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Off-Campus Housing Near GMU
About Off-Campus Housing Near George Mason University
George Mason University brings about 38,500 Patriots to Fairfax, just outside Washington, D.C., which is the whole draw: a real campus with the capital a short Metro ride away. The Fairfax campus is greener and more self-contained than people expect, with Mason Pond at its center and EagleBank Arena hosting basketball, concerts, and graduation. The Johnson Center anchors student life, and downtown Fairfax City is a quick trip for a huge range of restaurants. Mason runs heavily on commuters, so the free CUE bus and Mason shuttles are part of daily life, connecting campus to the Vienna Metro and the Orange Line straight into D.C. for museums, shows, and internships. When you want green space, Burke Lake Park is close for boating and trails.
George Mason University Housing Requirements
Freshman Live-On Requirement
George Mason requires all first-year students to live on campus for the full academic year, and freshmen get placed into Residential Learning Communities built around academic or interest themes. You can apply for an exemption, but it is not guaranteed.
Off-Campus Eligibility
The clear exemption paths are being over 20 by the start of fall or living with a parent or guardian within 45 miles of Fairfax, and you must file that request by the May 1 priority deadline. After freshman year, students at George Mason are free to move off, and many head to apartments along University Drive and Braddock Road or nearby purpose-built student housing.
Lease Timing
The Northern Virginia rental market is competitive and pricier than most college towns, and many complexes lease by the unit rather than by the bed. Bigger units with three or more bedrooms split the cost better per person. Confirm whether a place sits on a CUE or Mason shuttle route before you sign, since that decides whether you need a car.