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Mason’s research is best in Virginia in multiple EduRank rankings

Sarah Holland — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 16:41:23 +0000

Mason’s research is best in Virginia in multiple EduRank rankings Sarah Holland Wed, 04/03/2024 - 12:41

Eighteen �� programs are ranked the best in Virginia in a new report by EduRank that focuses on performance in research.

Students enjoy the cherry blossoms on the Fairfax ��. Photo by Eduardo de Souza/Office of University Branding.

Topping the list is Mason’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, which for the second consecutive year was ranked No. 1 among all public institutions and No. 2 among all institutions nationally.

Best-in-Virginia programs were spread across the university and included those from the Costello College of Business, the Schar School of Policy and Government, the College of Engineering and Computing, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, the Antonin Scalia Law School, the College of Education and Human Development, and the ROTC.

That research is supported by entities such as the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact, which has overall responsibility for Mason’s research enterprise and support of entrepreneurship and innovation. And Costello College’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship lets students dig into entrepreneurship, from the theoretical to the experimental.

Mason’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is anchored by the university and reaches out into the broader community. Mason Enterprise, a division of the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact, is a strategic collection of 24 programs that support entrepreneurs and small business owners across Virginia, and conducts more than 1,500 training programs and more than 30,000 hours of one-on-one counseling with entrepreneurs in the community and from universities each year.

It is that environment of research, discovery, and innovation, which is a main contributor to Mason’s R1 designation from the Carnegie Classification of Higher Education as one of the nation’s top research universities.

And though the EduRank rankings focus mainly on research performance, they are an indicator of the quality of the programs from which that research is produced.

“Mason is committed to accelerating the translation of research into practice by leveraging university talent, infrastructure, and partnerships to create solutions for societies’ toughest challenges at speed and scale,” said Andre Marshall, Mason’s vice president for research, innovation, and economic impact. “It is a credit to our faculty and students that Mason is a place where we can put theory into practice.”

Added Paula Sorrell, Mason’s associate vice president of innovation and economic development, “Mason was originally created by the business community to serve its needs, and for 50 years it has been doing just that. In the past four years, we’ve significantly amped up our tech entrepreneurship to support and mirror the rapidly growing tech economy, adding 16 new programs and counting.”

Research is the bedrock of entrepreneurship, Costello College dean Ajay Vinzé said.

The university’s top rankings “are in many ways reflective of our approach to business education and the business of higher education,” he said. “Our approach—built on the foundation of a rich university-wide entrepreneurial ecosystem, powered by a growing body of faculty research across multiple fields of study—is changing the arc of higher education expectation and delivery as we prepare the next generation of leaders.”

Costello College is a contributor to the top entrepreneurship ranking, along with the Schar School and the Mercatus Center, all of which produce volumes of research, articles, and papers for an abundance of publications.

Schar School dean Mark J. Rozell called entrepreneurship research “a very distinguishing feature for a public policy and government school.”

Its research at the Center for Micro-Economic Policy Research (CMEPR), for example, is focused on diversity and disadvantaged groups among entrepreneurs, especially those who are Black, immigrants, and female. It also looks at job creation by minority entrepreneurs in minority and low-income communities.

“The center brings an unusual contribution to research on entrepreneurship by focusing on these issues,” said John Earle, the center’s director and a Distinguished University Professor, who has published more than 60 articles and scholarly papers. “While the typical focus for entrepreneurship studies is for performance, especially for firms receiving venture-capital support, CMEPR research analyzes a much broader range of businesses, and how public policies affect the entry, growth, and survival of those owned by minority entrepreneurs.”

At the College of Engineering and Computing, Dean Ken Ball noted that CEC faculty garnered more than $119 million in research awards in 2023.

Dean Alpaslan Ozerdem's Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution class. Photo by: Ron Aira/Office of University Branding.

“I’m proud that our research has informed and strengthened our academic programs and led to innovation and economic growth that benefits society,” Ball said. “Mason has consistently been a national leader in cybersecurity, data analytics, software engineering, aviation, and web development. These rankings reflect the impact CEC researchers have in areas of engineering and computing that are relevant to everyone, as well as our leadership position among Virginia’s public universities.”

CHSS dean Ann Ardis said her college’s contributions to research in best-of-Virginia areas such as criminology, broadcasting, law enforcement, journalism, and political economy “are a testament to the scholarly excellence of our faculty. We take immense pride in our researchers’ contributions to Mason’s growing reputation nationally as a comprehensive R1 institution with strengths across a range of research areas.”

For Alpaslan Özerdem, dean of the Carter School, the ranking in conflict resolution “fuels our dedication to shaping a more peaceful and understanding world.”

Özerdem noted that the school has been at the forefront of teaching, researching, and implementing conflict resolution for four decades.

“So being recognized as the premier institution for conflict resolution in Virginia deepens our pride and reaffirms our vital role within the broader conflict resolution ecosystem of the commonwealth,” he said.

