Finance and Financial Management Services at George Mason University

George Mason's finance program punches well above its weight nationally but faces stiff competition closer to home. Graduates earn $62,989 their first year—landing in the 83rd percentile nationally—then see strong momentum to $83,906 by year four. That 33% earnings growth suggests graduates successfully transition from entry-level analyst roles into more responsible positions. The $21,500 median debt (0.34 debt-to-earnings ratio) is manageable, equivalent to about four months of first-year salary.

The state picture adds important nuance. Mason sits exactly at Virginia's median for finance programs, with James Madison and Virginia Tech graduates out-earning them by roughly $5,000 in year one. Still, Mason significantly outperforms Old Dominion and Radford, whose graduates earn $15,000+ less. Given Mason's 89% admission rate versus the selectivity of JMU and Tech, this represents solid return on investment for students who may not have access to those alternatives.

For a family weighing this program, the fundamentals work: reasonable debt, above-average starting salary, and clear upward trajectory. The real question is whether your student can gain admission to Virginia's top-tier programs—if so, the modest earnings premium might be worth pursuing. If not, Mason delivers strong outcomes without the debt trap that plagues many finance programs nationwide.