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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 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.
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.
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.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with George Mason University before signing a lease.
Mason's off-campus search rewards starting early in the spring semester, because the units that split well, houses and apartments with three or more bedrooms, tend to fill before the studios and one-bedrooms do. Northern Virginia is a year-round competitive rental market, not a sleepy college town, so you are competing with non-students too. Inventory near campus moves steadily through spring. Aim to tour in February and March.
Demand near campus peaks in February and March as students chase shuttle-served units close to school. Classes start in late August, and most leases line up around then, though the broader region has move-in dates scattered across the calendar. The larger, well-splitting units go first. Sign by spring for the best shot at a shuttle-served place near campus.
Late searchers actually have more flexibility here than in a typical college town, since the regional market turns over constantly, but expect to look further out and pay more the longer you wait. Summer sublets and mid-lease takeovers come up as people relocate for jobs or internships, which helps spring and mid-year arrivals. Widening your search beyond the campus core opens up more availability.
Just north of campus, University Drive is the closest cluster of student apartments and home to purpose-built student housing within about a mile, ideal if you want a short hop to class.
On the south side, Braddock Road has more apartments and is a common student pick.
Walkable-ish and loaded with restaurants, downtown Fairfax City is good for students who want a town feel.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Northern Virginia runs pricier than most college towns. A shared room in a student apartment near campus typically lands around $800-$1,200/month per person, and splitting a three-plus-bedroom unit brings the per-person cost down noticeably. Budget another $50-$130/month for utilities depending on the setup.