Here are the programs ranked the best in Virginia, with ranking among public institutions and overall national ranking; best in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland (DMV) where noted:

Aviation: 8, 11 (best in the DMV)

Broadcast Journalism: 40, 58

Cinematography: 29, 48 (best in the DMV)

Conflict Resolution: 15, 28

Criminology: 19, 26

Cybersecurity: 21, 33

Data Administration: 19, 29

Entrepreneurship: 1, 2 (best in the DMV)

Human Rights Law: 9, 28 (best in the DMV)

Intellectual Property Law: 6, 18 (best in the DMV)

Law Enforcement: 5, 10 (best in the DMV)

Military Science: 33, 47

Political Economy: 14, 28

Public Policy Administration: 17, 29 (best in the DMV)

Radio & TV Broadcasting: 37, 55

Remote Sensing: 29, 39

Software Engineering: 11, 15

Web Development: 12, 18

See EduRank’s methodology here.

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Carter School is No. 1 for conflict analysis and resolution

Colleen Rich — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:43:12 +0000

Carter School is No. 1 for conflict analysis and resolution Colleen Rich Tue, 11/21/2023 - 11:43

��’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution is ranked No. 1 nationally among public institutions for its overall performance, and No. 1 among all institutions for its online offerings, according to a new report by Authority.org.

Carter School students in the classroom. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

The website’s methodology can be found here.

“This recognition is really important to us,” Carter School Dean Alpaslan Özerdem said. “Having this recognition by a third party and based on the merits, it gives me the confidence that the quality of education we provide our students, in person and online, is significant.”

“And with COVID, we learned to offer the full MS degree program in the online format, sharing the unique program that has developed over 40 years with people near and far,” said Susan Allen, the Carter School’s director of graduate programs.

For Özerdem, the Carter School’s uniqueness begins with its status as a standalone college within Mason. An important distinction, he said, because it showcases the significance the university places on the subject matter.

That subject matter is explored with a dynamic combination of academic pursuits and experiential learning in the form of centers and Peace Labs.

At the centers, students study all aspects of conflict analysis and resolution and put them into practice in the field. The Peace Labs develop and test tools and processes to assist governments, educational institutions, peacebuilding organizations, and communities to assess the root causes of conflict, preventing violence, and creating a more inclusive and just society.

Members of the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation at a United States Institute of Peace workshop. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“When it comes to what our professors teach us, it goes beyond right and wrong, or good and bad,” said Simi Kumar, a conflict analysis and resolution major who expects to graduate in 2025. “They take an approach that encompasses other lenses, other perspectives. We’re taught to seek those out and effectively utilize them, which is what I love most about our academic environment.”

Added Özerdem: “We encourage students to be part of these activities and research, so, as part of learning, they have the opportunity to engage with real-world challenges.”

A prime example is the Carter School’s recently announced agreement with the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations. With a select number of other universities, the Carter School will be a partner in the State Department’s Academic Center of Conflict Anticipation and Prevention.

Developed under the supervision of Özerdem, Allen, and Professor Karina Korostelina, the partnership will allow Carter School students to contribute to international peacebuilding with actionable research.

Point of View in Mason Neck, Virginia, is a space for peacebuilding, practice, teaching, and research. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The Carter School helped facilitate the signing of a historic peace accord in the Democratic Republic of Congo, using a community-centered approach the school developed in which local leaders led the negotiations. The school’s peacemaking skills and expertise nurtured the process rather than dominating it, giving the stakeholders a sense of ownership.

The school also is holding events on the Israel-Palestine conflict, including dialogue sessions, roundtable discussions, and workshops.

“With all the conflicts in different parts of the world, we need more and more peacemakers and peacebuilders,” Özerdem said. “We need people who are able to respond to these challenges effectively.”

For Kumar, that means learning “cultivating the ability to engage with and comprehend people at the forefront, which is a foundational pursuit that establishes a great base for collaboration and understanding across diverse fields and situations. That’s just one of the facets that makes the Carter School special.”

Academically, the Carter School is expanding its footprint with minors in the Costello College of Business and the College of Education and Human Development. Another will be in the College of Engineering and Computing in the next academic year.

“The goal,” Özerdem said, “is that no matter what you study here at Mason, you should be able to gain conflict analysis and resolution skills. That way every graduate can say that in addition to their expertise they are also able to do conflict analysis and resolution. That is a huge added value.”

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Mason is No. 1 among public institutions for research performance in entrepreneurship

Colleen Rich — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 18:48:55 +0000

Mason is No. 1 among public institutions for research performance in entrepreneurship Colleen Rich Wed, 11/01/2023 - 14:48

�� is No. 1 among public universities for research performance in entrepreneurship, and No. 2 overall nationally, in the latest report from EduRank.

Students at work in the MIX. Photo by Evan
Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The rankings were determined by analyzing 1.8 billion citations received by academic publications and the popularity of recognized alumni, according to EduRank’s website.

“There are so many ways to think about academia as being isolated and away from the real world,” said Stefanie Haeffele, a senior research fellow at Mason’s Mercatus Center. “But all of the departments and different programs at Mason are connected to how we understand people and interact in the world. It’s great to see the recognition and that intention leads to really good things.”

The ranking comes on the heels of a $50 million planned gift to Mason—the largest school naming gift in the history of the Northern Virginia-based university—to name the Donald G. Costello College of Business. The planned gift establishes an endowment that will provide scholarships to undergraduate and graduate business students to help them prepare for successful careers as entrepreneurs.

