National organizations have taken note that Mason is a good place for members of the military, veterans, and their familes to prepare for a successful career. College Consensus recognized Mason in its survey of the Best Colleges for Veterans for 2018. And Military Advanced Education and Transition recognizes Mason as a Top Military Friendly School.
If you're a member of the military or a military dependent, you'll find a second family at Mason. The Office of Military Services includes staff from every branch of the armed forces, and they've all used military-related education benefits.
More than half of Mason's 190,000 alumni live and work in the Washington, D.C., area, providing graduates with a diverse and extensive professional network.
We're a good match for the military for a variety of reasons, including:
- University-based veteran organizations: If you're looking for people with similar experiences, you'll find friends here. Mason Veteran Patriots, the Military Law Society, and the Society of American Military Engineers will welcome you.
- Diverse community: Diversity is one of our core values; everyone is welcome here. Mason was recently named the most diverse university in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report.
easy access to downtown D.C. Take a day and
explore the monuments, museums, and historic sites,
such as the Washington Monument on the Mall.
- Proximity to D.C.: The Washington metro area has a population of more than 400,000 veterans and their families, and it's easy to see why. Military bases such as Fort Myer, Fort Belvoir, Andrews AFB, Bolling, and the Pentagon provide access to commissaries and other services (as well as a large community of active-duty personnel). The Department of Veterans Affairs is headquartered downtown, and a VA medical center is also in Washington.
- Employment opportunities: Another benefit of being near Washington, D.C., is the access to jobs. This area is home to hundreds of positions offered through the civil service, by military contractors, with the private sector, and by nongovernment organizations. Graduates are also sought by companies based in the Virginia Technology Corridor and among organizations in the Bethesda medical community. Many members of the military and veterans also have top-secret clearances, which give them a leg up.
Mason-Based Military Scholarships
In addition to access to general scholarships, the university has additional scholarships set aside for members of the military community:
The annual Veterans' Day Powwow, hosted by the Native American and Indigenous Alliance in partnership with Native American Lifelines, is held each November on Mason's Fairfax Campus. It's a celebration of Native American and Indigenous Heritage Month.