George Mason University is a public research university in Fairfax, Virginia, United States. It began as a branch of the University of Virginia in 1957 and became independent in 1972. George Mason is named after the American Founding Father and Virginia politician.

George Mason University has approximately 39,000 students enrolled in 2021, including 34,000 undergraduates and more than 5,000 graduate students. About 200 degree programs are available through the university's ten colleges, including the College of Arts and Social Sciences, the School of Business, the School of Engineering, and the Antonin Scalia Law School.

George Mason University is well known for its excellent economics, law, public policy and computer science programs. It also houses several research institutes and centers such as the Mercados Center, the Center for the Study of Public Choice and the Institute for Migration Research.

The university's student body is diverse, and it offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including more than 300 student clubs, club sports, and intramurals. Its main campus is in Fairfax, Virginia, about 20 miles outside of Washington, D.C.

Compared to many colleges in the United States, George Mason University has a relatively brief history, yet it has had a tremendous impact on higher education in Virginia and the nation as a whole.

The university was established in 1957 as a branch of the University of Virginia to enhance its educational offerings in Northern Virginia. The branch of the University of Virginia, known at the time as the Northern Virginia University Center, was located in a rented office facility at Crossroads in Bailey, Virginia.

The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation in 1972 that established George Mason University as a separate higher education institution from the University of Virginia.