The ranking also coincides with the establishment of Mason’s new Entrepreneur-in-Residence program that will be housed at Fuse at Mason Square and bolster the startup market and opportunities in the Washington, D.C., area and across Virginia.

That rich environment of innovation is a main contributor to the university’s R1 designation from the Carnegie Classification of Higher Education as one the top research universities in the nation.

Harsha Rajasimha presented Jeeva Informatics at Mason's venture capital conference, Accelerate 2022, in October. Rajasimha took part in Mason's I-Corps program. Photo by Max Taylor Photography

It also fosters a business and entrepreneurship ecosystem at Mason that is committed to solving the world’s grand challenges by nurturing fearless leaders and thinkers.

Dynamic educational platforms in the School of Business include the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which provides several ways for students to dig into entrepreneurship, from the theoretical to the experimental.

At the Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX), students, faculty, and staff can use makerspaces, media labs, and incubators. The National Science Foundation I-Corps program works on exploratory business ventures started by faculty, staff, students and recent alumni.

The Office of Research Innovation and Economic Impact has overall responsibility for Mason’s research enterprise and to support entrepreneurship and innovation. And the boots-on-the-ground Mason Enterprise in 2022 provided—mostly free of charge—40,000 hours of one-on-one counseling to 10,000 small businesses.

“A No. 1 ranking in this space is what’s possible when you have a president [Gregory Washington] and a vice president for research [Andre W. Marshall] who understand the importance of playing an economic development role in the region and the state,” said Paula Sorrell, who is associate vice president for innovation and economic development at Mason and oversees Mason Enterprise.

Research is the bedrock on which entrepreneurship is built, said Zoltan Acs, professor emeritus in Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government and a renowned expert in the field.

The research can include the study of the cognitive nature of individual entrepreneurs and their companies, how entrepreneurship impacts employment and productivity, and how it impacts people’s lives.

“And if you really think about what [Mason] did in the classroom and in the laboratory in terms of research,” said Acs, now a research fellow at Mathias Corvinus Collegium in Budapest, who has written more than 200 articles and 30 books about his inquiries, “we were really an A or A-plus institution.”

Mason research includes reams of papers from faculty published in top journals such as Research Policy, Small Business Economics, Journal of Business Venturing, and Entrepreneurship and Regional Development.

“For entrepreneurship, innovation is very important, so we want to improve the area,” said Lei Gao, associate professor of finance in the School of Business, whose Mason research has been published in the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Research Policy, and the Journal of Banking and Finance.

“Breakthroughs in technology and innovation are necessary to push a whole company to grow fast,” Gao said. “So what kind of factors lead to more effective innovation?”

Haeffele’s Mercatus research includes how communities respond and recover after disasters, and her paper, “Entrepreneurship During a Pandemic,” was published in the Journal of Law and Economics.

“The role of entrepreneurship in society matters,” said the Mason alumnus, MA Economics ’10, PhD Economics ’16. “To be at a place where we care about putting theory into practice, and being recognized for that, is really great.”

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In Money’s 2023 College Rankings, Mason is a star

Sarah Holland — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 18:40:59 +0000

In Money’s 2023 College Rankings, Mason is a star Sarah Holland Mon, 06/26/2023 - 14:40

�� was named one of Money magazine’s Best Colleges in America 2023 with a 4.5 out of 5-star rating.

Mason was also listed as one the Best Public Colleges and Best Colleges in the South in Money’s ratings.

Image by Creative Services/Office of University Branding

This year, Money unveiled a new system, moving from rankings to ratings with a five-star metric. Colleges are now rated between 2.5 to 5 stars in .5 increments. Previously, the magazine utilized a standard numbered ranking system to organize its top colleges, similar other organizations such as U.S. News.

Despite the change, Money’s rating system still prioritizes affordability, including factors such as tuition costs and debt incurred; quality of education, such as graduation rates and test scores; and outcomes, such as alumni salaries and employment status. Because cost is often a prohibiting factor for many prospective students, this methodology is designed to help families make informed decisions on where students will get the most value for their tuition dollars.

“It is gratifying to be recognized and we are proud of the high-quality education students receive at Mason with a very affordable cost of tuition,” Provost Mark Ginsberg said. “Our students learn from a world-class faculty while also being afforded many inspiring opportunities to participate in impactful research, engage with the surrounding communities, and become involved with initiatives that ensure that they are career-ready as they conclude their studies.”

Money explains their switch from ranking to rating as a way to encourage students and parents to focus less on where an institution places in comparison to its peers, and instead focus on the broader picture of a college’s quality and value. According to their methodology explanation, “the new rating system can help families with their college search by highlighting the variety (and diversity) of high-value colleges in the U.S. We hope the ratings show that, depending on your individual characteristics, priorities and goals, there may be multiple top colleges to consider.”

Among peer institutions as determined by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), Mason was above the average of 4.18.

Among Virginia public institutions, Mason was one of the highest rated: Virginia Tech, James Madison University, William and Mary, and Virginia Military Institute all came in at 4.5 stars as well. Among these, Mason maintains the highest admissions acceptance rate.

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Mason research shows its strength in NSF report

Colleen Rich — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 21:29:49 +0000

Mason research shows its strength in NSF report Colleen Rich Thu, 02/02/2023 - 16:29

��’s $214 million in research funding in fiscal year 2021 represented an increase of more than $100 million over five years, and puts the university on track to meet its goal of $225 million by 2025.

