20157%5%7%
20168%4%7%
20178%5%8%
20188%5%7%
20199%5%8%
202010%5%9%
202110%6%9%
20229%6%9%
Graduate (Master & Doctorate) Enrollment
Underrepresented Minorities – American Indian/
Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
FallMastersDoctorateTotal
20141%<1%1%
2015<1%<1%<1%
2016<1%<1%<1%
2017<1%<1%<1%
2018<1%<1%<1%
2019<1%<1%<1%
2020<1%<1%<1%
2021<1%<1%<1%
2022<1%<1%<1%
Gender
Graduate (Master & Doctorate) Enrollment
Gender
FemaleMale
FallMastersDoctorateTotalMastersDoctorateTotal
201460%49%57%40%51%43%
201560%49%57%40%51%43%
201660%50%58%40%50%42%
201762%49%59%38%51%41%
201863%50%60%37%50%40%
201963%51%60%37%49%40%
202063%51%60%38%49%40%
202162%52%60%38%48%40%
202260%52%58%40%48%42%

Virginia Community College transfers to George Mason University
YearN
Fall 20141,845
Fall 20151,851
Fall 20162,086
Fall 20172,297
Fall 20182,357
Fall 20192,195
Fall 20202,363
Fall 20212,210
Fall 20222,152
Fall 2023
Fall 2024
Threshold: 1,850
2024 Target Goal: 2,700
Additional Disaggregation
Underrepresented Minorities
Virginia Community College transfers to George Mason University
Underrepresented Minorities – % of Total
Reporting YearBlack/
African American
Hispanic AmericanAmerican Indian/
Alaska Native/
Native Hawaiian
or Pacific Islander
Fall 201411%18%1%
Fall 201510%18%1%
Fall 201611%21%1%
Fall 201711%20%<1%
Fall 201810%22%<1%
Fall 201910%21%<1%
Fall 202010%22%<1%
Fall 202112%22%<1%
Fall 202213%24%<1%
Fall 2023
Fall 2024
1st Generation
Virginia Community College transfers to George Mason University
First-Generation
Reporting Year% of Total
Fall 201437%
Fall 201539%
Fall 201639%
Fall 201740%
Fall 201829%
Fall 201931%
Fall 202029%
Fall 202130%
Fall 202234%
Fall 2023
Fall 2024
Pell Status
Virginia Community College transfers to George Mason University
Pell Recipient
Reporting Year% of Total
Fall 201441%
Fall 201541%
Fall 201642%
Fall 201742%
Fall 201842%
Fall 201943%
Fall 202040%
Fall 202141%
Fall 202241%
Fall 2023
Fall 2024
Gender
Virginia Community College Transfers to George Mason University
Gender- % of Total
Reporting YearFemaleMale
Fall 201455%45%
Fall 201553%47%
Fall 201652%48%
Fall 201751%49%
Fall 201851%49%
Fall 201951%49%
Fall 202051%49%
Fall 202153%47%
Fall 202249%51%
Fall 2023
Fall 2024