George Mason University placed No. 184 out of 801 universities nationally and No. 42 out of 209 institutions in the South Region in 2020 College Rankings by the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Ed. In just two years, the university has risen 90 places, with a 47 spot climb this year. For 2019, Mason placed No. 231, and in 2018 the university ranked at No. 274.
“Our remarkable rise in the rankings is a great testimony to the progress Mason has made in providing an excellent education for all of our students,” said Mason Provost David Wu. “I am particularly pleased to see the rankings highlight our effective engagement with the students and our ability to create a positive learning environment for a diverse student body, which ultimately produces excellent outcomes for our graduates.”
The list evaluates universities based “on their educational impact and the lifetime benefit to students,” according to a press release. It also includes the results of Times Higher Ed’s U.S. Student Survey, which examines a range of issues including students’ engagement with their studies, their interactions with teachers and their satisfaction with their college experience. According to WSJ and THE, the methodology encompasses four key areas:
Resources (30 percent) – Does the college have the capacity to effectively deliver teaching?
Engagement (20 percent) – Does the college effectively engage with its students?
Outcomes (40 percent) – Does the college generate good and appropriate outputs? Does it add value to the students who attend?
Environment (10 percent) – Is the college providing a good learning environment for all students? Does it make efforts to attract a diverse student body and faculty?
Of these categories, Mason ranked highest in outcomes and placed in the top 20 percent of schools ranked.
“These rankings also recognize our dedicated faculty and staff who are working hard to prepare Mason students to have an impact on the world,” Wu said.