The latest figures released by the National Science Foundation (NSF) show Mason’s research funding in the top 25 nationally in the areas of:

Social sciences: 11th among all universities (best in the DMV) and 8th among public universities.
Computer and information sciences: 19th among all universities and 11th among public universities in federally funded research; and 24th among all universities and 16th among public universities in total research funding.
Engineering: In the top 100 nationally at No. 78 (up from 142 in 2018) and No. 56 among public universities.

Professor Paulo Costa and students at The Radar and Radio Engineering (RARE) Lab, located at College of Engineering and Computing. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

Overall, Mason’s research and development funding was 77th among public institutions, and 59th among institutions without medical schools.

“Even with the challenges of the pandemic period, Mason continued to advance in research rankings as measured by expenditures,” said Andre Marshall, Mason’s vice president of research, innovation, and economic development. “Mason faculty, student, and staff researchers are driving discoveries together in STEM and the social sciences through university-based research that results in real-world impact and makes a difference in our communities.”

Added Ken Ball, dean of Mason’s College of Engineering and Computing: “The rise in our NSF research funding rankings both in computer and information sciences and engineering has been phenomenal, solidifying our reputation as a top-tier research institution. Credit goes to our incredible faculty and students, as well as our research centers.”

Some of the long-term projects either funded or ongoing in FY 2021 that have positioned Mason as a leader in research of consequence—while also defining the university’s core beliefs that no problem is unsolvable and that we grow wiser and stronger from examining full truths—include:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) working with a group of Mason scientists to update its drought forecasting system. Researchers leading the effort are from Mason’s Center for Ocean Land Atmosphere Studies in the College of Science.
Researching and building 5G-enabling applications and technologies to create new business, community, and higher education engagements. The program builds on Mason’s work in 5G and the ecosystem of university, industry and government partners collaborating through the Northern Virginia Node of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative.
The Computational Hemodynamics Lab, as part of a large study funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, is studying major risk factors for aneurysms and how to identify high-risk patients who need prompt and aggressive treatments.
A grant from the Jeffress Trust Awards Program in Interdisciplinary Research helped the Department of Global and Community Health in Mason’s College of Public Health explore the link between air pollution sources and vulnerable populations.
A multidisciplinary team from the College of Engineering and Computing and the College of Science is being funded by the Food and Drug Administration to improve the manufacturing and understanding of mRNA vaccines, such as those to fight COVID-19.
As part of a project funded by the Department of Energy, Mason is overseeing and operating the East Coast headquarters of the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute, helping protect American manufacturing automation and supply chains from cyber threats.

College of Public Health's Jenna Krall and her team collected data on air pollution in Virginia and how it directly affects people in the surrounding communities. Photo by Lathan Goumas/Strategic Communications

In the social sciences, which includes contributions from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), the Schar School of Policy and Government, the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, initiatives came in several forms.

“These rankings reflect the excellence that distinguishes George Mason’s research and sets it apart,” CHSS dean Ann Ardis said. “The expertise of our social sciences faculty enables us to effectively and creatively address the world’s most pressing challenges.”

Said CEHD dean Ingrid Guerra-López: “Solving complex societal problems requires transdisciplinary collaborations, and that is what guides the important work of our remarkable researchers. The impact of their work is being amplified by their ability to work effectively across a variety of disciplines, industries, and stakeholders.”

Assistant professor Sylvia Schreiner received a grant from the National Science Foundation to continue her work in helping to maintain the Yupik language on St. Lawrence Island in Alaska. That research later led to an NSF CAREER grant for the same purpose.
Mason was selected by the Department of Homeland Security to lead its Center of Excellence in Crime Investigations and Network Analysis (CINA). The 10-year, multimillion-dollar grant gave Mason the lead with a consortium of universities and law enforcement agencies to investigate patterns of criminal activity and forensics, and develop strategies to disrupt transnational crime.
The Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence, led by University Professor Faye Taxman, received $25 million from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to advance the use of evidence-based practices and treatments in justice settings for individuals with substance use and mental health disorders, spur implementation research on organizational change strategies, develop workforce training tools, and disseminate research findings.
Through a grant from the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, CEHD professor Bweikia Steen was part of a research group that studied the barriers and challenges faced by home-based childcare providers in Virginia and developed solutions.
The U.S. Department of State and the NSF funded Carter School research in war-torn Ukraine.

“With rapid socio-economic and political changes, technological advancements, geopolitical shifts, climate change and global health crises, the world faces many challenges,” Carter School dean Alpaslan Özerdem said. “Social sciences are centered on all those tectonic movements affecting our societies and our responses to global challenges.”

“The (NSF) rankings are a testimony to the university’s commitment to research of consequence,” Schar School Dean Mark J. Rozell said. “The Schar School is very proud to be part of this notable achievement.”

The NSF collected its data from 916 universities in the Higher Education Research and Development Survey, sponsored by the NSF’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics unit.

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More About How Mason Stacks Up in the Rankings

George Mason highlighted as one of Carnegie’s Opportunity Colleges and Universities
April 24, 2025
George Mason ranks among Top 50 graduate programs nationally in engineering, public policy, and other fields
April 8, 2025
George Mason in the Rankings
April 7, 2025
George Mason achieves “Top Producing Institution” status from Fulbright Scholars program
February 25, 2025
�� leads Virginia with strong U.S. News online program rankings
January 21, 2025

Mason online programs in education and engineering are ranked in the top 20 nationwide

Colleen Rich — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 21:12:58 +0000

Mason online programs in education and engineering are ranked in the top 20 nationwide Colleen Rich Mon, 01/23/2023 - 16:12

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

��’s online degree offerings are some of the best in the nation, with five programs in education and engineering ranked in the top 20 among public universities, according to the 2023 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings released Tuesday.

Mason’s stature as the most innovative and diverse public university in the Commonwealth of Virginia positions it to provide evolving online learning opportunities.

“Mason’s online programs are part of our commitment to provide access to excellence for our students,” Mason Provost and Executive Vice President Mark Ginsberg said. “We have an institutional and programmatic commitment to meeting students where they are, and we are proud of this national recognition.”

Mason’s industrial engineering program is 10th in the nation among publics, up from 15th in 2022, with its engineering program moving up one spot to 35 among publics, and 3 spots to 44th overall nationally.

Moreover, Mason’s graduate online engineering programs are now ranked 2nd among Virginia publics, a jump of 3 spots, and Mason’s MS in systems engineering program is the top ranked public program in Virginia.

“The strength of Mason’s engineering programs translates to graduates who are ready to take on today’s tech careers,” said Ken Ball, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing.

Mason’s nursing program, unranked last year, was ranked at 46th among publics this year.

“As Virginia’s first and only College of Public Health, we are committed to interprofessional academics, research, and practice to improve population health and well-being. Our MS in Nursing is preparing the next generation of leaders for clinical impact,” said Melissa J. Perry, dean of Mason’s College of Public Health.

Mason also saw improvements in its MBA program, both overall—moving up 19 spots to 51st among publics and 25 spots nationally to 73rd—as well as in its ranking of MBA for veterans, where it is 35th among publics and 46th nationally, up from 49th and 64th, respectively.

Mason’s education program is ranked as a top program for veterans, in recognition of Mason’s strong partnership with this group, which represents about 10% of its student population.

The education curriculum program rose 9 spots to 12th among publics and overall nationally, and its education administration and supervision program rose 5 spots nationally and among publics to 15th and 14th, respectively. Mason’s special education program was ranked 11th both nationally and among publics.

“Mason’s partnerships with school systems, industry, and other employers make it a strong choice for educators looking to continue their education and advance in their careers in Northern Virginia,” said Ingrid Guerra-López, dean of the College of Education and Human Development. “We are also an interdisciplinary partner with our schools and colleges at Mason, creating just in time programming that employers really value.”

This year's rankings evaluate more than 1,800 online bachelor's and master's degree programs, with varying methodologies depending on the discipline, though U.S. News notes that all methodologies “incorporate metrics specific to online learning.”

Learn more about the rankings.

Editor's note: This story has been updated

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More About How Mason Stacks Up in the Rankings

George Mason highlighted as one of Carnegie’s Opportunity Colleges and Universities
April 24, 2025
George Mason ranks among Top 50 graduate programs nationally in engineering, public policy, and other fields
April 8, 2025
George Mason in the Rankings
April 7, 2025
George Mason achieves “Top Producing Institution” status from Fulbright Scholars program
February 25, 2025
�� leads Virginia with strong U.S. News online program rankings
January 21, 2025

Mason now a top 10 public university for diversity, innovation, and cybersecurity education, U.S. News rankings show

Colleen Rich — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 19:48:02 +0000

Mason now a top 10 public university for diversity, innovation, and cybersecurity education, U.S. News rankings show Colleen Rich Mon, 09/12/2022 - 15:48

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�� is among the top 10 most diverse and innovative public universities in the country, as well as top 10 in undergraduate cybersecurity, according to U.S. News & World Report’s “2023 Best Colleges List” rankings released Monday.

Mason jumped five spots to seventh nationally for diversity, and moved up one place to eighth nationally and first in Virginia for innovation. Mason remains first in Virginia for both categories. The undergraduate cybersecurity program jumped to 10th nationally among public universities, up from 15th.

In addition, Mason moved up three spots in the overall rankings to 64th among public universities.

�� President Gregory Washington said the three top 10 rankings and other U.S. News recognition acknowledge that Mason, with an enrollment nearing 40,000, is an institution that equally values providing opportunities, through the Mason Virginia Promise and other programs, and offering world-class academics and research that drive innovation in the dynamic Washington, D.C., region.

“It’s great to see that the country is recognizing what we already know—�� is continuing its ascent among the nation’s best universities,” Washington said.

The rankings highlighted several other Mason programs (see a complete list at bottom), including:

Undergraduate computer science climbed five spots to 40th among public universities.
Undergraduate business, engineering and nursing programs also fared particularly well.

Mason has long been known for innovation, an ingrained experiential and entrepreneurial focus developed as a young university. Andre Marshall, vice president for research, innovation and economic development and president of the �� Research Foundation, said those strengths continue to grow through multidisciplinary research and external partnerships that bring together different thought leaders, from science and technological experts to the humanities and social sciences, to fuel innovation.

“Mason’s ability to discover and translate new ideas and technology is one of its signature strengths developed over 50 years of taking novel approaches to needs and opportunities,” Marshall said. “Mason is a large-scale university with large-scale impact.”

Mason’s jump in the U.S. News diversity rankings reflects the university’s increasingly diverse freshman classes and Mason’s ability to attract, retain and graduate students from all backgrounds with no marked disparities in outcomes.

Mason’s Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence efforts underscore that commitment, as does a recent National Science Foundation grant dedicated to building and maintaining more diverse faculty and staff. Mason was also recently ranked by College Factual as No. 1 in the nation for serving veterans and No. 2 among public universities for serving nontraditional students.

“Diversity in its many forms is among our greatest assets at Mason and is in fact one of the many reasons students choose Mason,” said Sharnnia Artis, vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion. “Students feel welcome and supported in our university community. These interpersonal experiences on our campuses is another way in which we prepare our students to be successful.”

The cyber and computer science rankings emphasize Mason’s leading role in the Tech Talent Investment Program, a statewide initiative to fill critical job vacancies in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In addition to the cyber and computer science rankings, undergraduate engineering was 57th among public universities, another indication that Mason is educating and graduating the digital innovators of the future.

“Mason is holding up its end of the bargain in delivering career-ready tech talent in high-demand fields,” said Ken Ball, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing. “These accolades also shine a light on Fuse at Mason Square, which will soon be a hub of innovation in support of Amazon HQ2 and the tech industry throughout the region.”

Other Mason undergraduate programs U.S. News rated particularly highly were undergraduate business (53rd among publics) and nursing (70th).

The business school ranking highlights a host of strengths in serving students, including the school’s national and international focus, said School of Business Dean Ajay Vinzé, whose ambitious goals include building a new business school.

“This ranking affirms our ability to produce career-ready graduates, stay atop of technology and innovation, conduct impactful research, and collaborate with the business community,” Vinzé said.

The undergraduate nursing category was a ranking that U.S. News added last year. Mason’s ranking, up from last year, comes at a time when the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) is vying to become the state’s first College of Public Health.

CHHS Dean Melissa J. Perry noted that health care careers are expected to increase by more than 2 million jobs in the next decade. Mason has been supplying the region with nurses for almost five decades.

“There is a nursing crisis, and there is a health care provider crisis,” Perry said. “The U.S. News recognition signals to the country that Mason is rising to this challenge by providing top-notch educational opportunities to ensure a future with expertly prepared health care providers.”

Overall ranking
Publics: 64 (up from 67)
Nationally: 137 (up from 148)

Diversity
Publics: 7 (up from 12) Best in Virginia
Nationally: 13(up from 21)

Innovation
Publics: 8 (up from 9) Best in Virginia
Nationally: 20

Undergraduate Cybersecurity
Publics: 10 (up from 15)
Nationally: 19 (up from 28)

Undergraduate Computer Science
Publics: 40 (up from 45)
Nationally: 72 (up from 82)

Undergraduate Business
Publics: 53
Nationally: 86

Undergraduate Engineering
Publics: 57
Nationally: 94

Undergraduate Nursing
Publics: 70 (up from 71)
Nationally: 93 (up from 96)

Best for Veterans
Publics: 58 (up from 62)
Nationally: 89

A+ School for B Students

The programs and services offered by �� are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.

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In This Story

Gregory Washington

Kenneth Ball

Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS

Master of Health Administration Ranks in Top 50 Graduate Programs According to US News & World Report

eander6 — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 12:44:52 +0000

Master of Health Administration Ranks in Top 50 Graduate Programs According to US News & World Report eander6 Tue, 03/29/2022 - 08:44

The College of Health and Human Services is pleased that the Master of Health Administration graduate program maintains its rank (#33) within the top 50 of its discipline, as recognized in the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings of graduate programs.

“The Mason MHA continues to prepare future executives to assume leadership positions in health care organizations,” said Peggy (P.J.) Maddox, chair of the department. "This accomplishment is a credit to our dedicated health administration policy faculty, passionate students, and thriving alumni.”

Learn more about all of Mason’s health administration programs.

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Five College of Health and Human Services Graduate Programs Rank in the Top 100 According to U.S. News & World Report

eander6 — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 20:48:31 +0000

Five College of Health and Human Services Graduate Programs Rank in the Top 100 According to U.S. News & World Report eander6 Mon, 03/28/2022 - 16:48

The College of Health and Human Services is pleased to announce that five of the College’s graduate programs are ranked within the top 100 of their discipline, as recognized in the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings of graduate programs. Two programs, the Master of Health Administration (MHA) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), continue to rank within the top 50 in their respective disciplines. The Master of Social Work (MSW) program rose by 17 spots to number 79.

“Our graduate programs provide students with the knowledge and real-world experience to tackle public health solutions that improve health and well-being across the lifespan,” said Germaine M. Louis, PhD, MS, and Dean of the College of Health and Human Services. “The interdisciplinary nature of our curriculum ensures that our students are prepared to make an immediate impact in leadership, practice, and research and to serve their communities long after graduation.”

Based on 2023 rankings, the MSN, Doctorate of Nursing Practice, Master of Public Health, and MSW rank number 37, 52, 70, and 79 respectively. Based on the most recent U.S. News rankings data available, the MHA maintains its ranking at number 33.

At numbers 23, 38, and 45, respectively, the MSN, DNP, and MPH programs rank in the top 50 of among public institutions. The MSW ranks at number 54 among public institutions.

The College offers 13 graduate degrees and six graduate certificate programs. The College is transitioning to become a global college of public health in the near future.

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Mason has eight graduate programs in the top 25 nationally, with several leaping forward in U.S. News rankings

Mariam Aburdeineh — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 20:21:58 +0000

Mason has eight graduate programs in the top 25 nationally, with several leaping forward in U.S. News rankings Mariam Aburdeineh Mon, 03/28/2022 - 16:21

In This Story

Mark J. Rozell

Kenneth Ball

Jiayang Sun

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services/��

�� has eight graduate programs listed among the top 25 nationally, according to the latest rankings by U.S. News & World Report, reflecting the university’s reputation of being a top institution for advanced degrees.

The list was led by Mason’s part-time law program at the Antonin Scalia Law School, which is No. 1 among public institutions, followed by industrial-organizational psychology at No. 5 nationally. Rounding out the list were Mason’s intellectual property program, three programs at the Schar School of Policy and Government, as well as special education and elementary teacher education at the College of Education and Human Development.

Overall, Mason has 18 programs ranked in the top 50 nationally and 33 ranked in the top 50 among public universities. Several programs rose in the Best Graduate School Rankings, including statistics and biological sciences.

Mason on the Rise

“The continued rise in the national rankings of our respected academic programs is further affirmation about the quality of a Mason education and the esteem in how our programs are viewed nationally,” said Mark R. Ginsberg, Mason provost and executive vice president. “We are very pleased by and proud of the recognition our programs have received and the experience our students have.”

Mason is the fastest growing public university in Virginia and has conferred the highest number of master’s degrees of any four-year public institution in the state for the past five years. According to State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, Mason conferred nearly a third of the state’s master’s degrees for the 2020-21 academic year.

U.S. News ranks different programs at different times of the year, including rankings for online master’s programs, which were released in January, and the annual Best Colleges rankings released each fall.

Several programs that ranked in the top 25 are housed on the Arlington ��—recently renamed Mason Square—which is less than five miles from Washington, D.C. Mason Square is undergoing a transformation as part of the Rosslyn-Ballston Innovation Corridor, an innovation district that will be the first of its kind in Virginia, and will serve as the home base for the Institute for Digital Innovation.

Scalia Law Soars to Top 30

Mason’s part-time law program is ranked No. 4 nationally and No. 1 among public universities, ahead of distinguished universities including University of Maryland, Temple University, and University of Houston. The school’s ranking, as a whole, rose 11 spots, to No. 30.

“For the first time, we are ranked nationally as a top 30 law school,” said law school Dean Ken Randall. “The ranking reflects the academic excellence of the Scalia law faculty, student body, and staff.”

“We are grateful for the university’s support of the law school,” he said. “The law school’s evening program—ranked as the fourth best part-time program nationally—has tripled its enrollment by leveraging technology and advancing our commitment to inclusive excellence.”

A Prominent Hub for Public Policy

Five Schar School programs (homeland security, public-policy analysis, nonprofit management, public finance, and local government management) are ranked as the top programs in Virginia, with homeland security leading the list at No. 7 nationally, and No. 6 among public institutions.

Mason’s homeland security program has made the nation’s top 10 list for five years straight.

“The Schar School’s interdisciplinary programs increasingly are being recognized as among the best,” said Schar School Dean Mark J. Rozell. “Most notable this year is the big jump in the ranking in nonprofit management studies—the largest one-year move we’ve ever seen.”

The nonprofit management program rose 14 spots, from No. 32 to No. 18 nationally.

“High-impact faculty work and recent exciting hires in that field are being noticed by our peers nationally,” Rozell said.

The Schar School’s location in the heart of the U.S. political scene provides students with extraordinary professional opportunities that supplement learning from professors with experience in everything from NGOs and nonprofits to top government agencies like the CIA, National Security Agency, and more.

Biological Sciences Leaps to Top 10

Many Mason programs significantly advanced in the rankings from last year, including biological sciences, which rose 71 spots to No. 119.

“The graduate programs at the School of Systems Biology (SSB) are constantly striving to enrich student experiences and improve learning outcomes,” said Iosif Vaisman, professor and School of Systems Biology director. “We are very happy that these collective efforts by our administrators, faculty, and staff bear fruit.”

“Our time to degree completion statistics is better than many peer programs, and our graduates are in high demand on the job market,” Vaisman said, noting students come from all walks of life. “All these successes to a great degree depend on the extremely strong research portfolios, publication record, teaching commitments, and reputation of faculty at SSB and its two research centers, the Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine and the Center for Infectious Disease Research.”

A Bright Future, Statistically Speaking

Statistics also jumped 29 spots, coming in at No. 54 nationally and No. 38 among publics.

Jiayang Sun, department chair of Statistics, said she is optimistic for another significant jump in the next ranking cycle.

“We have outstanding faculty who are national leaders in their areas of expertise,” Sun said. “We had remarkable growth and transformation under the new leadership.”

“We are very pleased and excited by the significant jump in the rankings by our Department of Statistics, and congratulate the entire department and its leadership for their success,” said Kenneth Ball, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing.

“The department has a very bright future and is contributing greatly to the success of the college as well as across the university,” he said.

Research funding for statistics has continued to surpass the department’s records since 2020, Sun said.

Ball touted the investment made by Mason's College of Engineering and Computing in the statistics programs, including more than $1.5 million for new faculty start-up funds and graduate research assistants, as well as other resources.

And a new partnership with Inova Health System has provided faculty with expanding collaborative research opportunities.

“We are modernizing our program offerings and looking forward to unique opportunities with the new School of Computing and some expected Virginia initiatives,” Sun said.

Methodology

The 2023 Best Graduate School rankings for business, education, engineering, law, medicine, and nursing are based on expert opinion about program excellence and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research, and students, U.S. News reported.

The ranking data comes from statistical surveys of more than 2,150 programs and from reputation surveys sent to more than 23,200 academics and professionals, conducted in fall 2021 and early 2022.

Full Rankings

Below is a preview of Mason’s rankings for its graduate programs. It will be updated if additional rankings become available:

Part-time Law: No. 4 nationally, No. 1 among public institutions.

Intellectual Property: No. 19 nationally, No. 6 among public institutions (Best in Virginia).

Best Law School: No. 30 nationally, No. 11 among public institutions.

Contracts: No. 37 nationally, No 18 among public institutions.

Constitutional Law: No. 40 nationally, No. 19 among public institutions.

Corporate Law: No. 41 nationally, No. 17 among public institutions.

International Law: No. 67 nationally, 30 among public institutions.

Tax Law: No. 70 nationally, No. 33 among public institutions.

Criminal Law: No. 80 nationally, No. 38 among public institutions.

Trial Advocacy: No. 89 overall, No. 31 among public institutions.

Dispute Resolution: No. 103 nationally, No. 43 among public institutions.

Health Care Law: No. 108 nationally, No. 50 among public institutions.

Environmental Law: No. 122 nationally, No. 62 among public institutions.

Clinical Training: No. 148 nationally, No. 64 among public institutions.

Legal Writing: No. 169 nationally, No. 74 among public institutions.

Public Affairs: No. 39 nationally, No. 26 among public institutions.

Homeland Security: No. 7 nationally, No. 6 among public institutions (Best in Virginia).

Nonprofit Management: No. 18 overall, No. 14 among public institutions (Best in Virginia).

Public Policy Analysis: No. 24 nationally, No. 12 among public institutions (Best in Virginia).

Public Finance: No. 26 nationally, No. 19 among public institutions (Best in Virginia).

Leadership: No. 27 nationally, No. 19 among public institutions.

Local Government Management: No. 27 nationally, No. 24 among public institutions (Best in Virginia).

Part-time MBA: No. 67 nationally, No. 40 among public institutions.

Education: No. 67 overall, No. 52 among public institutions.

Special Ed: No. 15 nationally, No. 14 among public institutions.

Elementary Teacher Ed: No. 20 nationally, No. 16 among public institutions.

Engineering: No. 92 nationally, No. 56 among public institutions.

Industrial Engineering: No. 39 nationally, No. 29 among public institutions.

Statistics: No. 54 nationally, No. 38 among public institutions.

Computer Science: No. 63 nationally, No. 37 among public institutions.

Computer Engineering: No. 75 nationally, No. 44 among public institutions.

Electrical Engineering: No. 82 nationally, No. 49 among public institutions.

Civil Engineering: No. 89 nationally, No. 63 among public institutions.

Bioengineering: No. 103 nationally, No. 65 among public institutions.

Geology: No. 113 nationally, No. 81 among public institutions.

Mathematics: No. 115 nationally, No. 72 among public institutions.

Biological Sciences: No. 119 nationally, No. 66 among public institutions.

Physics: No. 132 nationally, No. 78 among public institutions.

Chemistry: No. 165 overall, No. 107 among public institutions.

Nursing Master's: No. 37 nationally, No. 23 among public institutions.

Nursing-DNP: No. 52 nationally, No. 38 among public institutions.

Public Health: No. 70 nationally, No. 45 among public institutions.

Social Work: No. 79 nationally, No. 54 among public institutions.

Economics: No. 74 overall, No. 40 among public institutions.

Psychology: No. 80 nationally, No. 47 among public institutions.

Industrial-Organizational Psychology: No. 5 nationally, No. 4 among public institutions.

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Mason’s research is best in Virginia in multiple EduRank rankings

Here are the programs ranked the best in Virginia, with ranking among public institutions and overall national ranking; best in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland (DMV) where noted:

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In This Story

Master of Health Administration Ranks in Top 50 Graduate Programs According to US News & World Report

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Five College of Health and Human Services Graduate Programs Rank in the Top 100 According to U.S. News & World Report

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Mason has eight graduate programs in the top 25 nationally, with several leaping forward in U.S. News rankings

In This Story

Mason on the Rise

Scalia Law Soars to Top 30

A Prominent Hub for Public Policy

Biological Sciences Leaps to Top 10

A Bright Future, Statistically Speaking

Methodology

Full Rankings

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�� was named one of Money magazine’s Best Colleges in America 2023 with a 4.5 out of 5-star rating.